John Richard ''Dick'' Carithers

Dick Carithers Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, United Methodist Church, Oakville. Visitation: noon-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, Dudgeon-McCulley Funeral Home, Wapello. The family will meet friends from 6-8 p.m. WAPELLO, Iowa -- John Richard "Dick" Carithers, 80, of rural Wapello, died Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, at his home. The Revs. Scott Smith and Fred Bickhart will officiate. Burial will follow at the Wapello Cemetery, with military rites provided by the Wapello VFW Glenn Allen Post 5166. Casketbearers will be Bill Carithers, David Carithers, John Carithers, Nick Carithers, Ron Hall and Jeff Samuels. Honorary bearers will be Randy Hook, Burton Samuels, Rusty Orr, Curtis Orr, Dr. Jeffrey Carithers, Dr. Doug Carithers and Joe Carithers. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Oakville and the First Responders in Wapello, Oakville and Morning Sun. Mr. Carithers was born Sept. 16, 1927, in Burlington, the son of William Work and Dorothy Evans Carithers. He grew up on a farm south of Morning Sun, where he saw God's creation through the planting and the harvest and through his parents' faith, established his own relationship. He gra...[more]

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ted from Morning Sun High School in 1946 and served in the U.S. Army post-WWII in Japan. He married Sue Ann Wykert July 18, 1953, in Oakville at the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was of the protestant faith. He was employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in retail stores in Kewanee, Oskaloosa, Waterloo, Marshalltown and Burlington. Two highlights of his career were getting a ride in the Goodyear Blimp and working in his fleet trucks at the World Expo Plow in the Amana Colonies. He retired in 1989, after 38 years of service. He loved helping his father on the family farm and the picnicking, fishing, hunting and camping time spent with his family. He had an appreciation for music and listening to big band music. He helped teach Sunday school in Marshalltown and Wapello. He spent 10 years helping maintain Camp Juliette Girl Scout Camp in Marshalltown and also helped in Cub Scouts. He was an usher and taped church services for shut-ins. He never met a stranger and his friendly smile warmed the hearts of many. He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Christy Hall and her husband, Ron, of St. Louis; three sons, Bill Carithers and his wife, Mary, of Dike, David Carithers of Oakville and John Carithers and his wife, Michelle, of Edgewood; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Dr. Robert Carithers and his wife, Jeanine, of Ames; and a sister, Florence Ann Dorman of Morning Sun. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a nephew.