Richard Bowden Gough

Richard Bowden Gough, 76, passed away on December 9, 2022 from causes incident to a stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Rick was born on April 20, 1946, to Percy S. Gough and Katherine A. Bowden in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Breck School in St. Paul in 1964 and from Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1968. He went on to a successful career as a Risk Manager at Host International, Southern California Gas Company, and the City of Los Angeles.

Rick met his wife Diane L. Gough while attending college. They were married 1969 and have one daughter, Julie Gough Inman. Rick was a wonderful husband and an ideal father and grandfather. His loving and selfless service to his family and others is an example to us all. He was proud of his daughter Julie and frequently spoke of his grandchildren Savannah and Benjamin.

For a number of years Rick lived with his family in Ojai, California. During that time he commuted daily to Los Angeles and was affectionately referred during radio traffic reports as “Ojai Rick.”

As a child, Rick’s parents called him “car crazy.” He recognized every car on the road by make and model and loved his red Buick Skylark. As a child and young adult he loved camping with family at Gooseberry Falls on Lake Superior, and in later years he appreciated the comforts of a cabin on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Rick loved music and the Beatles in particular. He was very smart, great at trivia, was a loyal Minnesota Vikings fan, loved and had an incredible knowledge of movies, loved British humor and television shows, and enjoyed old radio shows (mystery and suspense radio).

Rick also loved animals. From his first dog Fritz to his last dog Tuck, he loved to care for four-legged friends and especially loved pugs. In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with Tuck at the dog park at University Glen in Camarillo, California and he made many friends there whom he loved.

Rick was a great example of optimism and a positive attitude. Although he suffered significantly over the past year, he never complained, and he never gave up.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Diane, his daughter Julie Inman, his grandchildren, and his sister Susan McCall.

Services will be held on January 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, located at 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, in San Diego, California. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org.