With sadness we mourn the death of Richard K. Phinney, devoted husband of Nancy Phinney and devoted father of their 5 children. He passed on October 30, 2014 at age 83. Born on November 17, 1930 in Buffalo, New York, Dick began working as a young man, helping his father with bakery deliveries in the early morning, and at the bowling alley setting bowling pins. Dick attended Bowling Green University starting in the fall of 1949, where he met his future wife Nancy, and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1954, and served for 2 years. During his military service, Nancy and he got married in 1955. He attended the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, and graduated in 1958. He began working for the FBI as a Special Agent in 1959 and retired in 1982. He was a well-respected expert witness for criminal prosecutions. In 1982, Dick began his second career with ARA Services as Regional Director of Security–Loss Prevention. In 1984, while working for ARA, Dick was part of a small team who provided excellent security for the sprawling “hospitality operation” for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. After his retirement from ARA in 1996, Dick was a well-known face at the bridge tables at the Goebel Center in Thousand Oaks. He won numerous duplicate bridge tournaments and earned a number of Masters points. He enjoyed spending time with his children and 8 grandchildren. Dick was a man of deep moral convictions throughout his life. He was kind-hearted and considerate of others, and will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife Nancy and five children, his eight grandchildren, and his brother Don Phinney. A memorial service will be held at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church at 5801 Kanan Rd., Westlake Village, on Sunday November 9, 2014 at 2 pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to the American Cancer Society, the Wounded Warrior’s Project, or St. Maximilian Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.