Richard John English

1951 - 2023

RICHARD RICK JOHN ENGLISH

May 15, 1951 - May 4, 2023

Beloved Brother and Son

Bakersfield Richard John English was born in Los Angeles, CA on May 15, 1951. He was the fourth child of Thomas and Yniv English. Rick's early years were spent in Delano, CA, with his junior high and high school years spent in Bakersfield, CA. During his youth, Rick was known for always having a smile on his face and an upbeat attitude. He loved to tease his siblings and received great pleasure from the kidding that he gave and received in return. Rick attended St. Francis grade school and South High School. While Rick enjoyed classwork in school, he always preferred to be outside playing games, in particular football, with the neighborhood children. Rick knew what he wanted to do with his life long before he graduated from South High School in 1969. He wanted to work with his father in the family business, refueling airplanes at Meadows Field, Bakersfield. While at South High School Rick played defensive tackle and loved it. During his high school summers, he worked for the family business; upon high school graduation, he started working full time with his father, something he always wanted to do. Their relationship blossomed from one of father-son to one of father-son-best friends. Unfortunately, this relationship did not last. Thomas died when Rick was 20.

Rick was now in charge of the family business. Rick's younger brother, Bill, started working with Rick full time after several years of college. Together, they took a successful business and made it very successful. Within a short time, the two of them also moved past the brother-brother connection to the brother-brother-best friends' relationship. During these early years, they both worked incredibly hard and began to reap the benefits of their success. They enjoyed being with their friends and traveling to various parts of the United States when their schedules allowed. When they weren't working together or on different work shifts, they did almost everything together socially, whether it was buying similar cars, traveling with friends, or one of their favorite activities, driving to Los Angeles to watch Lakers games. Their bond was an incredible thing to watch. During this era, the two were responsible for the building of a new hangar and small office complex at Meadows Field which they quickly filled with upscale clients' business planes as well as those of their friends. Rick's personality was one of his strong assets. As the adage goes: Rick did not know a stranger. His ever-present smile, ability to talk with anyone about anything, and genuinely be interested in what the other person was saying enabled him to continue to grow the family business. Rick and Bill were strong competitors with other aviation fuel businesses at Meadow Field, but Rick's personality enabled him to get along socially with his competitors during and after work hours. The economy eventually shifted downward which dramatically affected their business. Rick and Bill ended up working together for another aviation fuel business on the field; it was their long-term social connections with pilots and business owners who flew that enabled this new business to succeed.

Eventually, both brothers left this business with the goal of becoming a long-distance truck- driving team. Bill passed away before this new venture could come to fruition. Rick still pursued his truckdriving license. He was successful in obtaining a hazardous materials' driver's license. He worked for many years for several companies in the Bakersfield area transporting gasoline from Bakersfield to the Central California Coast and Los Angeles areas. Rick's work ethic knew no bounds; it was something he inherited from his father and passed on to his brother, Bill. He enjoyed working and felt a great sense of accomplishment in doing the best job possible of what was asked of him; in this regard he was generous to a fault. Rick's munificence in both his time and attitude was often seen in his awareness of the needs of his coworkers. He often worked the holiday shifts, so the younger drivers could have shifts that enabled them to be with their families. When asked why he did this, he would point out the younger drivers and their families needed the time together.

Rick thoroughly enjoyed playing the lottery and gambling; the smile on his face when he won was incredible, and he smiled a lot! He was winning up through his last week. Rick's connection to his family was very strong. He made sure he regularly connected with his siblings who lived out of the Bakersfield area to make sure he knew what they were doing and how they were; if he had not heard from them for a time, he would take the time to track them down. Rick had a way of telling you how much he loved you without actually saying the words. It was in his smile, his look at you, and his demeanor. You knew he loved you whenever you were with him. His numerous nieces and nephews always made sure to invite him to their family functions. He was their favorite uncle and offered many of them sage advice when they asked for it.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Yniv, stepmother, Georgianna and by his younger brother, Bill (Kim). He leaves behind his sister, Timmie Anne English, brothers Thomas (Priscilla), and Mark, English, sister Jean Marie Barawed (Glen), and step-brothers, Jerry (Carol), Philip (Mikey), and Greg Santens (deceased). His nieces and nephews include: Heather, Cain and Nathan; George, Steven, Sarah, Dominic, Tianna, Nina and Michael; Peter, Joshua and Nina; Krista, Vanessa, and Robert; Glen Jr. and Matthew; Jill, Jamie and Scott. He loved them all. In addition, there are numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

A celebration of Rick's life will take place in late June/early July, 2023.

Memorial gifts can be given in his name to the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and/or the American Cancer Society.

www.bakersfield.com/obits