Richard Antonetti, 80, Chula Vista, CA, passed away Friday, October 16, 2020, at his home. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 24, 1940, he was the 5th of the 6 children of Santos and Aida (Garcia) Antonetti. He joined the United States Navy at the age of 17 after obtaining his mother's permission. However, the Navy refused to take him unless he gained sufficient weight to meet the requirement — the challenge was met via bananas and whipped cream and a career was born. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class. Twenty years later, a retirement party and a first date set the course of his life for the next 43 years. Following his Navy years, Richard worked as a teletype repairman, yardman for the transit company, and a document control technician for Megatek which eventually merged with Qualcom.
Richard is survived by his wife of 36 years, Marilyn Gayle Wilkinson; daughter, Judith Anne Silke, her husband, David Kraft, and granddaughter Nicole Anne of Vancouver, WA; grandson, Miles Luke, and granddaughters Isabel Luke of Vancouver, WA and Ellen Grace Antonetti of Yacolt, WA; younger sister, Rosemarie Drew of Brooklyn, NY. He was preceded in death by brothers Santos Antonetti, Jr. of Guanica, Puerto Rico; Victor S. Antonetti of Poland, and sister Aida Amelia Cappiello of Crestview, FL. His remaining sister, Sylvia Gleason of Amarillo, TX, passed on October 26, 2020.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 29, 2020 at the Dove Cremations and Funerals, Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, Kansas.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 30, 2020 at Mount Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the Donor's choice.
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