Mr. Poinsette

Richard Joseph Poinsette, 91, of Indianapolis died on March 12, 2014. He was born to Eugene Joseph Poinsette and Julianna Dorothea (Wyss) Poinsette in Fort Wayne, IN on November 15, 1922. In about 1925, not long after the death of his father, he moved with his family to Indianapolis. A graduate of Cathedral High School, Indianapolis, Richard went on to join the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942 and was serving in St. Augustine, FL when he and Mary Rosetta Ross were married there in the Catholic Cathedral on Jan. 13, 1945. They had been married for 67 years when she died in July of 2012. Richard enjoyed family activities such as picnics, swimming, and vacations, as well as kayaking, archery, horseshoes, working jigsaw and crossword puzzles, woodworking and bowling. He had a lifelong passion for working out, and participated in St. Vincent's Corporate Challenge race several times during his 60's. He enjoyed making people laugh by telling jokes. He was proud of his 32 years of service with the Indianapolis Fire Department, retiring as a Lieutenant, after which he spent 15 years as a Security Guard for St. Vincent Hospital, 86th St., retiring in 1994. He, and his wife, Mary, ha...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

any wonderful times traveling during their retirement years. Richard was a member of St. Luke Catholic Church. He was also a member of the American Legion #79, the Knights of Columbus #437 and the Firefighters Club of Indianapolis. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He took pride in himself and in his family. His smile and cheerful, easygoing attitude, and his ability to be generally satisfied and happy with life, will be remembered and hopefully emulated by those who were blessed to have him as a father, grandfather, or friend. He is survived by his children: Sister Noella (Jane) Poinsette, OSF; Nancy (Bill) DeLullo; Steve Poinsette; Mary Kay (Bob) Barbuch; six granddaughters, 10 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary, his sisters, Thelma Persinger and Phyllis Wyler, brother, Donald, and one great-granddaughter, Peyton. Family and friends will gather on Friday, March 21 from 11 to 1 p.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 1 p.m. at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 17102 Spring Mill Rd., Westfield, IN 46074. You are invited to visit www.leppertmortuary.com to sign the guestbook or to make memorial contributions to the Little Sisters of the Poor or to St. Vincent Hospice. Arrangements entrusted to Leppert Mortuary & Crematory, Nora Chapel.