Richard Leo DeMuth, age 76, of Oklahoma City passed from this life on January 6, 2019. Services have been entrusted to the care of Advantage Funeral and Cremation Services located at 7720 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City. A memorial service honoring Richard’s life is scheduled for Monday, January 14, 2018 at 2pm at the funeral home chapel. Richard was born on August 26, 1942 in Lynwood, California to Leo Mathias DeMuth and Ola Virginia (Powell) DeMuth. He attended Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs, CA graduating with the class of 1960. After high school he attended college and worked in construction while living in Norwalk, CA.
In 1967, Richard answered the call of his country and joined the United States Army, proudly serving as a combat engineer in the Vietnam War until he was honorably discharged in 1973. In 1972, Richard married the love of his life, Marsha Kaye Bales, and together they raised one daughter, Ericka. Richard began a career at the General Motors plant in Southgate, CA before relocating to the General Motors plant in Oklahoma in 1979 where he worked for many years. In the early 90s, he went to meat cutting school which prepared him for his job at Albertson’s grocery store off of SW 74th and May in Oklahoma City, where he worked for over a decade. It was there that he met so many people and made many friends.
Richard was a member of the United Automobile Workers and he and Marsha were also members of SoCal Truckers, a low-rider truck club, where he served as Sergeant at Arms. He also enjoyed all things automotive including auto body work, races, monster trucks shows and working on cars. He loved target shooting, fishing, and camping. He had a fondness for the desert and old western movies. He was at his happiest when he was with his family or when he was sitting in his garage, smoking his pipe and listening to music while watching the cars pass by.
Richard will be remembered as a kind-hearted, gentle soul, a generous friend, a devoted husband and a wonderful father. In Richard’s life, there weren’t any strangers as he was friendly to everyone. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents: Leo and Ola DeMuth, sister: Jean Marie Fawcett, brothers: Bill and Bob DeMuth, nephews: David and Billy Fawcett, niece: Vicki Lynn Sullivan, and Father-In-Law: Herbert Bales.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years: Marsha (Bales) DeMuth, daughter: Ericka Ross and husband Gregory, grandchildren: Zaria and Zoey Ross, and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Condolences made be sent to the family via an online guestbook at Advantageokc.com.
