Richard Bruce Reitnauer

At 2 minutes past midnight on January 1, 1937 Richard Bruce Reitnauer was born too Amanda Myrtle Updegrove and Edwin Lora Reitnauer; all from Berks county, Boyertown, PA. Here he lived with his family and attended Thaddeus Stevens Trade school which earned him a degree in Brick Masonry, and learned how to play the violin.

Next he enlisted in the US Navy and honorable served his country for 22 years retiring in 1979. He moved through the ranks from E-1 all the way up to E-7 CPO/HTC learning how to weld and fabricate and using that knowledge to keep ships together as well as building what was needed at that time.

During this period in his life he met and married twice, first marriage being a short one yet he did father a girl, Lisa Christine Reitnauer. On June 9, 2013 she had passed from unknown medical problem, which ironically was same day Richard had his accident. Richard tripped on piece of wood while attending his tomato garden falling forward shattering several bones causing a traumatic spinal cord injury. This traumatic accident causes him to become a quadriplegic which is how he remained for the remainder of his life.

Richard divorce and remarried on July 1, 1967 to Margarita Y Reitnauer (Camacho) and remained together for 42 years. During this marriage they gave birth to two boys Richard Bruce Reitnauer, Jr. and Shon Michael Reitnauer.

Richard aged and work and provided for his family than on 04/21/2008 he would lose his wife to various problems she had been fighting. Then a few years later around August of 2011 he would lose his youngest soon to ALS complications resulting from accident causing a brain injury back some time.

He is survived by his eldest son Richard Jr who has been caring for him since day of accident, 4 step-daughters and 1 step-son and from this 14 grandchildren and 15 great grand-children.

He retired from active service in the Navy entering the private sector acquiring positions with some of San Diego’s finest ship building companies. Traveling around the globe updating ship technology for most of his early civilian years he slowed down and remain in San Diego for remaining years. Acquiring a position with Serco a company of many interests Richard remained here as one of their top reliable welders, retiring after 13+ years of employment.

Now he was enjoying his golden years, loved sports mainly football, basketball and baseball, can’t forget auto racing. He attended the local sport bars on regular basis hanging with other sport fanatics and friends, as well on occasion a family member.

Then on May 3, 2013 he would formally submit with the help of his son officially submit his letter of retirement to SERCO via email. About one month later on June 9th 2013 he had his accident which brought his world to a major slow down. From June 2013 to May 16, 2015 he would have many battles with bed sores that got worse, pneumonia on 2/3 different occasions and various other infections that he would fight and win.

Until this last major fight he acquired many infections and with the right medications was winning this fight as well, but the fight became too much for him to handle, and after a long morning visit with his eldest son he would fall to sleep and never wake up. Richard Bruce Reitnauer died on May 16, 2015 at around 1300hrs in no pain or suffering and peaceful. May he rest in peace never to be forgotten and always loved and missed.

On June 3rd 2015 at 11:00am the first Wednesday of June Richard Bruce Reitnauer will be recognized for his honorable service not only to his country but to his family as well. At Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery his remains will take a short trip draped with flag that was given to him from an old friend. Richard will be taken to the location of the wall where his wife’s remains currently are C60. Once he receives he required gun salute and taps blown on bugle his flag folded and presented to his son a family member will place his remains alongside his wife’s.