Celebrating the Life of

Richard Caldera

November 3, 1941 - January 9, 2022

Beloved husband, father, grandpa & Friend

Services

Thursday | February 10, 2022 | 2:30 PM | Bellevue Memorial Park

Thank you to everyone who attended the funeral service

Obituary

"The Lord is my shepherd..." ~Psalm 23 KJV

Thank you so much for all the love and support to Richard and the Caldera family especially in these past few months. Richard passed away at his home in Upland, on January 9th, 2022. It is hard to find the words that describe the man that Richard Caldera was as he was one of a kind, who touched all he met.

Richard was born in Upland, California on November 3, 1941 in the house that his father Felipe built. He was the third of eight children. He attended Upland schools and competed in wrestling. He then attended Chaffey College. He took up the profession of cutting hair and began the ownership of his own store front, Alpine Barber Shop in 1970. He cut hair for 40 years and retired in 2010.

He was also a very gifted artist. As an artist he completed many paintings that all got to enjoy. Another hobby Richard enjoyed was photography. He loved to have a camera in his hand. He would snap away at all events trying to capture the day or moment we were experiencing.

Richard had a close relationship with Jesus Christ. He had a servant’s heart and wouldn’t pass you without a hug or handshake and most likely a compliment or possibly a pun to bring out a smile and to help anyone feel accepted and welcome.

He met the love of his life, Armida Cortez in 1961 and he was enamored. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1964 and served 2 years (stationed in Germany) and came back home to propose to his future wife. They married within months of his return on August 7th, 1966. They settled in his hometown, Upland. He was a model husband and spouse, always doting on his wife and often calling her “Mona” or “doll” and loved to tell her how beautiful she was. In 1968 they had their first child Lisa. In 1970 they welcomed their second daughter Nina and in 1975 they had their third daughter, Linnea. His family was his top priority and he loved being surrounded by his four ladies. He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren, Alexandra, Peter, Stephen, Kohl, Lucy. and Landon. As a grandfather, he rose to the same caliber as father and husband in giving unconditional love and paying all his attention and time to be present for those he was with.

If you knew Richard, he was often the one to open or close in prayer. He was often touched by emotion and empathy and would always give to others before himself. He said long goodbyes, strived for his best in all things, and always showed much appreciation for any act of kindness or love. Richard will be deeply missed, but never forgotten as there is so much to learn and hold on to the way he loved others and the way he lived his daily life!

Verse

Psalm 23 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Gallery

While Richard loved his camera, he wasn't shy in front of one either

Guestbook

Celebrate Richard with your Comments

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4 entries.
Bea Caldera Cano Hernandez from Riverside wrote on February 11, 2022 at 1:11 pm
1 John 3:18 - "In this we have come to know his love, that he laid down his life for us; and we likewise ought to lay down our life for the brethren. ...My dear children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue, but in deed and in truth." Hi, I am Bea, Dickie's cousin; we all knew him as Dickie. This Scripture speaks to me about who Dickie was. My Mom Juanita was Felipe's sister, Dickie's Dad. I have great memories of growing up in the loving circle of what was the big Caldera family. We all congregated at our grandparents' home on Portillo Street in Upland. Dickie's family was blessed to have a home right next to them. We were very close to each other and there was a bond of love that would never be broken. All the memories I have of Dickie always picture him with that most beautiful smile. He very much inherited his father's great looks and wonderful joy-filled personality. What a gift from God! Our world was very different from what it is now. There were seven Caldera children from our grandparents, Simon and Martina and after their marriage, they all lived close to each other. Therefore, we the cousins all grew up knowing and loving each other. We all attended the same schools and grew up knowing all the same and many families from the Mexican-American barrios in Upland. It was a small citrus town and it was home! A safe home.

Dickie and I were the same age but he was a year behind me in school. In high school, a classmate of his, who was going to become one of my best friends, so liked Dickie, she figured if she got close to me, she might get to meet him! I wound up baptizing her first child. They never did get together! I have fond memories of being very proud of Dickie because he excelled in the sport of wrestling. It was big time when you got to compete as a CIF finalist! School days were happy days plus it was still an age of innocence for us. Almost all of America attended church on Sundays. In fact all businesses closed down by 6:00 p.m. Saturday night because it was the eve of the Sabbath. Our grandmother Martina, was a woman of great faith and she modeled it for us. I still remember as a little girl having to grab a pillow to kneel on because Abuelita's Rosary prayers went on forever. That gift of faith was passed on to us. Sunday morning, it was Sunday Mass at our little St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Campus Avenue, built by the local community, including our grandfather and my own father.

After my marriage, we did not remain as close as I moved to Corona where my husband is from. There is great regret about that. Our little world changed.

I was moved to tears by the wonderful eulogies that were shared about who Dickie was, especially about how he loved the Lord and served him through his family and faith community. What greater tribute is there but to be known as someone who loved. He embodied what a righteous man is in the eyes of God. There is no more suffering for him and that is of great consolation. He was a man with a smile always on his face only now it is even bigger! Rest in peace and in His Light now dear cousin.
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Regina Caldera from Upland wrote on February 10, 2022 at 7:29 pm
I spent very little of my childhood with the Caldera family but I very fond memories of Uncle Dickie. I never understood this over whelming light he always carried with him until I grew older, It was Christ. He was someone I looked forward to seeing at family reunions every year. I admire him so much and though I didn't get to spend much time with him, he made an impact on my life. Thank you and see you again.
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Alexa wrote on February 10, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Richard was a great man! I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending all of my love and condolences to your entire family. May he Rest In Peace.
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Linnea Miller from San Diego wrote on February 6, 2022 at 8:13 am
Dad,
You are not only the best dad I could have ever imagined but you were such an impacting man to all! You were seen and I cannot express the gratitude I have for getting 46 years of your love and modeling in how to live in faith as a good spouse, father and friend! I'm so grateful my children (who adore you) got to know and appreciate all the love I got to experience my whole life! You're one of a kind and are so greatly missed!
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Website by Blake Miller of MITO Studios (Richard's Grandson-in-Law / Lenny's Husband)