Richard Andrew Lubner

Richard was born on June 1, 1926 in Grafton, Wisconsin the youngest of thirteen children to Frank and Martha Lubner. He was raised on the family farm in Cedarburg leaving at age seventeen to join the Marine Corps in 1944.

Less than a year later Richard hit the beach at Iwo Jima as a machine gunner and took part in the occupation of Tokyo. When asked what he did during the war he would typically reply… I am a Marine.

After the war Richard headed back to Wisconsin to rejoin the family dairy business. He ran a daily milk route until his truck overturned on an icy road. That mishap along with the severe winters had him longing for the sultry weather he had so enjoyed in California while stationed at Camp Pendleton. In 1947, he returned to the Golden State. Though he would never again live in Wisconsin he carried a deep love of the state and the large family he left behind… “GO PACK GO!!!”

Richard initially worked as a welder in his brother’s Isleton equipment repair shop eventually developing into an excellent machinist.

Around this time, Richard met his future wife Ruth. She too was a Wisconsin refuge attending UCLA. They were married in Los Angeles in January of 1950. Thanks to the GI Bill and a good job at North American Aviation the newlyweds were among the first to purchase a home in the new City of Lakewood and became founding members of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Long Beach.

In 1951, Richard began his career with the Shell Oil Company. His math and engineering skills quickly propelled him to the top of his profession. His design and build accomplishments at Shell’s Torrance Refinery are legendary. He was a wizard on a lathe and the French Mill. After thirty-five years of distinguished service, he retired from Shell in 1986. He continued to work as a consultant and ran an engineering firm specializing in the development of prototypical machine components.

Richard lived a long and full life. He never hesitated to lend a helping hand making friends wherever he went. Longtime friends from Shell, St. Maria Goretti, St. John Bosco High School, the Bellflower/Long Beach Elks #888, the Lakewood American Legion Post 496, the Thursday gang at Glory Days, and his beloved Warwood Road neighborhood stood loyally by his side during his most difficult days.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-six years Ruth (2006), and eleven of his thirteen siblings. He is survived by his sister Lillian Wilhelm of Cedarburg, Wisconsin; son Christopher (Mary) Lubner, daughter Sue (Jim) Schima, grandchildren Ryan (Shannon) Lubner, Adam (Katherine) Lubner, Kevin Lubner, Jessica Schima, and great-granddaughters Makenzie Lubner, and Rhiannon Lubner.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Red Cross to assist in the response to hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

We have lost another of the Greatest Generation. This man made a difference.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401