June 19-2024 Richard Wilson, 85
Funeral Celebration of Life Services for Richard Wilson, age 85, of Pella, formerly of Lenox, who passed away Thursday, June 13, 2024 in Pella was held Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Arising Methodist Church in Lenox. Visitation was held Tuesday at the Ritchie Funeral Home from 4 to 7 with the family greeting friends from 5 to 7 and again Wednesday morning at the church from 9 until service time. Interment was held at the Dayton Cemetery in Clarence, Iowa on Thursday at 1:00 PM. 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 December 12, 1938, in rural Ringgold County to Clarence Elbert Wilson and Belle Hensley Wilson, and he passed peacefully June 13, 2024, at the Comfort House in Pella, Iowa.
The third of six children, Richard was born and raised on the family farm outside Mt. Ayr, Iowa, and attended country school and then public high school in Mt. 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, Iowa, 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; Teresa Lynn Bradley (Robert) of Pella; grandchildren Cody Wood (Shasta) of West Branch, Travis Wood of Clarence, Colton Bradley of Pella, Kiara Bradley and fiance Will Schneider of Springfield, MO, and Caroline Bradley of Pella; great-grandchildren Logan Wood and Matthew Wood of West Branch; sister Phyllis Hill of Mt. Ayr; brother Galen Wilson (Fran) of Green Castle, MO; sister-in-law Joanna Wilson of Santa Fe, TX; sister-in-law Helen Jennings of Tipton, IA; 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; brother-in-laws Bob Decker and Reggie Jennings; and sister-in-laws Shirley Wilson, Judy Wilson, and Marilyn Decker.
