W. Richard "Dick" Mize

W. Richard (Dick) Mize

Walter Richard (Dick) Mize, 93, died at his home in Atchison. The youngest of seven children, Mr. Mize was born in Atchison, May 20, 1918 to Heber and Lotta Ranney Mize.

Services will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Atchison, 2:00 pm. A reception will follow in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Trinity Episcopal Church for the W. Richard Mize Memorial. The Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home in Atchison, Kansas has been entrusted with the final arrangements.

Mize was educated in the Atchison Public Schools where he met his long-time sweetheart and future bride, Margaret Elizabeth (Betty) Bacon. They were married June 24, 1941, and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2011. Dick always considered his marriage the most important event of his life.

He received a BS degree in Business in 1940 from the University of Kansas. As a college student he was a member of the KU Symphony Orchestra; president of his social fraternity, Sigma Chi; a member and president of the Pan-Hellenic Council.

Upon graduation from KU, he joined Blish Mize Co in Atchison where he served for 42 years. He was first a salesman, later becoming Sales Manager, Vice President of Sales, and finally President and Chief Executive Officer. Following his retirement in 1982, he served a number of years as Chairman of the Board.

Mize was an active civic leader and contributor to Atchison. His community service included serving as board member of the Atchison YMCA for nine years, three as president. He later served nine years on the YMCA Board of Trustees. He was a long-time member of the United Way Board, serving as United Way Drive Chairman one year, and later was Chairman of the Industrial Division. For over ten years he was the Initial Gifts Chairman.

A prolific painter himself, Mr. Mize was a founder of the Atchison Art Association and for 22 years served as treasurer of the organization.

Mize was a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Atchison. He served there as a choir member for 45 years. He was a member of the church Vestry for many terms during his life, serving as Junior Warden and Senior Warden for three years each.

He was on the Board of Associates of the School of Business, University of Kansas for over 25 years. He also served on the Board of Governors, Benedictine College. In 1988, he and his wife were awarded the Cross of St. Benedict by Benedictine College.

For over 20 years, Mize was a member of the Atchison Benedictine Community Orchestra, playing first violin. He was proud to share a music stand with his friend and teacher Margaret Kew.

In business, he served on the Board of Directors of PRO Hardware, Stamford, Connecticut and was on the Board of Directors of the National Wholesale Hardware Association. He also served a number of years on the Board of Directors of the Snowden Mize Wholesale Drug Company, Atchison. He was at one time on the Board of Directors of the Exchange National Bank, and was President of the Board of the Home Savings & Loan Association.

In his retirement, Mize researched the long history of Trinity Episcopal Church, Atchison and in 1989 he authored the book A Song of Saints, which records that history. In addition to writing, he avidly pursued his hobbies of music, oil painting and gardening.

During World War II, he served in the 780th Amphibious Tank Battalion in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 1942 to 1946. His primary action was in the landings on Leyte, the Philippines, and Okinawa. He was Personnel Sergeant of the battalion.

Dick and Betty Mize are survived by their children Dr. Richard Ranney Mize (Emel) of New Orleans, LA; Sarah Mize Garrett (Bill) of Annapolis, MD; and Barbara Mize McLenon (Rodney), Denver, CO. They were devoted to their six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. They would be thrilled to know that there are two more on the way.