Richard E. Dickinson

Richard Elliott Dickinson was born on October 21st, 1948 to Ruth and Donald Dickinson. During his birth he suffered an injury which caused him to have cerebral palsy. Two younger siblings Barbara and David also joined the family on a farm near Beebeetown where daily life wasn’t always easy but was rooted in love. Pictures from Dick’s early life indicate that his parents provided many opportunities and activities for him to be involved and successful. Aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, friends and church family were all interested in Richard’s happiness and well-being. About the time Richard was three years old a new state of the art school was making progress in the education of children with disabilities. The Iowa Hospital School for Severely Handicapped Children had opened in Iowa City the year Dick was born. Ruth and Donnie made the difficult decision to enroll him. He lived there during the week, and his family most often made the trip back and forth to Iowa City on the weekends. A 1951 newspaper article about the school featured three-year-old Richard. The author of the article referred to Dick’s “brilliant smile” four times. The author was correct, the “smile as wide as the sky” was special and we will all miss it. After several years Richard attended school in Logan…which might explain his love for the color purple. After finishing his schooling he continued to live at home, and in 1988 started working at Crossroads. Having a job was important to him and his work ethic was strong. Later he moved to a residential home provided by Mosaic in Logan. He moved to Longview in 2001. Richard’s interests were playing checkers, listening to music, watching baseball, car rides, and being with friends and family.

He is survived by his sister Barbara Sherer and husband Jerry, brother David and wife Mary, his aunt Sondra Dickinson, cousins, nephews and nieces and their families. He considered Longview to be his home and the friends he met there to be his family. His parents instilled in Richard a sense of independence and the importance of a positive, uncomplaining attitude. But most important of all they guided him in his Christian faith. He missed his Mom and Dad after they died but he believed that he would be with them in Heaven. He believed that he would walk straight and strong in the presence of Jesus, and he believed in the promise of Christ that after his death, as the song says, “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free, my God, my Savior has ransomed me.” Richard knew that he would be healed with God’s unending love.

In Loving Memory Of Richard E. Dickinson

Born October 21, 1948 Logan, Iowa

Entered Into Rest October 3, 2019 Missouri Valley, Iowa

Funeral Service 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 6, 2019

United Methodist Church Logan, Iowa

Officiating Pastor Patti Ford

Pianist Barb Sherer

Congregational Songs “How Great Thou Art” “Jesus Loves Me”

Music Selection “Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone”

Casket Bearers

Jason Sherer Jacob Hedger

Mike Dickinson Joe Nahas

Blake Dickinson Ellis Johnson

Final Resting Place Harris Grove Cemetery

Logan, Iowa