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I attended the Celebration of Life for Dick Whittington at Hope United Methodist Church. Dick stayed busy with rentals. His son, Joe, shared they often worked side-by-side on rental properties, and he learned everything he knows about such work from his dad. Dick was owner of several local businesses: Whitt's U Store It, Whitt's Car Wash, Whitt's Pizza, and Shorty's Gym &Trim upstairs in the old Masonic building, where long time hairdresser Vickie Tedder got her start in Hope. As stated within his obituary, Dick was a tireless worker and spent his younger years as a butcher at Clouse's Grocery and Meat Locker.

Scott Mings shared in a phone call that Dick was an entrepreneur. Scott has many good memories working for his Uncle Dick at a very young age at an ice cream truck that was stationed outside of Whitt's Pizza. Dick purchased it to help his daughter, Julie, earn money for college and to become a teacher.

Dick's son, Jeff, suggested a pizza place would be a good business. So Jeff, Dick, his wife, Shirley, and Dick's sister, Mary Alice Mings, were there when opening. Scott also fondly remembers how Dave Thayer came in to demonstrate the pizza process to the Whittington clan in 1981 and how all enjoyed pizza afterward, pizza my family has enjoyed for years too as well as many others. I know a lot of Whittingtons have worked at Whitt's Pizza and have become pizza experts. There are not many businesses in Hope or elsewhere that have been around 40 years which speaks volumes about the Whittington family.

Dave Galbraith, former pastor of Hope United Methodist Church mentioned how he would call Whitt's Pizza and ask for: “Preacher's Pizza!” Before long, it would be delivered and enjoyed by Dave and his wife, Myrna, who played the piano beautifully during the service.

Pastor Dave mentioned how he got to know Dick quite well with their first meeting resulting in a lasting friendship. The moving truck with all of the Galbraith's possessions arrived, and the drivers immediately requested a large amount of money which was not expected by Dave, but fortunately he was in the presence of Dick. Well, Dick pulled out the requested amount in cash. As Dave stressed, Dick always had a good heart, so evident in their relationship and Dick's relationship with God, family, and Shirley, who he was married to for 50 years.

Dave, being a motorcycle guy himself, liked Dick's passion for motorcycles and his white three wheel Can-Am Spyder. I recall standing close to that marvelous machine one day and being in admiration of Dick's oneness with something I have never been able to get the nerve to purchase and ride. Jeff will never forget his Dad's last ride on their property and his contented facial expression. Dick was also a pilot, once again showing his aptitude for something I prefer not even being a passenger in. He rented planes from the Columbus Airport, while certified to fly three different Cessnas, and flew the family to Florida. Shirley Robertson, a friend, recalled how Dick joined the navy the same time as her husband, John. They were on different ships with Dick serving on the USS Passumpsic (AO-107).

Shirley went on talking about how John would need help, after returning from the service, on special projects, such as barns, during the weekends. He would ask Dick and others. John would say, “Dick walks the barn roofs unafraid.” John had some interesting roof stories. Once again, unlike Dick and John, I have never enjoyed heights. I suspect that attitude had something to do with Dick's joy derived from motorcycles and planes.

Dick served the community through working for the postal service in Hope, as Shirley did too, and Hartsville. For years, he delivered mail in Hope walking from one place to the next. While picking up pizza at Whitt's, Dick's grandson, Wyatt, took a few seconds out of a busy pizza evening while handing me my wife's favorite, pepperoni, to talk and said, “My grandpa sure put in a lot of miles as the town postman.” Dick also served others through the Hope's Lion Club and the Hope Masonic Lodge for 60 years and was a Master Mason. Shirley Robertson also expressed how Dick was an important part of a large group at Hope United Methodist Church years ago.

I remember how Dick would always have his grandson, Rhett, HSJ Ad Designer, with him as SAG volunteers for the Hope Ride in a red and sharp looking 1987 Ford XLT. Rhett was quite young but fondly remembers those experiences with his grandpa and meeting some very interesting people, including riders from other countries. Rhett, a former fifth grade student, had a real interest in listening to my sister, Sally, at the Anderson Falls Stop because of her coming to Hope Elementary now and then to perform. And Dick and Rhett would always spend a little extra time there. Interestingly, Rhett would do artwork for the Hope Ride for years when growing older. Rhett likely got some of his artistic talent from Dick with Rhett's mom, Vicky, sending me a picture in their home that Dick painted of a nature scene in the 80s while taking art classes.

Dick struggled with his health for several years with family members providing great care to keep him home as long as possible. He spent his final days at Miller's Merry Manor, and the family continued their regular visitations. I saw Dick for the last time while being there for their Cruise In. Dick was outside with many of the residents enjoying the sunshine, the cars, and the variety of songs provided by local music sensation, Avery Tallent. Dick had an interest in older vehicles. In fact, Dick and his brother, Dan, who was our wonderful neighbor for years, decided to find their dad's 1951 Ford pickup, and they did. Then, they worked on restoring it. His son, Joe, now has the truck, and the repainted 1987 Ford is with the family too.

Pastor Dave mentioned how Dick no longer has the chains of poor health holding him back and appropriately did “All Is Well With My Soul” which brought back memories of traveling with Dave to the Crusade Enterprise Recording Studio in Flora, Illinois to do “The Messenger” CD, a CD which has many listeners, and understandably while Dave's voice and words resonated throughout the church full of people paying their respects to Dick and his family.

Undoubtedly, Dick Whittington impacted a lot of lives and our small community during his 90 years on this earth. Dick put in a lot of miles, thanks Wyatt, a lot of “good” miles, and his family of many will continue his legacy while creating their own legacies.