Richard Austin Wonacott |
| Posted 2009-11-04 by Sharon |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ March 5, 2003, p. B11 Richard Austin Wonacott, 72, passed away peacefully at his home in Pocatello, Idaho, on Tuesday Feb. 11, 2003, from colon cancer. Rich was the second of three children born on December 15, 1930, to Austin Ringo Wonacott and Maude Copsey Wonacott, in Bakersfield, Calif. He was reared and educated in Tehachapi, Calif. He graduated from Tehachapi High School where he played first string football for three years. Rich was very patriotic and joined the U.S. Army. He served his country during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. Throughout his life, he appropriately displayed the American flag to show his loyalty to his country. He married Mary Caleen Smith on June 5, 1954 in Las Vegas, Nev. Rich was employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Animal Damage Control for 30 years. He supervised the work from 1961 until he retired in 1985. His employment with the government moved the family from California, to Montana, and then Idaho. He and Caleen have enjoyed 17 years of retirement at Alamo Lake, Ariz., and Bouse, Ariz. They made many special friends and renewed many friendships during this time. Rich was a member of the Masonic lodge in Tehachapi, Calif. He loved history, airshows, making belt buckles and sandrailing. His favorite pastime was trapping coyotes and hunting. He loved spending time with his family and he will be greatly missed. Rich is survived by his wife of 48 years, Caleen, of Pocatello, Idaho; three children, Richann (Steven) Beebe, Pocatello, Nedra (Bruce) Hathaway, Mt. Juliet, Tenn., and Derek (Glenda) Wonacott, Pocatello; seven grandchildren, Stephanie (Mike) Jones, Haines, Alaska, Shayna (Wayne) Ellis, Boise, Idaho, Skyler Beebe (currently serving an LDS Mission in New Zealand), Starla and Sharlyn Beebe, Pocatello, Kody and Kacey Jo Hathaway, Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; five great-grandchildren, Kali, Korden, and Tayler Jones and Matthew and Sheldon Ellis; one brother, Gordon (Carol) Wonacott, Mancos, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Jean Williams. The family wishes to thank the Southeastern District Home Health and Hospice and the Havasu, Arizona hospice for their compassionate and devoted service to our dear husband, father, and grandfather. The funeral was planned for 11 a.m. on Feb. 15, 2003, at the Pocatello West Stake Bldg at 3444 Hawthorne Rd. A viewing was held from 7-9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, 2003, at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 South 4th Avenue, Pocatello, and from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will follow the services at Mountainview Cemetery, Pocatello, Section 51E, Row 11. Military Honors will be performed by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?