Richard Raymond Witt

Richard peacefully passed away on December 26, 2025, in Clovis, California.

Richard was born in the state of Nebraska in 1938. Around 1947, he emigrated to the area when his father, Clifford Witt, came to Planada to assist with the construction and installation crew of the grain elevators for Reimen Mills as part of Merced County’s agricultural development. Richard’s mother, Lucille, longed for Nebraska, but eventually called Planada home and raised her two children here.

Richard enjoyed the outdoors and gardening, and as a child and young adult, a proud “Son of a Legion “ enjoyed chopping and stacking wood for the family fireplace with his father.

The Witt home on Bigler Street was adjacent to the former William Houlihan property, once Richard’s playground, now known as Amistad (friendship) Street.

Although often bullied, taunted and name-called, Richard’s inner strength would persevere and prevail. As the area developed, it was not uncommon to see Richard happily sitting along the curb at Amistad and Bigler waving to Planada and Amistad residents who had developed a lifelong loving bond with Richard. Richard watched and waved as one generation grew into another generation. If Richard knew you as a kid, he remembered you well into adulthood.

In later years, Richard would don himself in blue denim overalls, a pair of leather gloves and enjoy sitting in the driveway at the family home to read the paper, near a pine tree planted from his mother’s, Lucille’s, funeral in 1990. From his bench, Richard watched as community residents walked by on Sundays to Sacred Heart Church, or walked or drove past to access services, businesses or friends in the area.

Throughout the years, Richard continued his friendly tradition of greeting or waving. If you were among those who engaged in conversation with Richard and he got to know you, Richard wouldn’t hesitate to incorporate into the conversation and ask for a baseball hat or a tool box. If he asked you once, it wasn’t uncommon, Richard would innocently ask you again the next time he greeted you. So as the years would pass, it is not surprising that Richard’s collection of hats and toolboxes would grow. Richard also had a collection of fishing poles and an admiration for Elvis, whom now most certainly he is delighted to finally be singing and dancing with.

Richard had a love for baseball. His favorite teams were the San Francisco Giants and 49ers.

In 1999, Richard was Planada Community Day Parade and Celebration’s Honorary Citizen, an honor he wore proudly and never forgot.

Richard was active at Kings View Work Experience Center in Atwater, where he enjoyed participating in the various crafts, like making birdhouses or clocks. He also enjoyed working with the outdoor garden crews.

Among Richard’s other collections were nutcrackers. Earlier this December, his nutcracker collection was kindly included as part of the main theme of the holiday decorations of Planada en Accion’s Senior Holiday Luncheon at the Planada Community Hall.

In recent years, Richard has been a resident of Ellery Home which is operated by Central Valley Regional Center in Fresno. Here, he was admired and loved. The staff at Ellery Home loved him from his first day there and they were lovingly supportive at Richard’s bedside at his time of passing.

Richard is survived by his loving sister, longtime resident and retired Nurse from Dignity Health Hospital-Mercy Medical Center, Judy Lorenz, and Elna Lambert and Ava Petersen from Nebraska and Barbara Buhman in Iowa.

Through this site, we invite you to view and share cherished photos and videos, share fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Witt Family or share the obituary with others via social media and email. Arrangements are under the direction of Sierra Calvert, Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.