Richard Loomis - Life Sketch

Richard Charles Loomis, was born July 12, 1969 in Palm Springs California. He was the only child of Ron and Peggy Loomis.  His mother left the family unexpectedly when Richard was just the tender age of 5 and his life after that was very difficult.  He shared heartbreaking stories with me, things no child should experience, but I saw so much strength in him for his desire to survive even the worst of circumstances. 

Richard spent his entire youth in Palm Springs and during high school he worked in a computer shop as well as a print shop.  Right after he graduated from high school he enlisted in the army.  He served for over four years and was stationed in many different places.  For someone used to the intense heat of Palm Springs he loved his time in upstate New York in the winter.  He earned many awards and accommodations in the Army and served as an aero scout and a helicopter mechanic.  When he left the army he spent several years in the National Guard.  He was so proud to serve his country and we loved to listen to his stories of his service around the US as well as in Korea.  

After leaving the military he went home to Palm Springs and worked in construction.  He decided he didn't like working outside in the scorching heat and wanted a change. Some friends who worked for an airline were going to be relocated to Portland Oregon. They suggested he come along with them.  When their plans fell through he went anyway, having only been there once and not knowing a single person, he had fallen in love with Oregon and felt it was where he was supposed to be.  

He posted to an Oregon bulletin board that he was looking for work and a place to stay temporarily. I happened to read and respond to his post and we got along wonderfully from the start.  Since I was newly divorced and moving back to my parents’ home, I invited him to take over the last month of my lease.  Even though I was living with my parents I had years of things to sort through and Richard jumped right in to help.  We were inseparable from the start.  I had two small children, but he loved them as his own.  From the beginning he came to Sunday dinner at my parents’ house and that was pretty much it!  My mom told me if I didn't marry him she would adopt him.  And her cooking was more than he could say no to!  We were best friends and love came shortly after.  That deep friendship has always stayed strong.

Richard and I married in Hillsboro, Oregon on May 15, 2000. Again, he accepted my children, Adrienne and Jacob as his own and loved them so much.  For a few years he had a motorcycle and got the kids a helmet so he could take them for occasional rides for birthdays and other special occasions.

He worked for most of our marriage at Tektronix in Beaverton, Oregon. He worked in the information technology department and was well loved by all he worked with.  

Richard was not a member of the church when I married him and had little interest in learning about it until our sweet Adrienne began to prepare for baptism.  He watched Adrienne prepare and was so impressed and then attended her baptism and felt the spirit so strongly that he started to ask questions, a lot of questions.  Questions I did not always know the answers to.  My dad who had been bishop for years spent hours with Richard, answering him and teaching him.  They developed such a strong bond. One day my dad said, "I know a couple of guys who could teach you more".   It seemed that each time the missionaries came to teach, they were on splits.  Their companions were always stake presidents, or former bishops. I always felt the Lord sent in the heavy hitters to get Richard's attention.  Within a couple of months my father baptized Richard.  

On December 16th of 2001, our sweet Annalina Marie was born.  He adored her even before her arrival. From the moment she entered this world he never left her side.  If they needed her for testing, he went along, he was her protector.  She spent her first year sleeping in our room and each morning we'd pull her into bed with us and they'd play and giggle together.  They have always enjoyed a very special bond.

Two year after we were married, Richard took our family of five to the temple to be sealed.  What a blessing it was to have all three children sealed to us.  There was a delay of some kind and Richard and I found ourselves sitting in the Celestial Room for about an hour together.  What a special time that was for us to reflect on eternity together. 

On April 22, 2005 we welcomed Joseph Charles into our family.  Again there was a very special bond between father and son.  When Joseph failed to gain weight his first week, Richard fed him with his finger and a small tube in the middle of the night so I could get some rest.  Richard has always been so tender and loving with our children. He taught me so much about patience and how to be a good parent.

I went back to school a few years after Joseph was born. Richard was so proud of me and did everything in his power to help me succeed. He arranged his schedule so he could be home after school with the kids. We had many late study nights where he quizzed me and helped me prepare for tests and finals.  I earned my associates degree and wanted to continue.  At the time Adrienne was considering BYU-I and I mentioned jokingly how fun it would be to go to school with her. Richard loved that idea and looked into working remotely for Tektronix.  When it was approved we moved to Rexburg where Richard worked extra hard at his job as well as taking half time classes.  We quickly fell in with the area and the people and made plans to stay. In July I finally earned my bachelors degree and he was so proud of me.

Shortly after we moved here we bought a piano and Richard found much joy listening to the children learn to play.  Joseph especially took to the piano and was enrolled in classes on campus for a while. He was a joy to listen to and Richard was so proud. It was always Richard’s hope to get him into regular lessons, which is something I hope to be able to do soon.  Annalina started playing the violin in middle school and Richard always loved to hear her practice. Attending her concerts was a highlight for him. 

At church he held various callings.  His first was unofficial as he was not yet baptized, but I was on the activities committee and he came along to help. Soon he was MC-ing talent shows and helping plan Christmas parties.  He was so loved by everyone he worked with. Once he was officially a member, he served in various callings from cubmaster and 11 year old scout leader to ward mission leader. His favorite calling was in scouts.  He loved working with our son Jacob.  And he worked hard to make a difference in the lives of the other boys he worked with. He went to camp every summer with the boys and then went ice caving in the winter, leaving me home to worry endlessly!  He even bought a bright orange Land Rover for their scouting adventures.  He also jumped in to help at Young Women's camp.  When they needed priesthood leaders for hiking he always tried to volunteer. As fun as it was for him, he also wanted to spend time with Adrienne and make sure she was doing okay.  

Richard was an avid outdoorsman. He spent many weekends with Annalina, Joseph and I off-roading in his Jeep. He truly enjoyed exploring the beauty of Idaho with us and even once took me to picnic at the top of a mountain in Kelly Canyon. He also loved camping and when the family lived in Oregon, there was always an annual summer camping trip to Fort Stevens.  He loved dragonflies and one year we happened to be camping during a rare dragonfly migration.  Thousands of them went zipping by, it was amazing. 

Richard struggled so much over the past few years. There was much from his youth that he was working to overcome. Often he struggled alone because he did not want to burden those around him.  He loved to serve others, he loved to smile and laugh.  Others loved him too and I have appreciated hearing that from so many people.  Richard is my best friend and I can say that we had a fun marriage, a good marriage, a loving marriage.  I know without a doubt that he loves me. 

My father passed away a couple of years ago and it was hard on both of us. Richard loved my mom and dad and they loved him as the son they never had. Often he would tell me, "I miss your dad so much".  I ache to think of Richard's last  moments in this life and the misery and hopelessness he was experiencing all by himself, but I am grateful to know that afterward my father was there to comfort him and I am grateful for the peace he is feeling now.  

It hurts so much to let go of my best friend, the love of my life.  I ache to think of the dreams we shared that won't happen, but I know I will see him again. I know that families can be together forever.  I am grateful for the gospel and the atonement and I am grateful for my Savior for helping to hold me up when I feel I just can't go on.  It is left to me to continue on and work harder than ever to make sure my family returns to our Heavenly Father and so that our family can truly be together forever.