Richard 'Dick' Abernathy

RICHARD "DICK" ABERNATHY

Burlington

Richard "Dick" Abernathy passed away at age 82 on Feb. 20, 2020, at his home, as was his wishes, with Wanda by his bedside.

Dick was born Aug. 9, 1937, to Beulah Marie (White) and Glenn Carrol Abernathy in Stockport. Dick lost his mother to cancer when he was 3 and was raised by his grandparents, John and Icy (Stott) Abernathy.

Dick went to school in Stockport, Iowa, and graduated from high school in 1955. He went on to Barber School in Des Moines, where he graduated and started barbering. He was a barber all his life until he retired in 2002.

Dick served in the U.s. Army from 1960-66.

He married Marlene McWilliams and had two children, Rita Ledman and Rick Abernathy. They later divorced.

On Sept. 9, 1995, he married Wanda Davidson Rehkopf, who survives.

He was a long time member of the Moose Lodge, American Legion, Eagles Club, and the V.F.W.

He had many hobbies. He loved to play golf with Wanda and friends. He enjoyed gardening, raising everything from peanuts to tomatoes. In later years, he took up painting and loved jigsaw puzzles.

He will be missed by his wife; son, Rick (Lynn Hunerdosse) Abernathy of West Burlington; daughter, Rita Ledman of Arizona; also Wanda's children, Randy Rehkopf of Richland, Iowa, and Ranita (Jeff) Shelby of Lyles, Tenn.; grandchildren, Tanner Ledman of Arizona, Jayme (Daniel) Carruthers of Corning, Iowa, Austen Shelby of Lyles, Tenn., and Dillon Shelby of Nunnelly, Tenn.; one great-grandchild, Joshua Carruthers; one sister, Darlene Lohman of Marion, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; one sister, Leona Huebner; an infant brother, Wayne; and one stepson, Ron Rehkopf.

The funeral service for Richard will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Lunning Chapel. The Rev. Melisa Bracht-Wagner will officiate. Military rites will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at Lunning Chapel and one hour prior to the funeral service.

A memorial has been established for the American Cancer Society.