in memoriam
expanded eulogies
Richard Mosier
Richard Morrow Mosier, DDS, 90, lifelong resident of Herington, died Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2018, at Herington Municipal Hospital. He was born Oct. 1, 1927, at the family home in Herington, the son of Dr. Harry David and Josephine Morrow (Johnson) Mosier.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at St. John’s Catholic Church, Herington, with the Rev. Peter O’Donnell officiating, assisted by the Knights of Columbus (Fourth Degree). Inurnment will follow at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Herington, with military honors.
Dr. Richard M. Mosier graduated from St. John’s Catholic Grade School in 1941, and Herington High School with the class of 1945. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with the class of 1950, which went undefeated in football throughout his time in college. While at Notre Dame, he played saxophone in the Notre Dame Varsity Marching Band, and was an active member of Aesculapian Club. He was a lifetime active member of the Notre Dame Alumni Band. During his first year at the University of Notre Dame, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served under General MacArthur in the occupation forces of Japan at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East General Headquarters, Supreme Commander of Allied Powers, Armed Forces Pacific Area Command. Initially, he was a page for the International Military Tribunal, and later served as a personal aide to the 11 war trial judges in Tokyo, Japan. He was awarded a World War II Victory Medal and an Army of Occupation Medal — Japan. He also received a Presidential Unit Citation. He qualified repeatedly as an expert rifleman. After completing college at the University of Notre Dame, he attended and graduated from Kansas City Dental College (currently UMKC School of Dentistry).
He began his dental practice in Herington with his father, Dr. Harry D. Mosier, in 1954. Dr Richard M. Mosier retired from dentistry on Oct. 1, 2013, at the age of 86 after practicing for 59 years.
He was president of the Salina Dental Society; member of the Kansas Dental Association and American Dental Association; president of the Golden Belt Dental Society; charter member of the Flying Dentists Association; life member of the UMKC Alumni Association; president of the Kansas Society of Dentistry for Children; and member of Sunflower Study Club.
Locally, he was a life member of Herington/Tri-County Historical Society; member of the Kansas Flying Farmers for over 50 years; member of the Notre Dame Club of Salina; president of the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Posse; president of Herington Lions Club; member of the Herington Civic Club; member of Rolling Hills Zoo; member of the Herington Chamber of Commerce; life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; commander of American Legion Post 12 Herington; and member of St. John’s Catholic Church and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
At the beginning of World War II, he received his private pilot’s license at age 16 and often flew with his parents. He was active as a master sergeant in the Civil Air Patrol at the Herington Army Air Force Base. He owned and flew a 1946 Ercoupe, and also a restored 1947 U.S. Air Force North American Navion. He was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Experimental Aircraft Association. He remained an active pilot well into his eighties.
He loved his family, caring for three generations of dental patients, telling stories, traveling, helping others, target shooting with expertise, scuba diving, flying, and pyrotechnics. He was an Honor Flight participant in Washington, District of Columbia, as a World War II veteran. On multiple occasions, he traveled to the jungles of Belize, Central America, providing volunteer dental care. He volunteered with his wife, Norma, for many years at the Kansas Sampler Festival, was awarded the We Kan! award, and volunteered at the Kansas Symphony in the Flint Hills and American Dental Association annual meetings.
In 1956, he married Gladys E. Bamfield, and of this union they had four sons. He married Sara J. Moore in 1975. He married Norma L. (Wilson) Carruth in Santa Ana, California, on Aug. 6, 1986.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Dr. H. David Mosier, on May 22, 2017; and by his parents.
Dr. Richard M. Mosier is survived by his wife Norma Mosier; his four sons, Dr. Kevin Mosier and wife, Jen, of Parsons; Dr. Mark Mosier and wife, Darcie, of Kerrville, Texas; James Mosier and wife, Quennie, of Hutchinson; and Dr. John Mosier of Herington; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Mosier; Dr. Kristen Mosier; Eric Mosier; Kiralyn Mosier; Grant Mosier; Courtney Mosier; Justin Mosier; and Laura Mosier; and two great-grandchildren, Crue and Devryn Mosier.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. John’s Catholic Church, Herington, in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, Herington Chapel, 404 S. Broadway St, Herington KS 67449-3038.
For more information or to leave a special message for the family online, visit www.zeinerfuneralhomes.com.