Richard “Dick” Donald Burnette succumbed to Prostate cancer, on July 5th, 2020. After a courageous battle, Dick, age 88, passed away peacefully at his Oceanside home surrounded by his three surviving children, Jenny, Jim and John. Dad was born in Harlingen Texas, November 30, 1931 to parents George and Lucy (Browder) Burnette. The family moved to Burbank California in 1941. In 1944 at age thirteen, while attending orchestra class at Burbank Junior High dad met future bride, Joan Marie Bobel. He played the French horn she played the bass. After a 6-year courtship, dad and mom both age ninteen, married in March 1951. Dad served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. After completion of his military duty, he attended San Diego State University where he graduated in 1959 with a Master of Science Degree in Chemistry. For the next 30 years, Dad was employed as a Nuclear Chemist at General Atomic in La Jolla, California. Following his retirement, in 1987 he and mother temporarily relocated to Holland, where he was recruited and worked for the European Union as a science consultant at the Petten Nuclear Reactor Facility. Dad and mother raised four children, Donna Burnette, Jennifer Burnette, James Burnette and John Burnette. He was blessed with three grandchildren, Scott Cronin, Jonathan and Jessica MacKenzie and seven great-grandchildren. Dad loved being outdoors. His daily adventure seeking hikes in the canyons near their Vista home and his strolls to the beach from his Oceanside condo were always something he looked forward to. Dad loved landscaping, gardening, home remodeling and construction. When he wasn’t motorhome camping or fishing with family and friends, he could be found playing horseshoes or competing in a competitive game of Bocce ball. Dad is preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Joan Marie, his eldest daughter Donna Dee Burnette Cronin, and brother-in-law, Joe Bobel. Dad will always be in our hearts and mind for his intelligence, wisdom, guidance, and his spontaneously wittiness. He will be affectionately remembered by numerous family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues who all admired and respected him. He is and will forever be greatly missed. Our love and respect go out to Hospice by the Sea, especially Linda, Sharon, Lola and Winnie. And a special thanks to his care givers, Hilda Castillo, Natalie, Esme and Susie. A celebration of his life will be planned at a future date.