Richard Own Bryant was born on December 21, 1939 in East Machias Maine.  He graduated from Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford Connecticut in 1959.  He joined the Airforce in 1960 where he was stationed at Castle Air Force Base California.  He was unable to pilot jets due to his eyesight, so he provided weapons and aircraft maintenance to military jets.

He met his wife Linda Garrison at a YWCA party in August 1962, and continued romancing Linda between a luau and dances at the base and weekend chores at Linda's parent's house in Fresno.   He gave her an engagement ring on November 30, 1962, but officially proposed 3 weeks later at a base dance.  They married on June 28, 1963 in Fresno.

Richard and Linda to Connecticut where they had their daughter Cynthia in January 1965.  They moved again back to California, and settled in Fresno where they had their son Richie in March 1966.

Richard did not have a college education and was a tradesman with a career in industrial machinery maintenance.   He was a jack-of-all-trades and self taught in construction, mechanical, electronics, electrical,  computer, and engineering principles.  He worked at Cyanamid, Bonner Packing, Sun Maid, and PPG.  Richard would usually ended up training and educating the ever-revolving-door of young college graduates on how to do their job in real life versus books and theory.  He retired at age 70.

His passions were airplanes and sailboats … and tinkering.  He never lived his dream of owning a plane nor getting his pilot license, but he did pilot radio controlled model airplanes.  His last model airplane owned has a wingspan of 6 feet.  He did finally own a sailboat … a portable-inflatable sailboat where he captained it while in retirement.

Richard was churchgoing Christian man and heavily involved with churches in the community over the years, providing maintenance and wedding setups while at Northwest Church, electrical and handyman work as well as men's prayer group and choir at New Covenant Church, or help Linda setup functions ran by the women's ministry at Northpark Church.  Richard lived his faith by everyday actions.

Richard was a loving and supportive family man who ensured his friends and family knew they were loved and respected.  He would always lend a helping hand to family, friends, and even strangers.  While Richard was a man of few word, his actions spoke volumes.

Richard passed away on June 9, 2020, peacefully in the early morning hours at home surrounded by his loved ones.

He is survived by his wife Linda Bryant; Children Cynthia Dudek and Richie Bryant; Grandchildren Eric Fries, Brian Fries, Ashley Hamby, Candance Accardo, Megan Camarena, Lindsey Dudek; Great Grandchildren Matthew Fries, Jonathan Fries; future Greatgrandson Ryan Camarena due July 2020; siblings Curtis Bryant, Betty Kelly, and Elaine Radley