Richard “Dick” Dale Lenon, 89, Converse, Indiana, passed away at 9:19 a.m. on Sunday, November 11, 2018, at The Legacy at Waterford Place, Kokomo, Indiana, following an extended illness. Born April 7, 1929, in McGrawsville, Indiana, he was the son of Basil Harold and Sadie Florence Price Lenon. He spent his first years in the North Grove/McGrawsville area of Miami County until moving to Converse at the age of four.
From that point on, Converse, Indiana, was his lifelong home. Graduating from Converse High School in 1947, Dick went on to further his education at Manchester College and graduated in 1951. He began his Masters Degree at Indiana University before answering to the call of patriotism and enlisting in the US Army.
He served at Ft. Riley, Kansas, during the Korean Conflict. In 1956, he married the former Pearl Carol Hooten, and they just recently celebrated their sixty-second wedding anniversary.
A couple dedicated to their community, Dick and Pearl were faithful members of the Converse United Methodist Church, where they were active with many church ministries, especially the church’s noodle making fundraisers and the Fall Harvest Dinner, which they chaired for many years. The couple also served together as active members of the Converse Lions Club, where Dick served for fifty-four years, and the National Greentown Glass Association, where he served many years on the Board of Directors and as the annual auction fundraiser chairman. They enjoyed many years of companionship sharing in their many projects and hobbies, especially Greentown glass hunting and antiquing, golfing, spending their winters in Florida, enjoying family vacations, and attending to their large garden, which provided fresh produce and home-canned goods for all of their family and friends to share throughout the year.
For over twenty-five years, Dick worked at General Motors in the accounting department, retiring in 1986. He served on the Oak Hill School Board for eight years during the construction of the new high school, and he was a fifty-year member of the Converse Masonic Lodge. Dick was a good and faithful husband and father who leaves behind his wife, Pearl Lenon, Converse, and their four children, Joe (Laura) Lenon, Converse; Julia (Alan) Thompson, Wakarusa; Perry (Patty) Lenon, Warsaw; and Nancy (James) Thompson, Novi, Michigan.
He was blessed with nine grandchildren: Jason Lenon, Shane Lenon, Adam (Krysta) Lenon, Christopher Lenon, Isaac Lenon, Amy Thompson, Ryan Thompson, Jon Thompson, and Katie Thompson; and four great-grandchildren, Daniel, Jacob, Oliver, and Benjamin Lenon. In addition, one sister, Betty (Tom) Smith survives in Madeira Beach, Florida; and their children, Greg (Amy) Smith, North Redington Beach, Florida; Kay (Jack) Colson, Fishers; and Ron (Lisa) Smith, Winchester, Indiana. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 15, 2018, at the Converse United Methodist Church, with Pastor Nick Smith officiating.
Burial will follow in the Converse Cemetery, Converse, Indiana. Visitation will be held from 3-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Converse United Methodist Church, Greentown Glass Museum, or Converse Junction Trail.
McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana, has been entrusted with arrangements. The online guestbook can be signed at www. mcclainfh.com.
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