Richard R. Hernandez, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2025, at the age of 83.

Richard was born on January 10, 1942, to Ralph and Eleanor Hernandez. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Fred. He is survived by his devoted wife, Joan; his sons, Joel and Aaron (Annette); his cherished grandchildren, Tony, Elisabeth, Marie, Junior, and Robert; and his great-grandson, Jesse. He also leaves behind his sister, Mary; his brother, Robert; numerous nieces and nephews; and a lifetime of treasured friends.

Richard proudly served his country with the United States Navy's "Sea Bees" (11th Construction Battalion) from 1961 to 1965. His military service shaped his life and outlook, instilling in him discipline, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to hard work and service.

After his time in the Navy, Richard began a long and dedicated career with PG&E. Starting as a lineman, he worked his way into the Mapping Department, where he retired after 39 years of service. Richard was always eager to learn new skills as technology advanced, willing to take on extra work, and passionate about mentoring others. Known for rising to the challenge, he was deeply committed to job safety, emergency response, and improving standards in the workplace. He also served as a proud member and union representative with IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), advocating for his co-workers with fairness and respect.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Richard lived a life rich in family, community, and personal passions. He served as a volunteer apartment complex manager in his younger years, assisting tenants with compassion and fairness. Known for his humor and warmth, Richard brought laughter into every setting, whether at work, at home, or while sharing a friendly sports rivalry.

He was an avid fan of the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Lakers, collecting sports memorabilia and sharing his enthusiasm with family and friends. Richard also loved collecting unique items such as buttons, miniature cars, coins, joke books, and local history treasures.

Richard found joy in sharing his wisdom with his family, always encouraging them to embrace new opportunities, learn new skills, and never shy away from hard work. His lessons in perseverance, kindness, and dedication will live on through all who were blessed to know him.

He will be deeply missed, yet his legacy of love, laughter, service, and strength will continue to inspire his family and community for generations to come.

The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff at Fountain Square of Lompoc for the friendship, compassion and dedicated care they provided Richard over the past year.