Richard “Dick” Moore, 90, of Lebanon, PA, joined his beloved wife, Rita, in heaven on Wednesday, May 6, following a brief illness. He was born the youngest of five children on July 18, 1935, in Danville, PA, to the late Verdilla (Russell) and James Lowrie Moore. He grew up on the family dairy farm outside of McEwensville, PA.
He was predeceased by his wife, Rita (Lechner) Moore, whom he married on Oct. 21, 1961. They enjoyed 64 wonderful years together! Surviving are his daughters, Suzanne Boyer, wife of Allen Boyer, of Palmyra, PA, and Meg Moore, of Lebanon, PA; beloved grandchildren, Jonathan Moore, and his wife, Jannelle, Abbey Moore-Kneipp, Molly Boyer, Luke Boyer, and Adam Boyer; great-grandchild, Nox Moore; brother, James Lowrie Moore Jr.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Andrew Tan Tai Moore, sisters, Beverly (Moore) Phillips and Priscilla (Moore) Greiss; and brother, William Moore.
His birth took place shortly after his mother rushed out to halt a two-horse hitch running away with a potato wagon. Born premature and underweight, he quickly caught up in size. Memories of growing up on the farm include waking up at 5 a.m. to take care of the chickens, collect and wash the eggs for market, take care of the hogs, and help with the dairy cows.
Dick graduated from Milton Area High School in 1953 and graduated from Penn State University in 1957 with a B.S. degree in animal science. He later went on to pursue a master’s degree in education. He joined the U.S. Army in 1958 and, upon discharge, took a job with Whitmoyer Laboratories in Myerstown, PA.
He met his wife, Rita, at a square dance in Mooresburg, PA, several years prior, and they married on Oct. 21, 1961. In 1965, they bought their first and only home and lived there for the next 60 years.
He began his teaching career at Lower Dauphin High School in Hummelstown, PA, in 1972. He later took the job as vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor for Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon. He enjoyed taking the students to the annual FFA National Conventions held in Kansas City, MO. He was also the Cedar Crest Young Farmer advisor, a position that he held for many years.
Working with local farmers and their families was his passion. He did on-site visits with the farmers, led instructional programs at the school, and invited guest speakers on farm-related educational topics.
Dick was appointed by the Lebanon County Commissioners to serve on the Lebanon County Agricultural Land Preservation Board in 1997. He was named “Lebanon County Conservation Educator of the Year” in 2012.
When Dick wasn’t teaching or doing corn yields or building a horse corral in the backyard, he took the time to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, deliver Meals on Wheels, volunteer at the Lebanon Area Fair, donate blood, serve as a lector at St. Gertrude’s and St. Paul’s Catholic churches, call bingo at Lebanon Catholic High School and church festivals, drive senior citizens to appointments, and ring the bell for the Salvation Army. He also spent time digging out stumps at his daughters’ houses, training for and running in a marathon, playing in a softball league, and giving rides to the grandkids on his lawnmower.
In later years, when not working for others, he could be found working on a variety of yard projects at home, doing jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles, socializing with friends, visiting his brother, Jim, on the family farm, and walking with Rita at various nature sites in the area.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s The Apostle Church, 125 S. Spruce St., Annville, 17003. A visitation will be held prior to mass from 10-11 a.m. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery with full military honors.
The family welcomes your memories and messages in Thompson Funeral Home’s online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com. Thompson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
