Richard “Dick” Warren Maches passed peacefully surrounded by family and dear friends in La Mesa, CA on December 4, 2021. He was 93.
The youngest of four children, Dick was born to William and Frieda Maches in San Diego on October 15, 1928. His father, a Greek immigrant, owned Maches Candy Specialties, a candy store in downtown San Diego, for many years. Before that, he ran the lunch counter at the downtown Woolworths.
Dick attended San Diego High School where he graduated in 1946. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the army and served in the South Pacific for two years. After he left the army, he returned to San Diego and enrolled in San Diego State College, where he earned an accounting degree in 1952. A proud San Diego State alumnus, he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and served as their president during his senior year. He met his wife Christine Brown while at State, and they married on August 24, 1952.
Dick and Chris settled in the San Carlos area of San Diego to raise their four children, and remained there after the kids were grown. During most of his life he was an active member of Toastmasters, the California CPA society, and other organizations. He also taught workshops and was a featured speaker at many conferences.
In 1992, Dick and Chris found a church home at St Dunstan’s Episcopal Church; he loved everything about the church and everyone in it, and his faith blossomed. Never one to turn down a request to volunteer, in addition to emceeing church events and serving on committees, he also devoted much of his volunteer time to raising funds for local and diocesan food pantries.
One of his family’s fondest memories of Dick was his ability to write incredibly witty poems about the most interesting, and also the most mundane, topics. Whether it was bugs on the surface of a pool, his children’s inability to take items upstairs, or even various surgeries members of the family have had over the years, he could always find something to say that would make you laugh. He will be so missed by all who loved him.
Dick is survived by his four children Stephen (Patti), Bruce, Elizabeth (Steven), and Scott (Kathleen); grandchildren Jeffrey (Mel), Stephen (Bethany), James, Natalie, Jennifer (David), Tori, Zack, Charlie, and Ryan; four great-grandchildren, Bayley, Kaelib, Ethan, and Ava; as well as many nieces and nephews; and his Wednesday Morning Breakfast Club dear friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Christine, who passed away in 2018; his three siblings; and his partner, Joanne who passed away earlier this month.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in San Diego. St. Dunstan's is located at 6556 Park Ridge Blvd, San Diego, CA 92120. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church and designate the funds in his name for food assistance.