Richard Whiting Hull

Richard was born on September 28, 1933 in Oxnard California. He was a 4th generation native of California and was very proud of it. He was the son of Richard Harry Hull and Lorine Staples.
Richard leaves a brother, Bradley Wayne Hull of Austin, TX, a half sister, Sandra Jeanette Findley of Tucson, AZ, a half brother, Gilbert Hull of Pasadena, CA; son Timothy Richard Hull of Florida, daughters Janet Diane Bridges of Fremont CA and Wendy Lynn Hull of San Ramon, CA; his wife Geraldene (Gerri) Hull of Lincoln CA, step children Charles Paul Steele of Austin, TX, Sharon Kay Domingo of Santa Clara CA, Teresa Lynn Petersen of Dallas TX, and 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Richard had a traumatic childhood - losing his mother when he was only 10 years old. He grew up without many friends, and did not do well in school. The only thing he did like about school was playing the violin in the orchestra. He was very good at that. He left school during the 12th grade and joined the U.S. Army in 1951. He spent a year in Korea as a Radio Operator in the 5th Regimental Combat Team.
When he returned from Korea in 1954, he had a much different outlook on education. After marrying his next door neighbor, Diana Mary Mallory, he jumped back into school; he finished high school, got his first two years of college at Pasadena City College, then entered Stanford University, receiving his BSEE in Electrical Engineering, then went on to the University of Santa Clara and earned his MSEE Degree in Electrical Engineering. He always joked that that he would have gone on to get his Doctorate, but his wife told him it was time to get a job. He and Diana had 3 childen, then divorced in 1972.
It was during that time he developed his love of sailing and skiing.
He met Geraldene (Gerri) Steele (a fellow divorcee) while both were officers in the San Jose Chapter of the Coast Guard Auxiliary (she had learned to sail on White Rock Lake in Dallas). They decided to join forces in 1974, and the marriage joined both families – his 3 and her 4 children.
They owned a Columbia 28 sailboat, and raced it on the San Francisco Bay and Delta. Gerri learned to ski and they traveled and skied in the US and Canada for several years. When Gerri had to hang up her skis, they decided to go cruising in their boat. They sold the Columbia and bought a beautiful Rafiki 37 sailboat named "Tranquillity", with plans to sail to Tahiti and places far and wide. They didn't get to Tahiti, but did have a wonderful cruise to Canada and the San Juan Islands and the British Gulf Islands, Victoria and Vancouver, Canada, with their able-bodied crew of Tim (12) and Wendy (10).
After working for Sylvania during the Cold War, he retired from TRW in 1992. He became very active in the worldwide Ham radio community, and spent many years extensively researching the genealogy of both his and Gerri's families.
In 2001, they retired to Sun City Lincoln Hills in the little town of Lincoln, CA. They sold "Tranquillity" (after 26 years) and decided to go land cruising. Richard continued to ski for a number of years with new friends. He and Gerri went cruising in the "BIG" boats, and travelled all over the US, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii and the Panama Canal.
They joined and were baptized in the Lincoln Hills Community Church and had many great years there.
In 2000, he was in a serious auto accident, and began his battle with Alzheimer's disease. In 2017- early 2018 Richard entered the later stages of Alzheimer's, and finally slipped peacefully to rest on 14 June 2018.
He and Gerri had a full life together with their great family and many friends. Richard will be missed.