Richard Needham

Richard M. Needham, 89, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away May 20, 2018. Visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS. Graveside burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 25, 2018 at Miami Memorial Gardens, 28863 W. 327 St., Paola, KS. Memorial contributions may be given to Osawatomie High School. Richard was born February 9, 1929 in Lane, Kansas to Barton Lewis Needham and Phoebe Olive (Eddy) Needham. Richard married Fern Etta Swearingen on June 27, 1958 in Paola, Kansas. Richard was a heavy equipment operator and mechanic and retired from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 101 in 1991. Richard enjoyed fishing, riding motorcycles, gardening, attending car races and restoring old cars. Richard enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and teaching them to fish and drive. Richard was preceded in death by his wife Fern Swearingen Needham in 1970; his parents Barton and Olive Needham; his brothers Howard Needham and Bill Needham; his sisters Lula Spellman and Lara Bell Needham; and a grandson Richard Needham III. Richard and Fern had three children, Robbin (Dennis) Rumas of Ottawa, KS, Jeff Needham of Osawatomie, KS, and Rick Needham of Osawatomie, KS. Richard has eight grandchildren, Jeffery (Jaimie) Needham of Pomona, KS, Josh Needham of Osawatomie, KS, Ronette Oestreich of Topeka, KS, Trevor (Sarah) Needham of Osawatomie, KS, Devon Needham of Topeka, KS, Chaz (Whitney) Needham of Drexel, MO, Ceira Rumas of Ottawa, KS, and Amy (Braxton) Arnold of Mobile, AL. Richard also has nine great grandchildren, a sister Joy Daulton and a brother Donnie Needham. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Richard's Tribute Wall.