Richard Nokes

In lieu of flowers the Nokes family requests donations be made to the Cancer Research Institute or Orange County Centennial Farm Foundation in Rich’s name at the following locations:

Cancer Research Institute: https://www.cancerresearch.org/join-the-cause/donate/one-time-donation

Centennial Farm Foundation:
Centennial Farm Foundation:
Nonprofit tax identification number 33-0484808
1590 Adams Ave, #2236
Costa Mesa, CA 92628

Private burial services at Green Hills Memorial Park were held on May 20th. A celebration of Rich’s life will be held at a later date when it is safe for family and friends to gather.

Rich’s ongoing love is held in the hearts of his wife Hatsuko (Suki) Nokes, his three daughters: Carla Stewart and her husband Paul Stewart, Pamela Windsor and her husband Kenny Windsor, and Jocelyn Nokes and her husband Frank Reinhold. Rich is also survived by his three grandchildren: Eric Stewart, Jessica Windsor, and Brandon Windsor, and his great granddaughter Coral Stewart, along with extended family.

Words such as smart, silly, creative, kind and a gentleman are used by many to describe Rich. But there are so many stories behind those words. The following is just a small sample… we invite you to add your stories and memories of Rich as well.

Rich, a native Californian, was the youngest of four children and as the trendsetter he was, the first to be born in a hospital! He attended Luzinger High School and was on the football and track teams. Later, he attended California State University, Long Beach. After college he went to work with North American Aviation and then enlisted in the Army. Rich often joked that he “joined the Army to see the world” but was stationed at Fort Ord, Camp Roberts, and the Presidio, all located in his home state of California!

Rich worked with the same company from 1955 until retirement. The company itself changed names multiple times during that period and held multiple defense contracts which enabled Rich to spread his innovative wings. Some highlights of his career include assisting with writing the program for the Apollo Space Mission and meeting astronauts Glenn and Shephard. He was part of the 6-person team that converted the American Stock Exchange to a digital platform, followed by doing the same for the New York Stock Exchange. Rich also worked a contract with the FBI writing the program that provides instant data on people and their licenses which is still being used today in police vehicles.

Work was a small part of Rich’s life. His fun loving silliness is what those who knew him will remember most. A master of making silly faces, especially Kermit the Frog and monkey faces, he also taught his girls how to “Monkey Walk” while singing the theme song to the Monkeys TV show, “Hey! Hey! We’re the Monkeys!”… loudly and in highly populated areas!

Rich liked to refer to his birthday as “Richmas.” For his 80th Richmas, Suki and his daughters took their yearly pilgrimage to the end of the Huntington Beach Pier where with a little help from his daughters, every person he passed, over 100, wished him a Happy Birthday. Everyone had such a great time!

Rich was a talented artist. His children remember all the artwork in their childhood home being his creations. Drawing, painting, stained glass and jewelry were his creative outlet and his work was beautiful. Rich also had a green thumb and would often talk about “tending the farm” also known as the vegetable garden he and Suki grew in the backyard. He often joked of weeds being his strongest crop but he took great pride in harvesting their hard work to put on the dinner table.

Volunteering was one of Rich’s passions. As a docent at the Orange County Fairgrounds Centennial Farm, he loved educating the children about the farm, how to grow fruits and vegetables and to be gentle with animals. He could talk for hours about a particular cow that loved to be pet and nuzzled. Rich also assisted with Girl Scouts and was very involved in Indian Princess. Additionally, he volunteered as a timing official at swim meets and was a lane judge at the 1984 Olympics. One of Rich’s favorite volunteer activities was to transform into Santa Claus and visit children, nursing homes, and “children of all ages.” For decades he was asked by Santa’s helpers to make visits during the Christmas season and he loved it!

Rich’s other love was dancing. Square dancing was his favorite and he made so many friends in the square dance community. But he could also disco, swing, ballroom and freestyle with the best of them! He could make his dance partner of any level feel beautiful and graceful on the dance floor. He also loved sailing, hiking, camping, traveling both nationally and internationally, learning and just being adventurous. Ice cream, Snoopy, Miss Piggy, crosswords, Sudoku puzzles, neighborhood walks and reading the daily newspaper, these and so many more are the stories that will always keep his memory alive in his family’s hearts.

In lieu of flowers the Nokes family requests donations be made to the Cancer Research Institute or Orange County Centennial Farm Foundation in Rich’s name at the following locations:

Cancer Research Institute: https://www.cancerresearch.org/join-the-cause/donate/one-time-donation

Centennial Farm Foundation:
Centennial Farm Foundation:
Nonprofit tax identification number 33-0484808
1590 Adams Ave, #2236
Costa Mesa, CA 92628

Family and friends of Richard are invited to share their favorite photos, video memories and heart felt messages on this Tribute page on the Green Hills Mortuary Website.