Richard Luke Masterson was born August 20, 1928 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the second of five children, to Luke and Helen (Kilfoyle) Masterson. There he was raised and educated until enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in January 1948. Richard served in the USMC proudly until a chance encounter with some airmen, and heard of opportunity to travel. After completing his second enlistment with the USMC he re-enlisted into the Air Force in 1956. That sent him to Kansas where he would meet the love of his life and mother of his four children, Oneta. Together they raised their family moving from base to base, he traveling alone to stops in Japan, England and Alaska until arriving at Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1966, where he would retire in 1969.

Richard moved his family to Kansas upon retirement only to return to California a year later to be near family. He then began his second career at the United States Post Office in Lompoc as a mail clerk in 1971, until his retirement in 1992. It was during this time that he was given the joy of becoming a grandparent, a duty he truly cherished and enjoyed, giving each of them all the love a grandpa could.

Soon after retiring in 1992 Oneta became ill and Richard became the best nurse, caretaker and true soul mate anyone could ever want. After her passing in 1994 he truly focused on grandkids. He would babysit, drop off, pick up, attend ball games, watch movies, sing with them, pretty much whatever he could do to spend time with them and help out. They were very lucky kids; he was a one of a kind grandpa.
In 2002 Richard would meet the second love of his life Nancy. They would soon fall in love and marry in 2003. They spent the next nine years like kids joking, laughing, movies, vacations truly enjoying each other's company along with their dog Bambi. Nancy became ill in October 2011, and Richard early this year. Nancy passed April 5, 2012. Suffering from respiratory issues and a broken heart Richard followed on April 28, 2012. His lifetime of love and faith in the Catholic religion has surely put him in the company of the Lord in heaven and all of his loved ones that passed before him.

Richard is survived by his children, daughters Billye (Brady) Bonsworth of Ojai, California, Sandi (Steve) Conklin of Lompoc, sons Marty (Carolyn) Masterson and Steven "Sam" (Teresa) Masterson both of Lompoc, ten grandchildren, three great grandchildren, sisters Helen (Mike) O'Regan of Belmont, Massachussets and Elenor (and the late James) Ferguson of Buffalo, New York, many nieces and nephews and his dog Bambi. Richard was preceded in death by his first wife Oneta, second wife Nancy, his parents, brother Robert Masterson and baby sister Eileen Masterson and grandson John Cantrell, III.

Richard had an undying love for his family, from his parents to his great grandchildren. He was truly a saint and will be dearly missed by everyone he ever crossed paths with.

The visitation will be Thursday, May 3, from 4 to 7pm with the recitation of the rosary at 6pm in the chapel of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. Monsignor John Fitzgerald will celebrate the mass of Christian burial on Friday, May 4, at 10am at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. The burial will follow with full military honors in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

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