Richard “Dick” Steele, 95, of Farlington, who played in Iola Municipal Band for several seasons, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at home.
He was born Sept. 11, 1915, in Collinsville, Okla., to Francis Pratt and Rosalie Bentley Steele. He was raised in Oklahoma and Kansas and graduated from Collinsville, Okla., High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from Tulsa University and a master’s degree in music from Vandercook School of Music at Chicago, Ill. He owned and managed a family cattle operation until his death.
He was a band director and music teacher in Oklahoma schools and in Arcadia and Girard. He became a counselor for Vocational Rehabilitation for 17 years in Nevada, Mo. Music was a very important part of his life and during retirement he became active in the Iola band and Heartland Band in Carthage, Mo. He also was a member of Windjammers Unlimited performing circus music. He believed the show must go on so much so that he checked himself out of the hospital at one time to play a solo with the Iola band.
He was a member of Pittsburg Church of Christ and a song leader for many years. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy.
On March 17, 1950, he married Betty Roller in Lockwood, Mo.
His is survived by his wife of the home; four children, Gary and his wife, Cheri, Greenbrier, Ark., Bob and his wife, Dee, Conway, Ark., Jan Steele, Farlington, and Bill and his wife, Becky, Sherman, Texas; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A sister, Helen Steele, died earlier.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Pittsburg Church of Christ, 810 E. Centennial, with Jerry Kendall and Tony Lalli officiating. Burial will be in Farlington Cemetery.
Memorials to Pittsburg Church of Christ or the Children’s Home at Paragould, Ark., may be sent to Bedene Funeral Home, 517 E. Washington, P.O. Box 621, Arma, KS 66712.
‘Dick’ Steele
