Obituary of Richard Daniel Zirker

CARMEL - Richard died peacefully at home, at age 91, on March 27, 2011. Born January 24, 1920 in San Francisco, he was the son of Perena Octavia (Smith) and Dr. Daniel Webster Zirker. Richard grew up in Merced, with frequent trips to Yosemite and the Big Sur home of his grandparents. In his youth he won both the Merced County titles in tennis and golf. He graduated from Merced Union High School in 1937. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute where he was named outstanding new cadet in his troop. He was appointed to Annapolis in 1938 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in the Class of 1942. He served as an officer in WWII, seeing active duty in the South Pacific on the USS Northampton. His military service included the Battles of Tokyo, Midway, Wake Island and Guadalcanal. The Northampton was sunk shortly after he left the ship. Following his service, Richard began a distinguished 40-year career with Shell Chemical. While at Shell, he was stationed in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, New York, and Houston. While in Los Angeles, Richard met the love of his life, Ruth Mannlein. In 1947 they married and together raised seven children and enjoyed a very happy 63 years. In 1981 Richard retired and he and Ruth moved to Carmel to enjoy a long and happy retirement. He enjoyed many fine years on the golf course and even scored a hole-in-one. He and Ruth traveled the world, made many friends on the Monterey Peninsula, and actively participated as parishioners at the Carmel Mission Catholic Church. Richard's mother was part of the Smith family of Big Sur pioneers. In 2003 Richard and Ruth, with the enthusiastic support of their children, generously donated their share in the family ranch at Rocky Creek to the Big Sur Land Trust, promoting the preservation of this stunning land for perpetuity. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Nanette McWethy; daughter, Mary Landin; and son, Thomas Zirker. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; five children, Daniel Zirker, Ann Rapoport (Lloyd), Margaret Zirker (Scott), Elizabeth Schiff (Jage), and Kathleen Zirker-Smith (William); and eight grandchildren, Joshua, Christopher, Matthew, Cara, Theo, Aviva, Ian and Talia. Services will be held Friday, April 1, 2011 at the Carmel Mission at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Hospice of the Central Coast, 2 Upper Ragsdale Drive #D210, Monterey CA 93940; (831) 649-7750.