Richard Newton Landers' Obituary
Richard Newton Landers (“Dick”) was born January 3, 1923 in Lampasas, Texas to Newton Lemuel Landers and Fannie Winifred Millican. He passed away on June 8, 2022 at the age of 99.
His parents divorced when he was young. He would get up at 530 am to make breakfast for his sisters and mom. He loved sports and played high school football in Lampasas, Texas. He earned a football scholarship to Georgetown College but Pearl Harbor was attacked and the next day, he enlisted in the Air Corp. He served in the China Offensive, Central Burma, India Burma and Chinese Defensive with the 2nd Combat Cargo Squadron 1st Combat Cargo Group. He earned four Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and World War 2 Victory Medal. He was Honorably Discharged on January 11, 1946 as Sergeant 2nd Combat Cargo Squadron 1st Combat Cargo Group Army of USA.
He received his Bachelors in Business from University of Texas in Austin where he eyed a beauty coming out of the Baptist Student Union. He married Naoma Hazel Chaney on August 22, 1948. They had many adventures and he loved her well; supported her through her illness until she passed on February 27, 1978.
He worked in the lumber industry since he was 18. Through his experiences in the lumber industry, he obtained the knowledge needed to open his own lumber company around 1972, Dick Landers Lumber Company. It closed upon his retirement. During retirement he decided to work part-time with USPS as a rural route carrier.
He was active at his various churches. When he attended Royal Haven Baptist Church, where he took the youth baseball team to the championships. He and Naoma enjoyed their time at First Baptist Church in Dallas. He loved playing bridge with friends, having the neighborhood kids at the house as well as his large extended family.
After Naoma passed, he was reintroduced to a long-time friend and married Betty Bennett Whitley on September 21, 1978. They lived in Dallas, Weatherford and Fort Worth. They attended First Presbyterian Fort Worth. A devoted Christian, a loving husband, a wonderful father and grandfather who told great stories, enjoyed traveling, exploring, and making others laugh. He didn’t share much about the war but loved telling stories of his childhood, fishing, hunting, camping and wood…he loved talking about lumber.
Preceded in death by parents Newton Lemuel Landers, Fannie Winifred Millican Kirby, first wife, Naoma Hazel Chaney Landers, siblings Rebekah Ann Landers and Nancy Carolyn Landers Walker (John)
Survived by wife, Betty Bennett Landers, children Dirck Neilson Landers, Lisa Landers Stewart (Randy). Step-daughter Janis Whitley Hughes (Bill) Grand-children: Emily Nissa Hughes, Alise Diane Landers (Tony); Dana Roxann Zapp (Andrew) and Nathan Robert Pritchett (Alex) and many numerous nieces and nephews.
He will be sorely missed but this is not goodbye for his family
At this time, funeral services for Mr. Richard Landers are scheduled on Friday, July 8, 2022 at 2:00pm in the Wildwood Chapel of Restland Memorial Park. .
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