:quality(70):focal(993x528:1003x538)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/WTW72SGRIVE5HI6EVMEEFPFKAY.jpg)
Funeral Celebration of Life Services for Richard Wilson, 85, of Pella, formerly of Lenox, will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, at the Arising Methodist Church in Lenox. Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, at the Ritchie Funeral Home and again from 9 a.m. until service time, Wednesday, at the church. Interment will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, at the Dayton Cemetery in Clarence.
Memorials may be directed to the Lenox Development Corporation. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox where we ‘Celebrate Life.’
Richard Lee Wilson was born Dec. 12, 1938, to Clarence Elbert Wilson and Belle Hensley Wilson in rural Ringgold County. He passed peacefully June 13, 2024, at the Comfort House in Pella.
The third of six children, Richard was born and raised on the family farm outside Mount Ayr, and attended country school and then public high school in Mount Ayr. In school, Richard participated in football, track, vocal music and FFA. Richard attended Iowa State University where he earned a degree in agriculture and then received his Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa Law School.
Richard was self-employed in a busy law practice in Lenox, where he practiced general law for over 50 years. He was a member of the Iowa State Bar Association for over 50 years and was an active member in the Lenox Development Corporation. Richard was also a member of Rotary Club for over 60 years in both Lenox and Pella. When not busy with work, you could often find Richard outdoors in the garden where he enjoyed tending his roses and fruit trees and growing lots of fruits and vegetables, including cantaloupe and tomatoes. He was also an avid woodworker, and he loved making furniture for his family.
Richard is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Kathryn Ann Decker Wilson of Pella; two daughters, Christine Ann Wilson of Pella and Teresa Lynn (Robert) Bradley of Pella; grandchildren: Cody (Shasta) Wood of West Branch, Travis Wood of Clarence, Colton Bradley of Pella, Kiara Bradley and fiance Will Schneider of Springfield, Missouri, and Caroline Bradley of Pella; great-grandchildren: Logan Wood and Matthew Wood of West Branch; sister, Phyllis Hill of Mount Ayr; brother, Galen (Fran) Wilson of Green Castle, Missouri; sister-in-law, Joanna Wilson of Santa Fe, Texas; sister-in-law, Helen Jennings of Tipton and numerous nieces and nephews.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Belle Wilson; brothers, David and Darryl Wilson; sister, Karen Wilson; brothers-in-law, Bob Decker and Reggie Jennings and sisters-in-law, Shirley Wilson, Judy Wilson and Marilyn Decker.