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Richard C. Onofrio, 72, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, passed away after a brave battle surrounded by his family at home. He was born in New Haven to the late Stephen R. and Dorothy T. (Comstock) Onofrio.

Richard was an Army veteran and served during the Vietnam Era. He and his beloved wife owned and operated an automotive business in Clinton, Rich and Ray's Inc., for 35 years before retiring and moving to South Carolina. Richard was a proud member of Rotary International, serving the Clinton chapter as the president, vice-president, and treasurer for many years. He received the Paul Harris Fellow medallion in recognition of his contribution of service to the Rotary. In his early years, he enjoyed building and driving his own race car, a passion he shared with his late father and brother Butch and his brother from another mother, Roger Charbonneau. When he was no longer racing, he enjoyed attending the NASCAR races with his friends and family. Richard and his family enjoyed camping with friends (the Charbonneaus and the Davises). He enjoyed frequenting Cape Cod with his wife and did not mind hitting a casino. He was always good for a joke or two, loved to pull pranks on family and friends, and was loved by most who met him.

Richard is survived by his soul mate and wife of nearly 51 years Earlita, his son Thomas R. (Andrea) Onofrio of Clinton, his daughter Amy C. (Raymond) Swan of Clinton, and his three grandchildren, Olivia and Raymond Swan, Jr., and Stella Onofrio, all of Clinton. In addition to his immediate family, Richard is survived by his sister Linda (Guy) Bimonte of North Haven, his best friends Frank and Vicky Davis of Micco, Florida, sisters-in-law Nikki (Tim) Reiss and Linda Beauvais, brothers-in-law Joseph (Jeannette) and Stephen (Peggy) Beauvais, and his nieces Judith Knoob, Donna Gerace, Donna Sabourin, and Kristen Messy and nephews Steve and Ron Onofrio, Donald and David Hall, Nicholas and Scott Onofrio, and Gaetano Bimonte, Jr. He is also survived by nieces Michelle Beauvais and Heather Geoffrey and nephews James and Ryan McCarthy, Timothy Reiss, and Matthew Beauvais. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his older brothers Stephen R. "Bobby" and Ronald E. "Butch" Onofrio and his sister Dorothy Hall.

A celebration of life for Richie will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 27, at the First Church of Christ Congregational, Clinton, with a reception to follow at the Clinton Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in his honor to the Clinton Rotary Cancer Relief Fund, P.O. Box 558, Clinton, CT. 06413.

To view these details online or to offer words of comfort through the online guestbook, kindly visit the funeral home website at www.burroughsfh.com. Burroughs Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Murrells Inlet (843-651-1440) is assisting the family with arrangements.