Richard Lyon

Richard "Dick" C. Lyon, 93, of Bella Vista, AR, died Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at Circle of Life Hospice House in Bentonville.  He was born January 19, 1917, in Jefferson, Iowa to Isaac Percy and Margaret Cox Lyon.Dick was raised in Jefferson, Iowa where the work at his father's drugstore encouraged him to pursue a career as a pharmacist for a short time at Des Moines School of Pharmacy followed by classes at the Des Moines Business School.  One of his greatest accomplishments was becoming one of the first pilots to enter the Army Air Corp before WWII.   During WWII his first assignment was to fly many types of aircraft from the aircraft factories to staging areas.   As a Major he was assigned as an instructor training new pilots prior to going overseas for duty assigned to flying C140's across Africa as part of the Burma airlift.In 1946 Dick married Gloria Ginn in Des Moines, Iowa.   After 42 years of marriage, Gloria passed away.After WWII he worked at the Des Moines Flying Service selling aircraft and providing instruction to new pilots.  One of his accomplishments was teaching Fred Maytag (of Maytag Washer Company) how to fly.He began his life as an entrepreneur purchasing an aerial camera, a garage full of surplus film and a small Piper Cub aircraft and photographed farms across the state of Iowa.Dick moved to Kansas City, MO to make his home and begin his career as a salesman for Nutrena Feed.  This led to developing a hog confinement farm which was ahead of its time. He sold Franklin Life Insurance for a number of years earning many awards as top "million dollar" salesman.He purchased Windbrook Golf course (now called "The National") in Kansas City, developing and expanding the course until lack of financing forced him to sell the course.As a developer he built an apartment complex in Excelsior Springs, MO which was one of the early HUD projects for low-income families. This project was sold and Dick bought a building that is leased to CVS Pharmacy.He was a very talented painter of many types of landscapes, especially his beloved waterfall in the backyard of his home in Bella Vista.Dick and Edith Larson were married on December 7, 1989 at the Chapel in Bella Vista, AR.    Dick loved traveling, especially trips around the USA, Europe, the Caribbean and Alaska.One of his favorite activities was playing cards – just when you thought he wasn't paying any attention, he would get that twinkle in his blue eyes and win the hand!Dick was especially fond of all types of deserts, especially apple pie.For the past 14 years he and Edith spent winters in Destin, Florida, where they enjoyed the warm weather, emerald water, white sand beaches and making great friends.In November 2009 Dick traveled to Washington DC along with 90 other WWII veterans from the Northwest Arkansas area on an "Honor Flight" to visit the WWII Memorial and other historic monuments in Washington DC. This was one of many flights paying tribute to our veterans who gave so much – a "tour of honor"!Dick is survived by his wife, Edith of Bella Vista, a son Gary (Shelley) of Kansas City, MO, grand-daughter Michelle Lyon of Kansas City, MO, grand-daughter Sarah Lyon Green of Council Bluffs, IA, a step-son Douglas (Linda) Larson of Iowa City, IA, grandson Scott (Maggie) Larson of Morgantown, WV, grandson Chris (Beatrice) Larson of Brooklyn, NY, grandson Mike (Sarah) Larson of Iowa city,  a step-daughter Brenda (Mark) McConnell of Elkader, IA, grandson Bret (Jennifer) Hackathorn of Iowa City, IA, a grandson Brian Hackathorn of Brooklyn, NY, a step-daughter Janet (John) Pries of Elkader, IA, a grand-daughter Jennifer (Jeremy) Schmidt of Victor, IA, a grand-daughter Jayme Pries of Denver, CO, a grand-daughter Joanna (Cliff) Rhoads of Dakota Dunes, SD, a sister Mary Reberry of Bella Vista, niece Sue (Ted) Bibler of Medford, OR, niece Kay (Warren) Smith of Bella Vista, nephew Robert Reberry of San Diego, CA, nephew David (Marita) Reberry of Denver, CO, nephew Mike (Linda) Miers of Leavenworth, KS, nephew Larry (Andria) Miers of Bella Vista, 6 great-nieces, 4 great-nephews, 3 great- great nieces, 3 great-great nephews, one great- great- great niece, one great-great- great nephew and 17 great-grandchildren .  He had many friends and will be greatly missed by all.He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria, his parents, grandparents, a sister Eleanor and two brothers, Roger and John.Friends may call at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home, 801 NW 108 Street, Kansas City, MO., between 1:00PM and 2:00PM on Saturday August 28, 2010.  The funeral service will be at 2:00 PM at the Mount Moriah Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Mount Moriah Terrace Park Cemetery with military honors.  A memorial service will be held in Bella Vista at a later date.In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Richard's name for the Stephen  Ministry program at Bella Vista Community Church in Bella Vista and to the building fund at Circle of Life Hospice House in Bentonville.A special thank you to the staff at the Circle of Life Hospice House in Bentonville for their compassion and kindness shown to both Dick and his family.  Also to the Stephen Ministry, Mike, who was so kind to Dick and gave him so many hours of friendship and joy. Condolences may be sent to mountmoriahterracepark.com. Arrangements: Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home, 816-734-5500.

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