Obituary: Rick Ronald Maddux

Rick Ronald Maddux, 69, was born on September 6, 1956 and passed away with his family present by his bedside on December 21, 2025 in Palmdale, CA.

Rick spent the majority of his life in the Owens Valley. He was the 3rd youngest of his 7 siblings. For a short period of time, Rick moved away and later graduated from Inner Mountain High School in Utah in 1976 and played football, basketball, and ran track and field. After graduating from high school, he later joined the Coast Guard.

When Rick lived in the Owens Valley, he eventually met the love of his life, Alice Naylor in the 1970s. Rick and Alice knew each other when they were growing up. In 1988, Rick married the love of his life, Alice in Carson City, Nevada. Eventually they would raise their three daughters in the Lone Pine area. Their firstborn daughter, Janine was born on May 21, 1982, their second daughter, Neddeen was born on March 31, 1986 and their youngest daughter, Venessa was born on May 9, 1993.

Rick loved being involved with helping his community. From 1985-2018, Rick was on the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department as an EMT, and later became a Deputy Fire Chief. In his later years, Rick coached little league teams and helped with fundraisers for the Lions Club and other organizations. Rick was a loved man, who helped people and was respected by his community. Rick also loved attending his church, The Latter Day Saints in Lone Pine.

Rick was also involved with and loved his Native American community. As a member of the Fort Independence Tribe he served on many different committees, such as the Toiyabe Indian Health Board, CIMC, and was a representative on other various committees.

Rick was a man that was quiet until you got to know him. He was a person who liked to joke, and he was fun to be around. Rick loved talking about his grandkids and watching them grow up, as they played sports—he was especially proud of his grandsons and granddaughter. Rick loved listening to classic country and 90’s country. He loved to hunt for deer, dove, and once he also went hunting with his wife when their children were younger. His favorite place to fish is wherever his grandkids wanted to go. His favorite place to eat in Lone Pine was the Alabama Hills Cafe, as he thought highly of the owner, Pam and her establishment—he was a person that loved eating breakfast.

Rick’s middle daughter, Neddeen spoke of a recent memory of her father, as she took him to his first hockey game in LA and they watched the LA Kings. On the way home from Southern California, Neddeen said her father would like to stop at his favorite place to eat, and said, “I won’t stop, unless it is In & Out [burger]” Even though they got back late, Neddeen said it was an amazing night with her father and the family.

Rick is survived by his daughters, Neddeen Maddux and Venessa Maddux, and various grandchildren, Ricky Kobierowski, Paul Rodriguez, Elijah Rodriguez, and Amaya Maddux. Rick is preceded in death by his wife, Alice Maddux who passed away on April, 14, 2025, and his oldest daughter, Janine Maddux who passed away on September 9, 2021. Rick is also survived by his two brothers, Michael Maddux and John Maddux.

Service Information

• Funeral Services: Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 11 A.M.

• Location: Independence Cemetery, 402 South Clay Street, Independence, CA.

• Reception: A potluck reception will immediately take place at The Fort Independence Community Building, 147 North Highway #395, Independence, CA.

The family of Rick Maddux is currently raising funds for funeral expenses at a GoFundMe page, titled, “Support for Rick Maddux’s Funeral Services.”