Richard was born on March 19,1938 in San Diego, California to Samuel and Josephine Butera. He grew up in San Diego and graduated from Saint Augustine High School in 1956. Soon after, he went to work for Convair Aeronautics and a few years later found his calling to serve the community as a reserve police officer for National City Police Department.
In 1960, while attending a family dinner, little did he know that his cousin would introduce him to the love of his life, Audrey Bobo. After a short courtship, they were engaged. One year later, on June 24th, 1961, Dick and Audrey were married. This same year, he would once again heed the call to serve his community and became a police officer for Imperial Beach Police Department. A year later, Dick and Audrey would welcome their first of 3 sons, Richard Joseph II and in 1964, welcome twins, Randall James, and Russell John.
In 1971, Dick would move his family north to Garden Grove, California and continue in service for the Stanton Police Department. Several years later, his law enforcement career ended abruptly when he was forced to medically retire. This would not hold him back from a successful life. He then started Butera Pool Service where he would eventually employ all three of his teenage sons. Although retired, Dick continued to support law enforcement by being a highly active volunteer board member for the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) at both the local and state levels for many years. He also was an instructor/manager for a security guard school.
On the personal side, Dick loved and served his family, both immediate and extended, with great pride. Earlier this year, he became the patriarch of his family. He coached his boys in Little League, was a scoutmaster, and supported Audrey in her bowling journey throughout the years. He was an avid collector of Disney and Angels Baseball memorabilia. Dick never missed a home game of his beloved Angels.
Later in life, he enjoyed cruising the world with Audrey, looked forward to the big “San Diego” parties, and spending time with family in Lake Tahoe. All this paled in comparison to being a grandpa. He genuinely loved his time with his grandchildren.
Dick was strong in his faith and was a protective, proud, loving, family man with many titles in life – police officer, servant, board member, coach, scoutmaster, teacher but was most proud of the titles, Husband, Dad, and Papa.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Audrey; his sons, Richard and wife, Carol; Randall and wife, Lucille; Russell and wife, Diane; his four grandchildren, Rachel, Andrew, Sofia, and Marissa; and many other extended family members.
Services will be held at Saint Norbert Catholic Church in Orange, CA and he will be laid to rest at Good Shephard Cemetery in Huntington Beach, CA
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Richard Joseph Butera to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cff.org or the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life at www.relayforlife.org/nocca
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dimond & Shannon Mortuary, Garden Grove, CA
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