Richard Cleon Steele

Richard “Dick" Cleon Steele, 87, of Sun City, Arizona went to heaven on the morning of 11/11/2011. Beloved husband of Marie Louise Steele (Austin) and father of Richard Donald Steele, Marsha Louise Westra and Sharon Steele Peterson of Washington State. Richard was born on October 15th 1924 in Sallyards, Kansas, the youngest child of Vern and Lillian Steele. Richard graduated from Caney High School in 1943. After graduation he enlisted in the US Army (Air Force Reserves) and served from Jan 1943 - Jan 1946 during which he was stationed in New Guineas, the Philippians and Japan. After being honorably discharged he went to Coffeyville Jr. College and then Kansas State University to study Engineering. While attending KSU he met the love of his life and future wife, Marie L Austin, while on a double date with Marie’s best friend. Dick and Marie married on June 1, 1949 in Coffeyville, Kansas. One year later they were blessed with their first child, Richard Donald. Needing money to support his young family Richard took a leave from KSU and moved his family to Borger, Texas where he worked as an oiler and then as a junior engineer for Phillips Petroleum Company. While in Texas, their second child, Marsha Louise was born. Wanting to complete his studies, Richard moved his family back to Manhattan, Kansas so he could finish his Engineering Degree at KSU. After graduating, Richard moved his family to Wichita, Kansas where he worked for various airplane companies finally ending up at the Boeing Company in 1953 working as a Design Engineer. Their third child, Sharon Collette, was born in Wichita in December of that same year. Richard continued to work for the Boeing Company from 1953 until his retirement in 1987. During his Boeing career the family lived in Kansas, Texas and finally Washington State where they lived for 17 years until Richard retired. After retirement Richard and Marie decided they were tired of the rain and needed more sun so they moved to Sun City, Arizona, where they have lived for 24 years enjoying their retirement life. Richard loved his family and his friends. He loved eating out, especially breakfast and Sunday lunch with his Sisters-In-Law. He loved his dogs, hunting, lapidary, bowling and golf. Richard liked to tease his friends and family, to tell a good joke and to see if he could get you to pay the bill for breakfast. He loved betting on the Sunday football games with his Sister-In-Law and Grandsons, and watching his favorite movies. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend and will be so missed. Richard passed away from a cardiac arrest at his home on Veterans Day. In addition to his loving wife and children he is survived by Grandchildren: Ryan and Dacia Steele of Lake Stevens, Washington, Nicholas Steele of Toano, Virginia, James Peterson of Renton, Washington, Katie Cobb of Lake Ridge, Virginia, and Lisa and Eric Westra of Federal Way, Washington. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. A private memorial service is planned.