Richard A. Whitesell

Richard A. Whitesell, age 90, Dunkirk, died Tuesday November 16, 2021 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital following a short illness.  Born in Dunkirk February 21, 1931, he was a lifelong resident there and graduated from Dunkirk High School with the class of 1949.  Dick was a mold maker, working 42 years at Ball Incon (now Ardagh) before retiring in 1993.   After retiring he worked at Furrows in Muncie and Muncie Model & Hobby Shop. 

He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and participated in an honor flight with his son, Chris.  Dick was a freemason for over 60 years and was a three-time Past Master belonging to both Dunkirk and Albany Lodges.  He served on J.U.F.F.Y. and other local boards over the years and was a member of the Scottish Rite, Dunkirk American Legion, Dunkirk Moose Lodge, Jay County Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and AFGWU Local 127.  He was formerly involved in Order of The Eastern Star and Elks Lodge, both in Dunkirk, was a city Councilman for 4 years, Glass Days chairman in 1972, and was voted the 1981 Citizen of The Year in Dunkirk.  He was a scout leader in the 1960’s and enjoyed riding motorcycles, tending to flowers, working in the garden, and building & flying radio control model airplanes.

Survivors include 3 sons: Danny R. Whitesell (wife: Carol), Dunkirk, Mike Whitesell (wife: Brenda), Dunkirk, and Chris Whitesell (wife: Debbie), Dunkirk; a daughter: Robin Hayden (husband: Kip), Dunkirk; his children’s mother: Aloma Whitesell, Dunkirk; 2 step-sons: Rick Barker, FL, and Mark Barker (wife: Sally), Pendleton; 2 step-daughters: Julie Wuthrich (husband: John), Yorktown, and Lori Barker, Muncie; 2 sisters: Naomi Martin, TX, and Marilyn Barber, KY; special friend: Wilma Davis, Dunkirk; 7 grandchildren: John Whitesell, Brandi Champ (husband: Wes), Sandi Fuller (husband: Jon), Nicole Knoth (husband: David), Lauren Whitesell, Austin Hayden (fiancé: Lexie), and Nick Hayden; 7 great-grandchildren: Lillian, Cami, Caitlyn, Sydney, Abram, Chloe, and Ethan; 5 step-grandchildren: Nicholas Barker, Emily Barker, John Christian Wuthrich, Bronwyn Wuthrich, and Evan Barker.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy (Vincent) Whitesell, who died in 2014; parents: Ralph L.D. Whitesell and Charlene (Killian) Lovejoy; 2 grandsons: Jarrod Stuart Whitesell and an infant grandson; step-son: Ronald G. Barker, and step-granddaughter: Alaina Wuthrich.

A private family service will be held at Meacham Funeral Service with burial with military rites at I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Dunkirk.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, P.O. Box 5, Huntertown, IN 46748.

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