Richard Harlen McKown was born March 15, 1932 in Pratt, Kansas, son of Floyd Arthur and Eva (Greenstreet) McKown. He passed away July 26, 2018 at his home in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 86.

At 3 months of age, Richard contracted Polio, which left him physically handicapped. That however, did not slow him down as he did almost everything his friends did, once even breaking his nose playing football.

In 1942, Richard, his parents and older sister, Marie, moved to Wichita where he rode his bicycle every day to attend Horace Mann Elementary/Jr. High School. He was a vocal soloist on the radio station KANS in the 1940's and early 1950's, and at the B'rer Fox Club Shows at the Crawford Theatre in Wichita. He also toured with the group called "Stars of Tomorrow" singing in Military Camps, March of Dimes (and other) Benefits, and in the Children's Wards at local hospitals, etc.

He graduated from North High School in 1950, and attended Wichita University for a year. He was employed at the KFBI Radio Station as an engineer for 1 year and at Beech Aircraft for 4 years before going to work at Cessna Aircraft Plant in Wichita as an electrical manufacturing engineer where he worked for 44 years before retiring at the age of 70. At the time of his retirement he liked to joke that he had the same wife and the same job for over 40 years!

Richard was united in marriage with Mary F. Moore in 1963, both having lived the majority of their lives in Wichita. They had 3 children - R. Steven, Timothy Lee and Ruth Ann. Richard and his family enjoyed fishing, bowling, camping and many other activities.

In 1986, Richard and Mary obtained legal custody of their first grandchild, Melyssa Karen McKown, who continued living with them as a daughter. Together the 3 of them enjoyed their computers, "See Kansas" trips, working his wife's art shows, wildlife drives, playing pool and other activities.

When Richard broke his good knee, an electrical scooter was purchased, which presented many more activities he could enjoy with this family. Trips to the zoo, museums, car shows, shopping, even wildlife trails were so much more fun when he could keep up with and sometimes outlast the rest of the family.

In October 1992, Richard, Mary and Melyssa moved to Anthony where they transferred their memberships to the Anthony Christian Church where Richard became a Deacon.

In 2008, Richard and Mary moved back to Wichita where they transferred their membership to the Countryside Christian Church.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Eva McKown; and his in-laws, Sid and May Moore.

Survivors include his wife, Mary; son, Steve and wife, L.K. and twin daughters, Sydney Shook and husband, Nate, and Kasey McKown; son, Tim and wife, Karen and daughter, Trinity McKown; daughter, Ruth Olson and sons, Jason Taylor and Richard Olson and wife, Shelby and their 4 children: Emily, Alexander, William and Theodore; daughter, Melyssa Dill and husband, Jeff; sister, Marie Burris; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony. Burial will follow in the Burchfiel Cemetery, south of Anthony.

Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday and 9:00 a.m. to Service Saturday at Prairie Rose in Anthony.

Memorials may be made to the Countryside Christian Church or to the Sid F. Moore WSU Memorial Scholarship and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.