Richard "Dick" Lebbs

Born in Neligh, Nebraska on September 17, 1924,
Richard "Dick" Lebbs passed away January 2, 2019 at
the age of 94. Dick was the son of George and Agnus
Lebbs. He grew up in Beemer, Nebraska and graduated
from Beemer High School in 1941.
Dick attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. He then transferred to
the University of Nebraska where he graduated with a degree in journalism.
Although journalism was his major, his passion was baseball, where
he pitched for the University’s baseball team until an arm injury ended his
pitching career.
While at Doane he met and later married Roberta Rice of Palisade,
Nebraska. They were married on November 7, 1944 in Marysville, Kansas.
Roberta was also a teacher in the Eloy school system.
A WWII veteran, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Navy on October 27, 1941. He
served his county as a radioman aboard the USS Suamico until his honorable
discharge in October of 1945.
He began his newspaper career in Ida Grove, then moving to Mapleton
to be the ad man at the Mapleton Press. In late 1959 Dick, his wife Roberta
(1924-1992) and family moved to Eloy, Arizona where he worked, and
later owned, the Eloy Enterprise newspaper. He left the newspaper business
in 1967 and began a new career as a teacher working at Eloy Junior High
School. Dick influenced an entire generation of Eloy students during his time
teaching 8th grade English. He retired in 1988.
Dick moved to Denison, Iowa to live with his daughter and husband in
2012 where he continued to be a man of goodwill and character until his
death. He will be greatly missed by all whose life he touched.
Preceded in death were his parents; his wife, Roberta; two brothers, Arlen
and Merle; and three sisters, Naomi, Lois and Ruby.
He is survived by his three children: Lynnis and husband Les; Laurie and
husband Mike; and Richard, along with five grandchildren
and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held 10 a.m. and funeral at 11 a.m.
on January 9, 2019 at J. Warren Funeral Services, Gardens
Chapel in Casa Grande. Burial to follow at Valley of the
Sun in Chandler.