Richard Meoak Sr.

Richard Dee Meoak, Sr. is in the presence of the Almighty God and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He left for heaven on January 2, 2011 at 10:50 a.m. from the home of his daughter after an extended illness. Richard was born June 8, 1933 in Davison, Michigan, the third son of Joseph and Theresa Meoak. He married Lela Lenore Ellsworth on July 3, 1952 in Davison, Michigan, and she survives.

He graduated from Davison High School in 1951. Richard attended GM Institute and completed his tool and die apprenticeship at AC Spark Plug in Flint, Michigan. In 1957, he moved to Kokomo, Indiana where he accepted a job at the Kokomo Chrysler Casting Plant as a tool and die maker. Later that same year he became tool and die supervisor. In 1960, he was promoted to tool and process engineer. In 1966, he was made tool and process engineering supervisor and in 1970 he became plant manufacturing superintendent and then was promoted to manufacturing engineering manager until he retired in 1988. He was a Cub Master from 1971 to 1972, when his son Mike joined Cub Scouts. He attended Crossroads Community Church and was a member of the Masons. Richard was a man of great integrity, intelligence, strength, ambition and a master of all trades. He enjoyed traveling, fishing, golfing, bowling, and spending time with his wife and family. His children feel greatly honored and blessed to have had the father that the Lord granted them. He was a wonderful husband and father.

Surviving are his wife, Lenore; sister, Jere Coon; daughter, Laurene and her husband Jeff Whiteford; daughter, Marsha and husband Brian Coop, both of Kokomo; son, Mike Meoak and soon to be wife Janice Smith of Martinsville; grandchildren, Daniel and wife Caprice Coop, Jessica and husband Ben Whited, Amber and husband Brian Pluckebaum, Joseph and wife Erin Whiteford, Joel Whiteford, Dustin and wife Amanda Coop and Nicole Coop all of Kokomo, and Steven and Joseph Meoak of Martinsville, Indiana; and great-grandchildren, Michael and Gabriel Whited, Emily and Joshua Pluckebaum, Gage and Gracie Coop, Ransom and Salem Whiteford. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Joseph Harold and Clarence Donald Meoak; and two sons, Richard Dee, Jr., the 1966 Howard County Easter Seals Child, and Joel Lynn who passed as an infant.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home with Pastor Jeff Harlow officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with a Masonic service to be held at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital or the Easter Seals. Condolences to the family may be made at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.