Richard Dale Humphrey
Sept. 20, 1935 April 7, 2018 Richard Dale Humphrey passed away April 7, 2018, at the age of 82.
Richard, or Dick as he was known to family and friends, was born September 20, 1935, in Joplin, Missouri.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, E.O. and Virginia Humphrey; granddaughter, Erin Leslie Hook; and five siblings, Bill, Bob, Don, Jeanne and Mary Lynn.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan; and three children, Robin Hook (Ron), Bruce Humphrey (Karen) of St. Joseph and Doug Humphrey of Joplin; six grandchildren, Ryan (Sydni) Hook, Jacob Humphrey of St. Joseph, Steph Humphrey of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Brittany Haning of Nashville, Tennessee, Dalton Humphrey and Richard “Drake” Humphrey of Pittsburg, Kansas; four great-grandchildren, Erin Quinn and Sam Hook soon to be joined by sister Claire, Julian Haning; and one sibling, a brother, Ross Humphrey, of Joplin.
Dick was a member of the King Hill Christian Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Previously, he had been a member of the Carterville Christian Church in Carterville, Missouri, and the Bella Vista Community Church in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Dick had also been a member of the Rotary Club and Elks Lodge in Joplin.
Dick graduated from Joplin High School in 1953 where he was a three-sport athlete lettering in football, basketball, and tennis. He was the student council Vice President, attended Boy’s State and was voted “Most Pleasing Personality.” He attended Joplin Junior College where he continued to excel with his exceptional athletic ability as quarterback of the football team and played guard for the basketball team in which he was selected to the All-Star Team. Next, he served two years with the 86th Infantry in Germany. During his enlistment, he also played quarterback for the undefeated Army football team. After completing his service to his country, Dick attended the University of Missouri as a punter for the Tigers. He obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Kansas State College (Pittsburg State University) in the areas of Secondary Education and Administration. His post graduate work, Ph.D., was initiated at the University of Illinois in the area of Recreation Administration.
Dick married Joan Wingate July 31, 1959, at Forest Park Baptist Church in Joplin, Missouri. He was employed as the Joplin Eagles Nest Youth Central Director before accepting a position at Rocky Comfort School District as the Head Basketball Coach and World History Teacher for one year. He returned to Joplin to fill the position of Executive Director of the Joplin Department of Parks and Recreation for the next six and a half years. After his stint as a graduate assistant and Director of the Champaign County Rehabilitation Center in Champaign, Illinois, he brought his family of five home to Joplin to Missouri Southern State College. He spent one year as a basketball assistant coach and Director of Student Financial Aid before assuming the position of Director of Admissions where he spent the remainder of his professional career before retiring and moving to Bella Vista, Arkansas, with Joan. Dick was very proud of his children but his pride and joy were his grandchildren. He was known to drive many miles to attend countless sporting events as well as watch practice for whatever sport they were participating in. Grandpa was always their biggest fan and loved them completely. He enjoyed fishing, collecting coins, date nails, and antique model cars.
Services for Richard Dale Humphrey will be Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Rupp Funeral Home in St. Joseph, Missouri. Visitation is scheduled at noon with the funeral service following at 1 p.m.. A reception will follow at King Hill Christian Church. The Reverend Gene Weece of Trenton, Missouri, formerly of Carterville Christian Church, will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, Dick requested donations be made to The Purpose Garden in honor of his granddaughter, Erin Hook.
Online condolences at www.ruppfuneral.com. A celebration of life memorial service in the Joplin, Missouri, area will be announced at a later date by family. The Humphrey and Hook family want to remind everyone to always, “LIVE WITH A PURPOSE.”
PAID OBITUARY