June 1946 – Sept. 7, 2022
Richard Eslava, 76, of Long Beach, Calif. passed away on Sept. 7, 2022. Richard was born in June 1946 to Leon H. Eslava and Rosemary B. (Nealis) Gerlach in Arkansas.
Richard graduated from high school, then served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Repose. He received the Navy Unit Commendation for his service during heavy casualties while off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Richard Eslava married Margaret Trejo on April 25, 1970 in Long Beach, Calif. and had one daughter, Sarah (Eslava) Brown. During Richard’s career he was a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), he worked in medical equipment sales, worked in safety at McDonnell Douglas and also at CAL-OSHA. Richard was an avid hunter, fisher, and woodworker. He had a passion for antiques and history.
Richard Leon Eslava is survived by his daughter, Sarah (Eslava) Brown of Oregon; sister, Nancy (Eslava) Spratt of Tennessee; and brother, Tim Eslava of Indiana and his grandchild Margaret. Richard is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Trejo) Eslava of 49 years. He was interred at Roseburg National Cemetery in Roseburg on Oct. 7.
In lieu of flowers, tributes can be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund – vvmf.org/tributes/Richard-Eslava/. Arrangements by Smith-Lund-Mills.
