Richard James Westmoreland, 37, of Chickamauga, Ga. was born in Newport News, Va. on 6/17/88, and passed from this life on Tuesday, 9/30/2025, doing what he loved, flying a hang glider, with one of his best friends, at Lookout Mountain.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Chloe Westmoreland, and Grandfather, James B. Westmoreland.
He is survived by his parents, Wendy Hutchinson, and James (Mandi) Westmoreland, sisters, Amanda (Steve) Halvorson and Brittney (Daniel) Kinstetter; brothers, Ashton Westmoreland, Perry (Elizabeth) Atchley, Nicholas Scott, Cordale Scott, and Ethan Scott; grandparents, Bill and Brenda Hutchinson, along with several aunts, uncles, and cousins and girlfriend Kate Howard of New Zealand. He was a founding member of a group of flyers known as the “Flying Gypsies,” and was an advanced Tandem pilot, working in Switzerland for the last three years, but has flown all over the world, including Lookout Mountain Flight Park.
The family would like to acknowledge the special care and hazardous recovery operation undertaken by the Dade County Rescue, along with several other agencies, as well as Memorial EMS, and CHI administrators that were there on site of the recovery, as well as the owner and employees of LMFP.
There will be a memorial for him at Rock Bridge Community Church in Ringgold, on October 11th at 2:00, with visitation from 12:00-2:00. He will be cremated, and his ashes will be scattered all over the world, to reflect his wishes.