BILBERRY, Richard

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 02/08/2013 Richard Bilberry At 6 foot 5 inches Richard Bilberry was a big man with an even bigger heart. Richard Gary Bilberry of St. Johns was born June 23, 1952, in Superior. He died Feb. 2, 2013, in Springerville. He was preceded in death by his father and mother Jack and Lillie Bilberry, father and mother-in-law Tony and Rebecca Hunt and daughter Antonia Vallejos. He is survived by his wife Loretta Bilberry; daughter Connie Barreras; grandchildren: Ashley and Justin Romero and Jason Flanagan of Arizona; Kathy (Joe) Thomas; and grandchildren Joseph and Justin Thomas of Jackson, Calif.; Shannon (Clayton) McDonald; grandson Couper John McDonald of Valley Springs, Calif.; son Robert (Julia) Bilberry; grandchildren: Wyatt and Magdalena Bilberry of Plymouth, Calif.; sisters Nancy Woolford of Arizona, Earleen (James) “Trail” Andrews of Arizona; brother Norman (Ruth) Bilberry of Arizona and countless other family members and friends. Richard was a man of many talents. For over 40 years he was an electrician and instrument tech in Arizona and California. In 1975 he received an award for Outstanding Magma Copper Company Electrical Apprentice. He also acted as a welder, mechanic and handyman. He was an avid outdoorsman who liked hunting and shooting. He was a committed volunteer on the Apache County Sheriff’s Posse. He was a very kind-hearted and generous man who was always thinking of others. But more than anything he loved his family. He and wife Loretta did everything together and took care of each other through life’s joys and tragedies. He was an example of integrity for his children. He was Papa or Big Pa to his grandkids and Uncle Richard to many, many nieces and nephews and other family members and friends. A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in St. Johns. Contributions can be made in his name to Hospice of Compasses. Leave an online condolence at www.burnhammortuary.com Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements.
Posted by Sharla on February 08, 2013

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