Richard E. Varney
Game Warden Pilot

Richard E. Varney

Veteran → Accident
End of Watch September 27, 1972
Age 41
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Game Warden Pilot Richard Varney drowned after his helicopter crashed into Maranacook Lake. He had just taken off from the lake base when the helicopter experienced a malfunction and crashed. He was able to exit the wreckage but drowned before rescuers could make it to his location. Game Warden Varney was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Warden Service for 16 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Richard is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Game Warden Pilot Varney gave the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Augusta community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Unknown
Location Kennebec County, ME
Platform Identity mifwws.me.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 27, 1972
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Richard E. Varney served in the U.S. Air Force (1950–1954) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

Richard is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1972, 98 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.

Every year on record · Worldwide
II

Who

Richard was 41. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Richard had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Wednesdays: 14.6%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service has 16 officers remembered here, Richard among them.

VI

Where

Game Warden Pilot Richard E. Varney

Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service · End of Watch September 27, 1972

Military Service

Richard E. Varney served in the U.S. Air Force (1950–1954) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Richard E. Varney’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W

Also Remembered

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