Richard “Rich” Leo Thein II
Nov. 28, 1968 — Nov. 13, 2021
Richard “Rich” Leo Thein II unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in his home, at the age of 52.
Rich’s services are at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the VFW in Worden, and his Celebration Of Life is also on Dec. 2, at 12:30 p.m., at the Longbranch Casino in Ballantine.
Rich was born in La Mesa, California, but moved to Pompeys Pillar in 2015, and has resided there ever since. Rich had worked long and hard for many accomplishments in his life. One being how immensely proud he was to be a U.S Army veteran who was a part of the Army National Guard. He took so much pride in being a soldier of the 11 Bravo and loved serving his country. One story that stuck out the most was that he was actually there during the Fall of the Berlin Wall.
Another accomplishment would be how hard he had worked to become a shop foreman at his previous job at West Coast Air Conditioning. Both of these career paths allowed him to make lifelong friends and shaped him to be the person he was.
Rich had quite a few hobbies and interests, including, but not limited to the following: motorcycle riding, cooking, fishing, hunting, reading, listening to music, making those around him laugh and smile, and being with friends and family in general. He especially loved taking his granddaughter Sadie on walks and playing with his beloved dogs Banta, Ruben, Bear and Crystal. He had a love for welding and had many certifications for it; he was very creative in that sense and had even spent some time making copper roses, butterflies and even shoe racks out of horseshoes. With his time here, he had attended the Pompeys Pillar Church and the Valley Baptist Church in Worden. He was also a lifelong member at the VFW post in Worden.
Rich had a personality that could make him stand out in any room he was in which, in turn, let him make many friends. A few honorable mentions would be his late best friend Mark, whom he grew close to in such a short amount of time, whom he is now with, and his best friend since childhood, Eric. Other honorable mentions would be all of his friends at West Coast Air, The Longbranch, and any others he has made along the way.
Rich lives on through his father, Richard Sr.; mother Susan; daughters Taylor and Morgan; and granddaughter Sadie. He is now with his late sister Sandy.
Joshua 1:9
“Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
John 16:22
“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again, and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
