Richard E. Munson

Born on March 20, 1932 in Hannibal, Missouri to Charles R. and Hazel M. Gartner Munson, of Hockessin, Delaware, age 84. Richard died at home on August 22, 2016 with family around him.

Richard was born in Hannibal in the depths of the Depression, the youngest of four children. He was educated in the Hannibal public school system and was a member of the Hannibal High School Class of 1950. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1955. He served in the Army in 1956–1957 at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. He maintained strong ties to his hometown of Hannibal throughout his life and traveled there frequently.

Richard is survived by his oldest brother Jack Gartner (wife Nancy) of Waco, Texas and his sister Mary L. Pollard of Hannibal Missouri. His brother William Carl, of Corpus Christi, Texas predeceased him.

Richard married the love of his life, Leta Faye Mitchell in 1955, and as an employee of DuPont, they moved frequently until settling finally in Delaware in 1960. In the first seven years of their marriage, they were blessed with 4 children: Kent Mitchell, at home; Lawn Sue Fabryka (husband George) of Felton, Delaware; Bruce Mitchell (wife Pam) of St. Mary’s, Georgia; and Melody Munson-McGee (husband Stuart) of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Richard enjoyed spending time with his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. When the children were young, the family traveled together all over the eastern and Midwestern United States, in tents or a pop-up camper, and with a random collection of dogs and cats. After most of the kids left home, Richard, Leta Faye, and often Kent traveled, and checked off all 50 states and four continents.

Richard retired from DuPont in 1997 as Principal Consultant–Loss Prevention. He had been active for many years with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Loss Prevention Committee, and the National Fire Protection Association, Industrial Fire Safety Programs.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, August 25 from 2 to 3 PM at Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808, where a Celebration of Richard’s Life will begin at 3 PM. Interment will be held in Missouri. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Delaware Hospice or the Leta Faye Mitchell Munson Scholarship Fund at Blessing–Rieman Hospital of Quincy, Illinois.

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