Eugene C. "Gene" Rischard

1930 - 2025

Rischard "Gene" C. Eugene
February 6, 1930 - January 4, 2025
Eugene "Gene" C. Rischard born February 6, 1930 in Oakland, CA the only child of Clarence and Evelyn Rischard passed away on January 4, 2025 in Tucson, AZ. He was active in school with sports including basketball, baseball, and gymnastics. He loved dance and music and played the accordion growing up. He spent summers working on his grandparents ranch in Parlier, CA. He had his first job at a local water company where he grew up. He had plans to see the world so he enlisted in the Navy after graduation in 1948.
He had dreams of being a Aerial Gunner. 1949 he went to Philadelphia, PA for Catapult training for 14 weeks. In 1950 he was sent to San Diego where he was assigned to a Fleet Air Squadron and attained the rank of 3rd Class Aviation Boatswain Mate. He met and married his first wife Virginia "Gini" Wheeler in 1950 in San Diego, CA. His assignments on the carrier USS Tarawa with the Navy took him around the world. Spain, Italy, South Africa to name a few. On March 12, 1953 he became a first time father to a baby girl. In 1956,The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt would be his next assignment. He would sail around the horn of South America, stopping in ports in Chile, Argentina, Portugal and Panama.1957 his military days were complete. He would start working for Rohr Aircraft in Chula Vista CA. Jig & Fixture program, along with antenna erection programs. 1962 he would join Ironworkers Local #229 in San Diego CA. where he once again would travel around the world including Greece, Philippines, and many cities in the U.S. erecting antennas.1974 on a job in Bakersfield, CA he would meet Barbara Lemons Allen. They married in San Diego on December 11, 1977. He had met "the love of his life". 1992 he retired from Local #229 with good health, a perfect safety record with a great team of men who respected his "integrity and "honesty" as a man and a boss. He moved to Bisbee, Arizona and loved golfing with friends, making and sharing his pomegranate wine and jelly, making a comfortable home and beautiful garden. Their travels included cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Panama Canal, and the Broadway show "Phantom of the Opera" in New York. We were blessed to visit them over the years and also them coming to visit all the kids and grandkids for many years.
We will cherish the memories of a wonderful father and grandfather. He taught us so much of life. He lived life to the fullest and on his terms. RIP. forever reunited with so many. Services under the direction of Alex Espinosa Funeral Home of Bisbee, AZ.
He is survived by his three children; two stepchildren; five granddaughters; four grandsons; eight great granddaughters; and 12 great-grandsons.
A Memorial Service is scheduled for February 28, 2025 at 12 p.m. at The Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery - 1300 S Buffalo Soldier Trail Sierra Vista, AZ 85635.