Nov. 9, 1964 – Jan. 5, 2023
Richard Dean Tunstall of Esparto, Calif. passed away unexpectedly at home on Jan. 5, 2023, he was 58 years old.
Richard Dean Tunstall was born on Nov. 9, 1964, to Robert and Judith Tunstall of Woodland, Calif. He was raised in Winters, Calif., where he went to school and graduated from Winters High School in 1982. He then went to Phoenix, Ariz. with his best friend Mac McKenney. They both graduated from Universal Technical Institute in 1984 with a certificate in Heating and Air Conditioning.
Richard married Sheila Bair in August 1986, in Winters, Calif. Their marriage ended in divorce a short time later.
Richard then met Wendy Goodman and they fell in love. A couple of years later, in 1989, Richard and Wendy had a son Richard Jacob (Jake), and then in 1991, twin daughters Brittany Deanna and Brianna Jean. In February 1992, Richard married Wendy, in Reno, Nev., and became a Stepfather to her son Ryan Christopher. The family lived in Woodland, California, while Richard worked at Postal as a laborer.
In May 1997, he began working at the University of Santa Clara in San Jose as a Maintenance Manager, while they made their home in Campbell, Calif. Richard continued to raise his family in Campbell until 2002 when he bought a home in Esparto, Calif. and moved his family there. Richard and Wendy divorced in 2003. They were married for 11 years. Richard continued to work at the university, staying in San Jose weekly and returning home on the weekends. He did this for many years.
Richard started dating Lisa Turner in February 2010. After a while, they moved in together and got engaged on July 4, 2011. Together they combined a family of seven children and 13 grandchildren. In March 2016, Richard transferred to Santa Clara University’s Berkley campus to be closer to home so he could commute daily. He worked for the University of Santa Clara for almost 26 years. Richard and Lisa were together until his passing.
Richard was a loving fiancé, father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. He was a kind soul and always willing to help when needed. He was a great storyteller. He would always be the one to get up at funerals and tell a story about the dearly departed. He had a great love of music. He was an avid hunter. He enjoyed golfing. He was a Raiders fan for many years. He really loved his football! But most of all he loved his family, all his family, and he made sure you knew it. He would tell you he loved you every time he said goodbye.
Richard was preceded in death by his father Robert Tunstall, his brother Bobby Tunstall, his grandparents Dick and Marie Childers, his stepfather Clyde Richards, his stepson Ryan Goodman, his stepbrothers Kelly Richards and Lawrence Richards, his sister-in-law Jennifer Fishbaugh, and his best friend Mac McKenney.
Richard is survived by his fiancee Lisa Turner of Esparto, Calif.; his mother Judith Richards St. John of Craigmont, Idaho; his son, Jake Tunstall of Red Bluff, Calif.; his daughters Brianna and her husband Ryan Deardorff of Red Bluff, Calif. and Brittany and her husband Chad Johnson, of Esparto, Calif.; his brothers Artie Tunstall of Woodland, Calif.; Gregory Fishbaugh of Craigmont, Idaho, David and his wife Melissa Boswell of Craigmont, Idaho, and Terry Miller of Bella Vista, Ark.; his sisters Cynthia and her husband Frank Carrion, of Winters, Calif., Corina and her husband Bill Morris of Weippe, Idaho, and Cammie and her husband Dan Farley of Woodland, Calif.; his stepbrother Mathew Richards of Marbleton, Wyo.; his stepsisters Sherri and her husband Brian Evans of San Antonio, Texas, and Lisa Richards Petersen of San Antonio, Texas; his stepsister-in-law Carol Richards of Woodland, Calif.; his grandchildren, aunts and uncles, cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.
Richard Dean Tunstall — He will always be loved, he will never be forgotten, he will forever be missed.
A celebration of life and potluck will be held on Feb. 11, 2023, at 11 a.m., at the VFW Hall, 16812 Orleans Street, Esparto, CA 95627.
