Richard Francis Sears

December 29, 1920 - March 26, 2010
Richard Francis Sears

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Richard F. Sears died peacefully at Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter Friday, March 26, 2010 following a lengthy illness.

He is survived by his 3 children; Rick Sears and wife Linda, Kirk Sears and wife Sylvia all from Wilmington and Lynda Stahl from Wayzata, Minnesota, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.

Dick was born on December 29, 1920, and lived most of his life in Indiana. A 1942 Purdue graduate and a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, he married Meredith Gene Kirkpatrick, a Purdue alum in 1943. Together they lived a truly wonderful 40 years in raising a family until her death in 1984.

Dick served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II and then spent his entire professional career with General Motors in Anderson, Indiana before retiring in 1980. Other than his family, his passion was his beloved Purdue Boilermakers and the Boston Red Sox; he was an avid tennis and bridge player. Dick spent the last 10 years of his life here in Wilmington to be close to his sons and grandchildren.

Dick is remembered by his family as the most wonderful Father who sacrificed his own goals and aspirations for his children, his wife, and his family. We’ll miss him terribly.

The family will hold a private ceremony in Indiana in the near future.

Please share memories and condolences by clicking on the “Sign Guest Book” tab above.

Wilmington Burial and Cremation Service, 1535 S 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910.791.9099


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  • March 26, 2010
    Lizann (Gribben) Cayouette says:
    I will remember Dick and Patty Sears as my parents' best friends in Anderson, IN. I grew up with Rick, Lynda and Kirk since I was 3 years old. Dick was a great friend to my Dad. Best story ever was about Lynda's Isetta. One Saturday these two engineers fixed her car with the same repeated failed results as they walked home across the Edgewood Golf Course for the third time, leaving the car where it stopped at exactly the same distance each time from home. They finally realized that the bolts which had loosened at precisely the same spot 3 times, were to be tightened in the opposite direction. We all had a good laugh over that! Be at peace, Dick.

  • March 26, 2010
    Betty Gribben says:
    Dick and family were friends of me and my family since 1949 when we were neighbors. I will miss his e-mails and news of his family. He was a wonderful person and friend

  • March 29, 2010
    Barbara Lathan says:
    MY SYMPATHY TO ALL OF DICK'S FAMILY. HE WAS A NEIGHBOR OF MINE IN INLAND GREENS, AND I ENJOYED MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM AND I ALSO LOVED HIS LITTLE COMPANION "CORKY". I KNOW HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL OF HIS FAMILY.