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Our family sadly announces the loss of John Richard Wenker, who passed away at the age of 94. He was our father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Born in Arizona, Dick lived most of his life in California, over 50 years of it in Torrance. He worked at Garrett AiResearch as an engineer in the aerospace industry. Cryogenics and uranium enrichment were two fields of his expertise. For over 41 years he was very happily married to his wife Eunice and together they shared the joy of five children. Their home in Torrance was a special welcoming place where family and friends were safe and valued. Our large family was his great source of pride and he would praise each one at any opportunity.
After he retired he continued to meet socially with his many close friends from work as well as gather with church friends. He especially enjoyed his membership with the Harbor Area Model ‘A’ Club. He could fix anything and everything, usually for others before working on his own projects. His last five years he lived in Anacortes, Washington with his son. He loved his sister, Marian, and deeply missed her after she passed away in March of this year.
He graduated from UCLA in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. A Bruin through and through, he often said that even if the football team lost every game except against USC, it was a successful season. For 50 years he and his alumni buddies gathered at one friend’s home to watch and cheer the UCLA-USC game. Afterwards there would be a new pewter beer stein inscribed with the year and the game’s score. Fifty beer steins were placed on the shelf in the den.
While receiving several awards for academics and athletics at his Globe, Arizona high school graduation in 1947, his ten-year-old sister realized she was proud of her brother Dickie. He loved to travel and attended his Globe High School Tigers school reunions until age 92.
He was a believer in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. A gracious, kind and generous man, his strong faith was shown more by the way he lived than the words he spoke.
A memorial celebration will be held in California later this year where he will be buried with his wife. Many thanks to all the caregivers and Hospice of the Northwest. A very special thanks to friends and family who came to visit and sent mail to him in Anacortes.
To share memories of Dick, please visit www.evanschapel.com/obituary/richard-wenker.
