September 18, 1935 ~ September 18, 2019

Richard J.G. Wait II, age 84 of Independence, passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2019. He was born September 18, 1935 to Richard and Hellen Barnett Wait in Kansas City, MO. 

After graduating from Southeast High School, Kansas City, MO in 1953 Richard served his country as a mechanic from 1954-1956, assigned to the 3^rd Armored Calvary, and was a life member of VFW Post 5789.

After serving his country he attended community college, later working in the Industrial Relations Department at Western Electric from 1962-1972, as Assistant Vice President of Consumer Lending at Farmer’s Trust (Boatman’s) Bank from 1972-1980, and as a Corrections Officer for the Jackson County Department of Corrections from 1981-1999. He was active in civic organizations over his lifetime: Big Brothers of America, Congress of Racial Equality, Lee’s Summit Optimists and volunteered at The Palmer Senior Center. Richard was an avid reader, collector and gardener.

Richard was preceded in death by his father in 1944 who was KIA during WWII, his mother in 2005, his sister Shirley Mahan in 2014 and half-brother James Becker in 1978. He is survived by his 3 daughters, Stephanie (Brian) Leary of Lee’s Summit, Heather (Bobby) Wait of Oak Grove and Allison (Frank) Hope of Geismar, LA; 5 grandchildren, Courtney (Corey) Emra, Brandon Leary, Kyannah Leary, Carmen Hope, and Devyn Hope; and 1 great-granddaughter Ellie Emra.

A celebration of life for Richard will be held Sunday, October 13th, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. at the VFW Post 5789, 329 SE Douglas St. Lee’s Summit, MO. His ashes will be interred at Higginsville Veterans Cemetery on Tuesday, October 15 at 10:00 a.m. Condolences may be left at http://www.kccremation.com/obituaries.aspx