Richard Tovar

Richard I. Tovar took his last breath on this Earth and his first breath in Heaven, in the early morning of April 5, 2019, while peacefully sleeping in his home in Visalia, CA. He was 81 years young. Richard is survived by his wife, Charlotte Tovar, his children, Richard Tovar Jr, Kevin Tovar, and Kristie Malek. He is also survived by his son in law, Dameon Malek, who he always called his third son, his Daughter in law, Diana, and his grandchildren, Jasper, Samantha, Charlotte, Kevin Jr, Max, Ben, Faith, Emma, and Stephen. He is also survived by his siblings, Vickie, Mary, Mark, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marciano and Eloisa Tovar, his siblings, Rosie, Carmen, Anita, Albert, Jesse, and Joseph, as well as his late daughter in laws, Betty and Laura, who were very special to him. Richard was born on June 3, 1937, in Laton, Ca, to Marciano and Eloisa Tovar. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Fresno, CA, in 1956, where he played football and earned the name "Sugar Feet" for his quick speed. He loved playing and spoke often of his football days. After graduating high school, he proudly served 2 years in the United States Marines, became a beautician, and later, managed a credit bureau. He met and married his wife, Charlotte, and they had 3 children, Richard, Kevin, and Kristie. During the earlier years of his family, he worked as a milkman, a Deputy Sheriff with Kings County, and a Police Officer in Parlier. He eventually moved the family to Visalia and worked for the Department of California Transportation, (Cal Trans.) During this time, he started several construction related businesses, from landscaping, rod iron, electrical, masonry, and the longest running, was the concrete business. This led to him obtaining his California State General Contractor's License, and the opening of his favorite business of all, Tovar's Construction. He worked his full time job with Cal Trans, and worked in the evenings and the weekends on his construction businesses. He retired from building after he finished putting his last child through college, and then retired from Cal Trans in 2000. God was good to Richard. He had a faithful loving wife for 55 years. He had 3 children of his own who loved him dearly, a son in law who loved and served him, a sweet new daughter in law who immediately loved him, and he loved her because of that. He had 9 grandchildren who were the love of his life! Nothing made him smile like his grandchildren. He had another daughter, who although she wasn't born into our family, she became like a daughter to Richard and Charlotte. He loved Cindy Spivey like his very own. There were others my dad loved very much, and took in and raised at times in their lives . There were other friends who didn't come to live with us, but were always around for the fatherly role Richard played in their lives, and they each know who they are. Richard was very blessed with so many who loved him and many were blessed by Richard's love towards them. Yes, God was good to him. But the best of God's goodness was yet to come. Recently, on a nice, sunny day, Richard told his daughter that when he died, he was going straight to be with the Lord, pointing towards the sky as he said it, nodding his head with a smile, and that's exactly where he is now. God fulfilled his promise to Richard that, "Whosoever believeth in him, shall have everlasting life." He is now before the Lord. The best has come. Thanks be to God on High. A Viewing is scheduled for Sunday, April 14, from 5-8:00 PM at Salser & Dillard, along with a memorial video. A Rosary will be held from 6-6:45 PM during the viewing. Funeral Services will be on Monday, April 15, at St. Mary's Church, at 10:00 A.M. Graveside services will follow at the Visalia Cemetery. A lunch will follow back at the church's smaller hall following the graveside services. Friends and family are all welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, a type of ministry and a people he cherished. Donations could be made at Goodnewsjail.org/give or by sending it to The Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, Att: David May, at 36168 Rd. 112, Visalia, CA, 93291. Please include a note, in Memory of Richard Tovar, so they can send a thank you card.

Richard Tovar

June 3, 1937 - April 5, 2019