Richard Lee Dearing, an 86-year-old resident of Donnellson, IA, died at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 15, 2003 at the Donnellson Health Center. He was a former Ft. Madison, IA resident and the brother of Margaret Crawford of Trenton.
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Richard Lee Dearing, an 86-year-old resident of Donnellson, IA, died at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 15, 2003 at the Donnellson Health Center. He was a former Ft. Madison, IA resident and the brother of Margaret Crawford of Trenton.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2003 at the Barr Memorial Chapel in Ft.Madison, IA. The Rev. Barbara Krueger will officiate. The body will be cremated following the service and a private burial of his cremains will be held at a later date at Soldiers Circle, Oakland Cemetery at Ft. Madison.
Friends may call at the chapel after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2003. A family visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, with a Masonic service to be held at 7 p.m. during the visitation.
Mr. Dearing was born Sept. 22, 1916 at Moberly, the son of LeRoy W. and Georgia A. Triplett Dearing. He graduated from high school at Galesburg, IL. He attended the University of Iowa before attending the St. Louis School of Mortuary Science. He went to work for McAuley and Son Mortuary in Mason City, IA. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving during World War II on the USS Florence Nightingale. He later came to Ft. Madison, working at the former Clements Funeral Home. He also sold insurance for the railroad.
Mr. Dearing then attended Iowa Wesleyan College, graduating in 1960 with a teaching certificate. He was a teacher with the Ft. Madison School System. He taught fifth grade at the Richardson Elementary School and ninth grade science at the high school, retiring in 1982 as head of the Science Department after 25 years of teaching.
Mr. Dearing was a member of the Claypoole Masonic Lodge #13, AF&AM, the Stella Masonic Lodge #440, AF&AM, the George Washington Masonic Lodge #618, AF&AM, the Artaban Chapter #483, Order of Eastern Star, KAABA Temple AAONMS and Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, both of Davenport, IA, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the National Education Association and AARP. He was also a member of the Untied Methodist Church in Donnellson. He enjoyed playing golf and cards.
He was married on July 27, 1942 to Carmen Murphy at Ft. Madison. She preceded him in death on March 6, 1999.
In addition to his sister, survivors include two daughters, Mrs. George (Patricia) Winheim of Keosauqua, ILA, and Mrs. Larry (Linda) Sunden of Ft. Madison; four grandchildren, Joe Busard and his wife, Terry, Amy Shacklett and her husband, Neil, Jake Busard and Carrie Sunden; and seven great-grandchildren, Keaghan, Kaitlyn and Noah Shacklett, Alyssa, Hannah and Ty Busard and Jordan Schuck.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Howard Dearing and Harold Dearing; one sister, Dorothy Consbrock; and one daughter, Patricia Ann Dearing.
A memorial has been established for the Claypoole Masonic Lodge Scholarship Fund. They may be left at or mailed to the Barr Memorial Chapel, 1919 Avenue F, Ft. Madison, IA, 52627.