Richard Emerson Colbary

Richard Emerson Colbary of Lomita, California passed away at Kaiser Hospital in Harbor City February 25, 2023 at age 87.

Richard was born June 16, 1935 in New York City to Victor Thomas Colbary and Minnie Mildred (Dicker) Colbary. The family moved from Coney Island to California during WWII. His father worked at Todd Shipyards in San Pedro and his mother worked at a fish cannery. Richard attended Barton Hill Elementary in San Pedro and Narbonne High School in Lomita and graduated in 1953.

After high school Richard attended Harbor College in Wilmington and began his printing career. He worked for a few companies including Butler and Continental Graphics starting on the presses and eventually becoming customer service manager. Richard wrote the book, Customer Service in the Printing Industry. He was vice president of the Graphic Arts Training Council in Los Angeles. Richard became a consultant and traveled the country teaching classes for the Printing Industries of America.

He was always interested in promoting civil rights and was a member of the NAACP in the sixties and was a member of the Lomita-Harbor City Democratic Club. Richard also was a member of the Pacific Unitarian Church until his health prevented his attending. He coached softball with Miss Softball America in Lomita and is fondly remembered by his players.

Richard was on multiple commissions for the City of Lomita, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Traffic and Planning Commission. He was very involved with the Friends of the Lomita Library and were very pleased to have been instrumental in the building of the Don Knabe Community Room. He was also on the Los Angeles County Library Commission and was the Chairperson at the end of his tenure. He was a voracious reader and also loved to cheer on the UCLA Bruins and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Richard is survived by his two daughters, Cheryl (Danny) Stockman and Diane (Troy Chance) Colbary. He also is survived by his five grandchildren: Michael Colbary, Andrea McLain, Patricia (Mike) Fouquet, Joseph Trupiano and William Maybury. He has eight great-grandchildren: Bruce Colbary, Abigail Colbary, Temperance Colbary, Victor Colbary, Michael Dean Fennell, McKenzie Fennell, Jessica West and Matthew West. In addition, he has two great-great-grandchildren, Hunter Lee Larson and River Rose Larson. Richard is also survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Sylvia (Maybee) Colbary. He was preceded in death by his wife Enid Deone (Watkins-Cramer) Colbary. She had five children: Caren, Gary, Christie, Steven and Victoria, that he was very close to as they grew into adulthood.

Richard's Celebration of Life will be held April 15, 2023, 1PM at the Don Knabe Community Room at the Lomita Library, 24200 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717
Arrangements by Coastal Funeral Center and interment will be at Green Hills Cemetery.