The man that we all loved who lived in Kennewick, WA for 30 years passed away at home with his family by his side May 24, 2014. Richard was born in Walla Walla, WA June 3, 1947 to Joseph & Usona (Tootie) Buroker. He graduated from Wa-Hi High School in 1965 and entered the Army National Guard in 1967 as a combat engineer. In 1980 he was deployed to help with the Mt. St. Helens eruption while with the US Army. Richard married his high school sweetheart Carol Bischoff in 1967 and had three children Chris, Pat and Jennifer. While raising his family in Walla Walla he worked at the Washington State Penitentiary in charge of recreation from 1968-1978. Graduating from Walla Walla College in 1976 with a degree in Sociology & Recreation. The family moved to Yakima in 1978 where Richard worked for DSHS as a case manager for 6 years. He moved to Kennewick in 1984 where he met Mary Buettner also from Walla Walla. It was a blind date and love at first sight. They married in 1987. Continuing to work for DSHS in Kennewick, alongside his reserve career he retired as a Master Sergeant from the Army in 1997 and the state in 1999. Not ready to stop working just yet he went to work for Walsh & Associates, The Arc and then Goodwill Industries. Richard dedicated his life to helping others and was a very good and compassionate man. At the age of 62 he finally decided to stop working and enjoy some much needed family time with his wife, children and grand kids. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Usona (Tootie) and survived by his wife Mary Buroker, children Chris and (Brenda) Buroker, Pat Buroker, Jennifer and (Lloyd) Foster and Bryan Buettner, Grandchildren Tiffany Epperson, Ethan and Emily Buroker, Brother Norman Buroker and his wife Linda, and niece Lindsay Buroker. Richard will truly be missed, but we know that he is in a much better place. Funeral services will be Thursday, May 29th, at 11:00am, at Mueller's Tri Cities Funeral Home, with viewing on Wednesday, from 3pm to 8pm. We will be having a graveside service in Waitsburg on Saturday, May 31st at 1pm. In lieu of flowers please donate to The Tri-City Chaplaincy Hospice.