Richard Eugene Maxwell

Life long farmer and WWII veteran Richard Eugene Maxwell passed away February 3, 2017 at Manor of the Plains, Dodge City. He was born to Roy Benjamin Maxwell and Grace McCrea Maxwell on August 20, 1927 in Sterling, Kansas. His Aunt, Dr. Maggie McCrea delivered him in his grandparent McCrea’s home. He was an only child. He grew up on a farm one mile north of Ft. Dodge, Kansas, attending Hillside Grade School at Ft. Dodge and graduating from Dodge City Senior High School in 1945. He later taught welding and motor mechanics at the high school Vo-Tech school. 

Richard was a 4-Her and learned woodworking skills from a neighbor. After a stint in the Navy where he served as a butcher toward the end of WWII, he met and married a farm girl from Jetmore, KS, Thelma Nadine Cossman, on October 16, 1947. They farmed his parents’ original homestead, growing it over the years. They raised 4 children on the family farm. Richard and Thelma became involved in 4-H again as leaders of the Keen Klippers 4-H Club as their children became active and were named 4-H Leaders of the Year in 1987 and received the Ford County Extension Appreciation Award in 1992. His other activities include serving as a deacon for First Baptist Church of Dodge City, on the Ford County Extension Council and Ford County Fair board, Garden City Experiment Station, Southwest Kansas Irrigation Association boards, and member of the Rural Life Club. 

Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Thelma, infant daughter, and his parents. 

He is survived by 3 daughters, Carol (Bill) Powers, Junction City, KS, Sharla (Rob) Frazier, Waxhaw, NC, Dana (Dennis) Hahn, Lake Lotawana, MO, and 1 son, Brad Maxwell (Tyann Burdette), Dodge City, KS; 11 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. 

Funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church in Dodge City on Thursday February 9, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City on Wednesday February 8, 2017 from 12-8 PM with the family present from 6-8PM. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church and the 4-H Foundation in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.