Richard Statham

Richard David Statham, age 90, passed away on September 29, 2016. He was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather and although widowed, a loving husband to the end. Richard, known as Dick, to his family and friends, was born in Ferndale, Michigan on July 26, 1926, to Florence and George Henry Statham and he was the third of four children. He spent his early days in Michigan and then in 1945, at the age of 19, Richard and his family moved to Long Beach, California, where he entered into active duty in the US Navy on January 4, 1945. After boot camp, he served as a Fireman First Class. He was stationed at the Naval Base, Buckner Bay, in Okinawa. Richard received his Honorable Discharge from the Navy on July 9, 1946, in San Pedro, California. He then traveled to Fresno, California where is family had moved in his absence. He had been in Fresno only a few weeks when he met Norma Edwards, who was to become his wife and lifetime love. They married on May 19, 1947 and began a family with the birth of their first child a year later. They had four children over the years and had been married for 66 years when Norma passed away and he missed her every day of his remaining life. Richard held many jobs those early years but began an apprenticeship to be an electrician in his late twenties and became a Journeyman Electrician at the age of 29 and worked at the trade he loved for 33 years, until his retirement 1989. His work lives with us still in Fresno area Hospitals, the San Joaquin Aqueduct pumping stations and many of the freeway lighting systems. In the spring of 1960, Richard and Norma moved their young family to a ranch in the Easton area. It had always been a dream of Richard’s to move back to the land and they had saved for years for the opportunity. Richard began his love of farming in Michigan. At the age of 14 he was farming his family’s farm using his horses for power to do his many chores and had found a life he loved. The Easton ranch eventually became a vineyard and it was an amazing life for him and all his family. It was the family gathering place for many years to come, for his children, grandchildren and then great grandchildren. Richard continued to farm well into his 80’s.

Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral Home 1605 "L" Street in Fresno on Friday, October 7, 2016 from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Graveside service will be held Washington Colony Cemetery 7318 S. elm in Fresno on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 11:00 am.