Richard Pullman Bull

Oct. 28, 1941 to Oct. 9, 2024

Richard Pullman Bull died October 9, 2024, at his daughter’s home in Burlingame, CA. He was 82 years old. Richard is survived by his daughters, Laura, Elizabeth, and Jessica, and their families, and his nieces, Robyn and Sandy and their families. He was predeceased by his wife and best friend, Barbara Alice Bull, and his sister, Suzanne.

Richard was born in Oxnard, CA, on October 28, 1941, to Richard Edwin Bull and Maxine Louise Adams. His parents settled in San Bernadino, CA, where his father was an accountant, and his mother was a homemaker. His childhood years exploring the hills and arroyos of Southern California and hearing stories of the Golden West planted his lifelong love of California history and the natural world.

In high school, Richard played baseball and tennis and was president of the debate team. He attended UC Santa Barbara, where he joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and lived near the beach. After graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, he served as sailing crew on the Te Vega, a two-masted schooner carrying a Stanford University marine research team in the Gulf of California. He fell in love with physical labor and working outdoors.

In 1964 Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army, graduated from Officer’s Candidacy School and served as a Second Lieutenant. He met Barbara while on leave, and they began writing letters. After he left the Army, Richard bought a VW van and convinced Barbara to move to Venice Beach with him. Richard started doing construction and learning on the job while Barbara finished graduate school.

Richard and Barbara moved to San Francisco and decided to marry when marriage made it easier to become foster parents. They moved north to Sonoma County and then to Sebastopol, spending several years taking care of foster children before having their three daughters.

In Sebastopol, Richard built a career in construction and was actively involved in community life. He volunteered as a gardener for Luther Burbank Home and Gardens, helped run La Clinica, a Spanish-language medical clinic, and tutored in Sebastopol schools. He was an active member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and sang in the choir for many years. He led canoe trips down the Russian River, went on mission trips, coached his daughters’ softball teams, and won the Sebastopol Christmas decorating contest the only year it happened.

Richard was a great friend and father. He was fun and quirky and full of life. He was humble and helpful. He told the best and worst jokes. He collected books, stamps, maps, and camels. He loved gardening, reading, sports, Westerns, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A memorial service will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Sebastopol, on November 23, 2024, at 11 am, with a reception to follow.

Any donations may be given to the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Rector’s Discretionary Fund.