Richard K. Rifenbark

Rifenbark, Richard K.
Richard King Rifenbark, age 90, died on Monday, August 17, 2009 in San Gabriel, CA. He was born June 7, 1919 in Marysville, CA, and was the son of the Rev. Mark Rifenbark and Florence King Rifenbark.

Richard Rifenbark was raised in San Jose, CA. He graduated from San Jose High School and then attended Stanford University where he was awarded his B.A. Degree in June of 1941. He served as a Naval Officer in World War ll aboard USS Platte and the USS Kaskaskia. He then transferred to Lighter than Air duty serving the remainder of the war as the Commander of several K-Ships operating off the coast of California. He retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and Officer in Charge of the Lighter than Air unit in Del Mar, CA in 1945.

Richard and Virginia (Gina) King Petree, daughter of Neil Petree and Vera Thomas Petree, were married in May of 1944.

Richard joined Bullock's Downtown Department Store in 1945 as a buyer for three different departments and then served as merchandise manager for six years. He was promoted in 1955 to become the General Manager of Bullock's Wilshire. In 1971 he was asked to become the General Manager of the new Bullock's Northridge store and, after Bullock's Northridge was fully staffed and operating successfully, he chose to retire at age 55 in 1975 with 30 years of service with Bullock's.

He then took time to write a book about personal finances entitled "How to Beat the Salary Trap" while at the same time securing his Real Estate sales and brokers licenses. He built, owned and managed several apartment and commercial buildings under the name RKR Properties. He managed RKR Properties with his eldest son, Richard Jr., eventually turning over all management to Richard Jr. in 2003.

Richard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Gina, and by their four children, Richard King Rifenbark Jr., Neil Petree Rifenbark, Martha Hindin, and Mark Thomas Rifenbark, as well as by their seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Private memorial services are will be held at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church on Saturday, August 29.