Richard Edward Webber

Richard E. Webber, known as “Rich” or “Dick” to family & friends, passed away at Cabot Health & Rehab nursing facility in Cabot, Arkansas on Wednesday, December 18th 2024 after a long & full life. He had recently moved to Cabot, in order to near his son, Matt, and his family. Prior to that, he had been living in Lansing, MI, near other family members.

Dick Webber was born in Sparta, Michigan on December 26, 1929 to George & Dorothy (Creveling) Webber. Dick attended Sparta schools & graduated in 1949. His first job was at a Grand Rapids furniture maker, in the upholstery division, but later worked briefly for McInerney Spring & Wire, Blue Flame Heating Company and then General Motors. Ultimately, Dick and his father George partnered to start Geo. Webber & Son Well Drilling in Sparta. When Dick inevitably took sole possession of the family business, he shortened it to Webber Well Drilling. Dick was well respected in his profession & provided great service for his customers. He served as president of the Michigan Well Drillers Association & was voted “Driller of the Year” in 1989. Dick was also a 40+ Year Member of the Sparta Lions Club.

Dick met the love of his life, Marilyn Mae Waldron, in early 1949 due to a blind-date set up by his best friend Roy Baughan. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married November 11, 1949 and soon the family started to grow with the eventual birth of three children: Sue, Peg and Matt. Dick actually built the house that he & Marilyn raised their family in, on Long Lake Drive in Sparta. Sadly, Marilyn passed away in 1989 after a long illness, which left Dick devastated. Happily, he eventually renewed a high school friendship with Evelyn (Biggs) Tindall. After a brief courtship, Dick & Evelyn were married in September of 1992. Heartbreak came again, when Evelyn passed away suddenly in 2020. Dick was quite often heard to say, "God gave me the two best wives He could have given me."

Dick is survived by his brother Paul Webber of Ada, Michigan. And his children: daughter Susan Lynn & her husband Brian Bitely of Bitely, Michigan, daughter Peggy J. Webber-Clark of Lansing, Michigan, son Matt Webber & his wife Patty of Cabot, Arkansas, and his grandchildren: Brad [Wendy] Bitely, Scott [Jacinda] Bitely, Jennifer Webber, Samantha [Adam] Graf, as well as Dick’s numerous great-grandchildren. Dick is also survived by Evelyn’s children: Charlyn Cosgrove & her husband Mark of Grand Ledge, MI, Jacquie Tindall of Baldwin, MI, Joe Tindall and his wife Tammie of Newaygo, MI, and Philip DeJong and his wife Christine of Afton, VA.

No funeral services are planned. Dick will be laid to rest next to Marilyn at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Comstock Park, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, Dick’s wishes were for donations to be made to either the Sparta Lions Club or the Cabot Lions Club.