HERKIMER - Richard Karpen, 79, died Wednesday, May 4, 2005, in Valley Health Services. Dick was born Feb. 21, 1926, in Hastings, Minn., to the late John Peter and Agnes (Heinen) Karpen. Dick entered the Army Air Force during World War II and went on to serve in the Air Force Reserves following the war. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1950. He married Patricia Ann Jacques on June 9, 1951. Together they had had eight children. Dick had a long career in computers and became a noted computer pioneer. He operated one of the first computers, the UNIVAC, at the Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory in California, and later became a chief engineer at UNIVAC and Control Data in Minneapolis. He moved to Herkimer with his family in 1967 as an executive with Mohawk Data Sciences. He later moved into local industries as president of the Library Bureau of Herkimer, and KSI Inc. of Cobleskill. Dick is predeceased by Patricia (his wife of 54 years) and his first son, Richard. He is survived by his daughter, Katherine Pollock and her husband Robert Emmett of Tonawanda, N.Y., son, Thomas and his wife Phyllis of Skaneateles, N.Y., daughter, Mary and her husband Jeff Oxford of Grand Rapids, Mich., daughter, Carol Sharrock and her husband Vince of Tucson, Ariz., son, James and his wife Susan of Loudonville, N.Y., daughter, Karen Buresh and her husband Steve of Cohoes, N.Y., son, William and wife Sandy of Rochester, N.Y. and 14 grandchildren (with two more on the way.) Dick enjoyed friends and family, outdoor activities, woodworking and his time at camp. He was great with his kids and grandkids. He was involved in Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts and St. Francis de Sales Parish. Calling hours in Fenner Funeral Home, 115 Court St., Herkimer, will be on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11 a.m. in St. Francis de Sales Church with the Rev. Mark Cunningham, pastor, officiating. Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Francis de Sales Regional School or Alzheimer's Association of Central New York