Richard Carroll Gustafson

Richard Carroll Gustafson passed peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, February 25th after a long illness from Parkinson’s disease. Richard was born in Edna, Kansas on June 26, 1935 to Jewelle and Gilbert Scott Gustafson. He grew up in a small town near McAlester, Oklahoma where he attended grade school in a one room schoolhouse where his mother was teaching. He graduated from the Grass Valley High School in 1952 after his family moved to California. He continued his education at Sierra College in Auburn, California at the age of 16 where he earned his A.A. degree and at the age of 65, he attended Western Career College to earn a Pharmacy Tech. Degree.

Richard was a member of First Christian Church in Merced. He was a member of Trinity Masonic Lodge #27 in Weaverville, CA. He was a Charter member and past patron of Trinity Star Chapter #650 Order of Eastern Star in Weaverville and also a member of Northern Light Chapter #14 in Anderson, CA.

Richard was a proud American who served in the United States Army. He received the Good Contact Medal while serving at Fort Ord and served on the Company Pistol Team where he was respected as an expert rifleman. He also served 2 years in the Army Reserves.

Richard was an avid outdoorsman who was happiest while he was hunting, camping, or hiking. Richard really enjoyed these hobbies to the fullest while he and his wife Elda lived in Lewiston, California for 11 years and before moving to their current home in Merced.

Richard is survived by his wife Elda of 21 years, daughter Katrina Gustafson, son Richard Wesley Gustafson both of Woodland, sister Sue OConnor and her husband Vern of Dixon, nephew Thomas OConnor of Ridgecrest, granddaughter Tabitha Gustafson and great granddaughter Sophia Dobbins of Ft Stewart, GA. Richard was preceded in death by his mother and father and his late wife of 23 years Karen Sneed Gustafson.

Private graveside services will be held on March 6th at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon. A Masonic memorial service will be held at the Merced Masonic Center, 1810 M Street on Sunday, March 12th at 2 p.m.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, that donations be given to Bristol Hospice in Merced or to their favorite charity.