Richard Barrera

Richard "Dick" Barrera passed away peacefully of natural causes in the

afternoon of May 15, 2018 at Kaiser Hospital in Ontario, California.

He was 89 years old.

Richard was born on January 13,1929 in Gary, Indiana to Leonard and

Juana Barrera. Together with his older sister Trinidad, they moved to

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where Richard attended Lake Geneva High School

from 1943 to 1947, excelling in athletics while also fostering his

interest in engineering.

After graduation in the spring of 1947, Richard enrolled in the Civil

Engineering program at the Wisconsin Institute of Technology (now the

University of Wisconsin at Platteville). Shortly thereafter, he was

drafted into the US Army and reported to Milwaukee for induction. Cpl.

Richard Barrera was honorably discharged after serving two years with

the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky during the

Korean War.

Richard returned to school at WIT where he lettered in football,

basketball and track, while being an active member in the Lettermen's

club. Seeking to add practical engineering experience, he worked

summers as an Engineering Aid for the Illinois Highway Commission. On

May 25,1956, Richard received his Bachelor of Science in Civil

Engineering from the Wisconsin Institute of Technology.

During this time Richard met Patricia Klindt, who was attending the

Wisconsin State Teacher's College in Platteville. Upon Richard's

graduation in 1956, they were married in Cassville, Wisconsin. After a

honeymoon at Wisconsin Dells, they drove to California in a new 1956

Ford on Route 66 and initially found home in Fontana, California,

where Richard worked as an industrial engineer at Kaiser Steel.

Richard then took a job at the Los Angeles Department of

Transportation working in downtown L.A., which started his career in

Traffic Engineering. Soon after he was hired by the City of Pomona as

City Traffic Engineer in 1961.

In 1962 they bought a new home and settled in Upland, California,

where they would raise a family and become an integral part of the

greater Upland community. Their sons Michael and James would grow up

in Upland, both attending Damien High School and the University of

California, Irvine.

Richard shared an affinity for youth sports with Pat and was involved

in coaching both AYSO and Upland National Little League. Richard

continued to referee soccer from youth through collegiate levels long

after his sons left youth sports. Richard could still be seen

attending many youth sporting events and Damien football and soccer

games well into his later years.

Richard attained registration as Professional Traffic Engineer (#253)

while at the City of Pomona. In 1983, he took the position of County

Traffic Engineer for the County of Riverside, California, where he

worked until his retirement in 1995. Richard was an active member of

the Institute of Transportation Engineers throughout his career, and

was admitted to grade of Fellow following his retirement. In 2002,

Richard founded the West Inland Valley Traffic Engineers Association

and continued leading the group until his death.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Juana, sister

Trinidad and his loving wife of over 50 years, Patricia. He is

survived by his son James and daughter-in-law Tamara in Albuquerque,

New Mexico, and his son Michael and grandchildren Conrad and Catalina

in Huntington Beach, California.

Services will be held at Stone Funeral Home

(stonefuneralhomeupland.com) on Friday, June 1, at 11:00 am, with

public viewing held Thursday, May 31st at 5:00 pm followed by prayer

service at 6:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please contributions in Richard's name may be made

to the Upland YMCA, Damien High School, or the Institute of

Transportation Engineers Western District Student Endowment Fund