Richard Eugene Lea

July 1, 1945 - May 12, 2017

MINDENMINES, MO - Richard Eugene Lea, July 1, 1945- May 12, 2017. Richard was born July 1, 1945 in Pittsburg, KS to Ralph and Lucille Lea. He joined the Air Force when he was 17 where he worked on the planes in during the Vietnam War. Richard worked in construction, the oil fields in Texas, as a truck driver, but was best known working for the school system as a custodian. He worked at Heath School system in Paducha, Kentucky for several years and for Pittsburg Middle School in Pittsburg, Kansas before retiring. Richard married the love of his life Carolyn Walters May 23, 1969 they got to enjoy 35 years before Carolyn passed away in October 2004. Although they did not have any children they mentored several as their own. Richard enjoyed hunting, fishing, and driving the back roads and visiting friends with his nephew Allen Stevens. Richard was an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Survivors include; his sister Debbie Williams and husband Claude Williams, several nieces, nephews, cousins, and of the home his beloved fur baby Cocoa. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Lucille Lea, his sisters; Mary Catherine Stevens and husband David Lloyd Stevens, Wanda Redd and husband Elmer Redd, Thelma Barton and husband Eugene Barton, and Carol “Pinky” Briggs. Arrangements by the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home & Crematory, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762. Condolences for the family may be left at our web site www.bathnaylor.com.