Richard Lawrence Ulrich

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Richard Lawrence Ulrich passed away on July 9, 2025 in North Logan, Utah at the age of 88. He was born on March 29, 1937 to Lawrence and Lenora (Cozad) Ulrich in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in La Crescenta, California, and attended Glendale High School.

While in high school Richard (Dick) became interested in electronics and ham radio and earned his first ham radio license at age 17. Shortly after graduating from high school, he joined the Navy. He went to electronics training and then served on active duty for four years on the USS Wilkinson DL-5 as an electronic technician.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1958, Dick went to work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He worked at JPL for over twenty years and then went to work for Image Transform (with several name changes throughout the years) in Burbank California, until his retirement in 2005.

In 1962 Dick met Kathleen (Kathy) May Ross through mutual friends. They were married on March 7, 1964 in the Los Angeles California Temple. They made their home in Tujunga California and raised two children: Brian and Deborah.

Dick served his community through ham radio, and faithfully served in many callings within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – including Stake Communications Specialist in the La Crescenta California Stake for many years.

Dick enjoyed traveling throughout the United States with Kathy in their RV during their retirement years. While traveling, Dick and Kathy started gathering their family history. Dick was an only child and grew up with only a few cousins. While doing his family history, Dick found, became friend and stayed in touch with many more cousins.

In 2019, Dick and Kathy moved from California to Smithfield, Utah to be closer to their family, leaving behind many friends in California. Dick wanted to stay in touch with his ham friends, so he signed up for a Zoom account and invited all of his friends to join him each Wednesday afternoon. The meeting continued weekly throughout the years until his passing.

Dick was preceded in death by his loving parents, Lawrence and Lenora Ulrich, and his son-in-law Steve Coleman. He is survived by his dear wife Kathy, his son Brian (Michele) Ulrich, and his daughter Debbie Coleman. Dick was the proud grandfather to 7 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held Thursday, July 17, 2025 from 9:30 - 10:30 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 640 N 200 E Smithfield, UT. 84335.  Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am at the same location.  Interment will be at the Smithfield City Cemetery.