Richard Dick L. Morrow

Richard L. Morrow was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Dick always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Dick was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

His parents were Mary and Milan Morrow. Dick was raised in Troy, Ohio. Always able to express himself well, Dick possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Dick was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Dick was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Dick was raised with four siblings. He had two younger brothers, Paul and Jerry, and two younger sisters, Judy and Carol. Dick had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Dick showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Dick enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in basketball and was a 4-H member.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Dick was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Miami Central in 1953. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His Junior class had 10 people, and he was one of the four boys. Richard was involved in many sports and activities during his high school years. Some of these were being a class officer freshman through junior years; basketball freshman through junior year; track junior year; baseball sophomore and junior years; chorus junior and senior years; band all four years; industrial arts club senior year and FFA officer his junior year.

Friends and acquaintances found Dick an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Dick was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Jim Long, Bob Anderson, Carey Warling, Sue Gheen, Rita Millhouse, Lenette Oswalt, JoAnn Marlow, Jo Hawn, JoAnn Tohmpson and Ruby Crouse. Dick was also part of the "Four Musketeers" along with Gene Halderman, Nolan Heitzman and O. B. Widener. Later in life, he became friends with Dave and Phyllis Boger, Carol and Ron Korte, Jim and Judy Furge, Mike and Kathy Schnurr, Jim and Connie Shirk, Mary and Jim Gohl, Frankie and Larry Mendenhall, Larry Dove, Beth and Jerry Singleton, Al Wilson, Ian and Marlene Halliday, Ginny and Leo Trenkamp, Wayne and Mary Kummer, Bev and Joe Martin, Jim and Carol Fortin, Jeanne and Thore Nes, Jeff and Mary Baker, Mike and Millie Rahrig, Jack and JoAnn Wallace, Gene Thoorsell, Sam and Jay Woodhull, Carl and JoAnn Goubeaux, Tom and Diane Lichtsinn, Joanie and Gary Jones, Herb and Jeannette Black, his Cedar Creek Golf League and Leo American Legion Post 409 friends and many more.

On June 27, 1959 Dick exchanged wedding vows with Marianne Kay Bunning at the St. Bernard Catholic Church of Dayton, Kentucky. Dick was attentive to Kay's feelings, and he charmed Kay and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Dick was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Dick identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. They were blessed with four children, Mike, Tami, Kris and Jim. They were also blessed with seven grandchildren, Sarah, Kelly, Zach, Josh, Shannon, Madison and Nick.

Dick was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Dick’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Dick was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Dick could multi-task, and he was endowed with an entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was Quality Control. He was employed at Gruen Watch Company, Cincinnati, Ohio; RCA, Findlay, Ohio; Magnavox, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Phillips, Auburn, Indiana.

Richard was in the US Navy. Dick was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was stationed at the South Pole, in the United States and the Philippines from 1953 to 1957, during this time he met Elvis Presley in Memphis. He achieved the rank of AT3. He received several awards including a National Defense Service Medal. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Dick enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were photography, computers, boating and traveling. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Dick enjoyed recreational sports which included golfing, bowling and basketball. Dick was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were IU basketball, Colts football and any sport his children or grandchildren participated in.

Dick was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Dick worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. Throughout his later years, Richard was an active member of the Magnavox Activities Association, Magnavox Foreman's Club, Management Club, Quarter Century Club and American Legion Post 409.

Dick held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member of St. Therese Catholic Church for 25 years and a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for the past 17 years.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Dick truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Smoky Mountains and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dick was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Dick’s favorites was Patches, a Dalmatian. They were best friends for 12 years. His previous dogs were Puffy a Spitz, Tippy a Terrier Mix, Skippy a German Shepherd/Collie Mix and Dusty a Doberman.

When Dick’s retirement finally came in 2000, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. In retirement, he found pleasure in golf, computers, gardening, dining out and keeping up with his grandchildren's activity.

Dick passed away on July 30, 2010 at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He had complications related to surgery removing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. He is survived by his wife, Kay, children and spouses, Mike (Deb), Tami (Carey), Kris and Jim and his grandchildren, Sarah, Kelly, Zach, Josh, Shannon, Madison and Nick. Services were held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Richard was laid to rest in the Catholic Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the Saint Isaac Jogues Garden Crypt.

Dick was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Dick had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Richard L. Morrow.