Richard E. Munson

Richard "Bud" Eugene Munson, 84, of Hockessin, DE formerly of Hannibal, MO passed away Monday, August 22, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 5, 2016, at the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel in Hannibal. Pastor Matt Ver Meer will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand View Burial Park. Visitation will be held 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Monday. September 5, 2016, at the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel. Richard was born on March 20, 1932, in Hannibal, MO the son of Charles R. and Hazel M. (Gartner) Munson. Richard was married to the love of his life, Leta Faye Mitchell in 1955. They were blessed with 54 years of marriage together until her death on July 5, 2010. When Richard first was an employee of DuPont, he and his family frequently transferred before making their home in Delaware. In the first seven years of their marriage, they were blessed with four children, Kent of the Home, Lawn Sue Fabryka and husband George of Felton, DE, Bruce and wife Pam of St. Mary's GA, and Melody Munson-McGee and husband Stuart of Las Cruces, NM. Also surviving are six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren whom Richard enjoyed spending time with. Bud is also survived by one brother, Jack and wife Nancy of Waco, TX and one sister, Mary L. Pollard of Hannibal, MO. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Munson was preceded in death by one brother, Carl. Bud was born in Hannibal in the depths of the Depression, the youngest of four children. Richard graduated from Hannibal High School in1950 and the University of Missouri in Columbia, in 1955 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Mr. Munson served his country as a Lieutenant in the Army in l956-1957 at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He always maintained strong ties to his hometown of Hannibal throughout his life and traveled there frequently. Richard retired after 42 years of service from DuPont in 1997 as a Principal Consultant in Safety and Loss Prevention. He had been active for many years with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Loss Committee, and the National Fire Protection Association, and Industrial Fire Safety Programs. He was published in professional safety journals. When his children were young, the family traveled together all over the Eastern and Midwestern United States, in tents or a pop-up camper and with their dogs and cats. Richard, Leta Faye, and Kent traveled and checked off all 50 states and four continents. Bud was a 50 year member of the St. Johns #28 Masonic Lodge in Hannibal. Pallbearers will be Charles Pollard, George Pollard, Jacob Munson-McGee, Christopher Munson, Kevin Knickerbocker, Jay Mitchell, Kent Munson and Ian Bennett. Memorial contributions may be made to the Delaware Hospice or the Leta Faye Mitchell Munson Scholarship Fund at Blessing Rieman College of Nursing of Quincy, IL, in care of the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.