Richard E. Grossman

Richard E. Grossman 1932-2012 Richard E. Grossman left this world to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the evening of August 2, 2012. With his family at his side during his last week of life, his body gave out after a valiant battle with cancer, less than two weeks after he turned 80 years old. Dick was born in Porterville, CA, in 1932 and grew up on a turkey ranch - needless to say that ever since turkey hasn't been his favorite meat during the holidays. After high school he joined the Air Force where he trained to be a mechanic. When Dick returned to Porterville, he joined the police force and became a sergeant. He then served as police captain on Kwajalein Island in the South Pacific. Upon returning home, he worked for the Visalia police department where he retired in 1992 after 32 total years on the force as a highly respected Senior Agent responsible for forgery and fraud investigations. As he put it, he loved to chase people across paper. While working for the VPD, he also served as president of the Visalia Police Officers' Association. In 1979, Dick married the love of his life, Judy. They were married for 33 years, recently renewing their vows in a beautiful church ceremony at the Bay Area Nazarene Church in with Pastor Ron Halverson presiding. While living in Visalia, Dick and Judy attended Calvary Chapel and were in charge of the senior group who prayed for others' needs. They then relocated to North Bend, OR in 2003, because they loved the weather and that's when they joined the Bay Area Nazarene Church where Dick served as a greeter, was on the church board and was a trustee chairman. His detective mind never waning, Dick invested much of his retirement years on family research and genealogy, delving back generations and uncovering fascinating family stories over four family lines, and also smashing the stereotype that older folk don't know how to use computers and the Internet. Woodworking was also one of his passions and he made furniture and crafts including Christmas elves for his children that are placed lovingly in their yards each year. He was fond of traveling with his lovely wife when health was better for both, trekking across the U.S. and Canada in their motorhome and also flying to Hawaii several times. Dick and Judy also had a boat and belonged to a boat club and ventured out into the sea often. He was a witty, silly, loving, devoted husband and father, reserved but never afraid to speak his mind. He was also a caring son and brother, and a deeply committed friend with warm heart that made strangers feel as if they had known him for years. Dick was a strong yet gentle giant full of integrity and hope and even though he knew that he was going home to be in heaven with Jesus, he will sorely be missed by those he left behind. Dick is survived by his wife, Judy; son Kevin from Santa Cruz, CA; daughter Kristen from Visalia, CA; daughter Michelle from Tulare, CA; daughter Stephanie from Merced, CA; daughter Simon from Eureka, CA; sister Elizabeth from Fresno, CA; sister Patty from Porterville, CA; grandchildren: Celeste, Nicholas, Tomi, Richard, Shaunda, Bethany, Beatrice and Bryce; three great-grandchildren and other nephews, nieces and cousins. We will miss you every day but you will forever be with us. We will always love you. A memorial service for Dick will be held on Tuesday, August 14, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. at Bay Area Nazarene Church in North Bend, OR. A second memorial service and reception celebrating Dick's life will be held on on Saturday, August 25, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Chapel in Visalia, CA. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Richard E. Grossman's name to the Bay Area Nazarene Church, 1850 Clark, North Bend, OR 97459.