Leon "Red" Rickman

1925 – 2016

Leon Rickman, age 91, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 29, after a long battle with cancer. He grew up in Columbus, Mississippi, the third son of P.M. and Eula Rickman. As a young man he served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps Special Forces in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He married Dorothy Looney in July 1947, and began what would be an adventurous and fulfilling life.

Leon was a tradesman who like many, moved his family to Wichita, KS in 1952 to work in the aircraft industry. He became a highly skilled tool & die maker, working at Beech Aircraft and Boeing. In 1970, he founded Rickman Machine Co., specializing in high precision aircraft tooling and parts. The company, which still bears his name, was sold in 1996 and Leon retired. As a business owner he was a proud member of the Wichita Independent Business Association (WIBA).

Throughout his adult life he travelled extensively as a competitive trap shooter. He was a member of ATA, served as past president of the Kansas Trapshooting Association, and was inducted into the KTA Hall of Fame in 1994. The Rickmans wintered in Arizona for 13 years, following the trapshooting winter chain. Leon was a past Mason and member of the Provost Guard of the Midian Shrine, and member of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church.

Leon was a devoted family man, celebrating 69 years of marriage in 2016. He and his loving wife Dorothy raised two sons, Bill and Randy and daughter, Sandra. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a sister, and his son, Randy. He is survived by his wife Dorothy; son, Bill Rickman (Gail) of Denver, CO; daughter, Sandra Rickman Bartow of Kansas City, MO/St. Augustine, FL; grandchildren, Amy Rickman, Rachel Hadley (John Vautier), Bill London (Shala), Bryon London (Heather), Elliott, Tim, Katie and Samantha Bartow; and great-grandchildren, Chase, Grayson, Drew Elizabeth, Annabelle, Mac, Catherine, Addison and Sylvia London.

Leon will be remembered by all who knew him as generous, fun loving, outgoing, and adventurous. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, dancing, card playing, travelling and spending time with family and friends. Funeral services will be held at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 1600 W. 27th St. N, Friday, November 4th at 2p.m. (visitation with family at 1:30) followed by full military interment at Lakeview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to honor Mr. Rickman be given to Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.