Richard Godwin Whitehurst

Richard Whitehurst Jr. or Dick as his family and friends knew him was born in Los Angeles on June 11th, 1935 to parents Ida Gould and Richard Whitehurst Sr. He was raised in Los Angeles during the last years of the Great Depression and was a young boy during World War II when he saw his father leave to fight the war in Europe in 1941. He was raised solely by his mother during the War years and did not see his father again until 1945 when he returned from the war.

As a young man, Richard enlisted in the Army during the last days of the Korean War and served in Korea in the 24th Infantry division from 1954 through 1955 during the occupation of South Korea.

After his 2 years in the United States Army, he attended Junior College at East Los Angeles Community College where he studied education. He met and married Martha

Yffert, the true love of his life, in 1957 in Los Angeles. Together, they created and raised a family of 6 children.

Dick held various jobs in his life from glassmaker, meat packer, to insurance salesman. He took a job with an electronic company in Monterrey Park where he first started as a janitor and later became a star salesman and the sales manager propelling the company to great financial success. He eventually became the general manager of that same company and semi-retired after 35 years. He took a job as sales manager with a different electronics company for five years until he completely retired after another 5 years.

Dick was an avid sportsman and loved golf. He won championships in many tournaments in his earlier days and played until he was no longer physically capable. He also loved sport fishing and went on many memorable trips with his wife and sons locally and in Mexico.

A dedicated husband, father, son and brother, Dick was deeply loved and adored by all of his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Martha, his 6 children (Julie, Cyndi, Richard, Martha, Stephen and Daniel) his 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren and his sister Gladys.

Dick passed away and entered eternal life in Jesus Christ on April 9th, 2014 after an over 2-year battle with cancer. He will be eternally loved and missed by his family and friends.