It is with overwhelming sadness that we announce the death of Richard “Dick” Waller, our loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, at the age of 88, so soon after the passing of our wonderful mom, his beautiful wife Marilyn, five months prior.

Richard was born on March 28, 1937, in Milwaukee, WI. He and his younger brother, Ronnie, were raised by their grandparents after their mother, Mildred, died when Richie was only four and Ronnie three. The boys attended St. John Kanty Catholic grade school and Pulaski High School. Richard found a passion and excelled in mathematics and music, both becoming the basis for a lifelong career as an electrical engineer and jazz musician. “Dick” put himself through college by playing in jazz nightclubs. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University in 1959 He served for the Wisconsin Air National Guard and was hired by Hughes Aircraft Corporation in the Radar Division, which brought him out to sunny Los Angeles, California. Throughout his career, he worked on many important defense projects, being the first to use many of the technologies we have today. After retiring, he continued working with his computer programming consultant business.

In 1960, he met the love of his life, Marilyn Herrmann, who lived in the same apartment complex as him, while rooming with a bunch of gals from Western Airlines after moving to LA from Montana for airline school. They married in 1961, bought their first home in Westchester, and traveled extensively throughout Europe, South America, and Asia before having their first child, Susan, in 1966 and moving to Rancho Palos Verdes in 1969. Son, Steven, was born in 1971.

The family continued to travel, enjoying many international trips to foreign countries and U.S. states, but especially cherished visiting relatives, going skiing, and traveling to Hawaii. They also traveled with friends and relatives to many places.

Over his lifetime, Richard played in multiple big band jazz and Latin bands in the South Bay, playing alto and tenor sax, clarinet, and flute, often playing at Alpine Village, and for many years enjoyed golfing.

Richard is predeceased by his wife, Marilyn, and brother, Ronald (Diane) Waller. He is survived by his daughter, Susan (Mike) Poland, his son, Steven Waller, his grandchildren Shaun, Matthew, and Sara Poland, and Stephanie and Sophia Waller, great grandchild, Celeste Poland, Cousins Marlene (Alan) Paplham, Sandy Hoy, nieces and nephews Theresa Alberts, Alex and Kim Herrmann, Gabe, Michelle, Raphelle, and Nathan Hink. He is also survived by his newly discovered half-sisters, Mary Grant and Gillan Pitman, through genealogy.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-8:00 pm in the Villleta Suite at Green Hills Mortuary. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2025, at 11:00 am at St. John Fisher Church in Rancho Palos Verdes. A reception will follow in Barrett Hall, with the following burial at Green Hills Cemetery.