Richard Milton Wesley, 82, died May 21, 2026, at Leisure Homestead in Stafford, KS. He was born Jan. 8, 1944, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Cyrus Milton and Marguerite Lucille “Peggy” (Garden) Wesley. His father was serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps at that time.

After WWII, the family moved to a farm near Abbyville, KS. The family moved to Stafford when Richard started school. (His great-grandfather had served as the town’s doctor.) In 1955, the family moved to Tucson, AZ. Richard graduated from Amphitheater High School (Tucson) in 1962 and the University of Arizona in 1966. He also earned a BPA in Portrait Photography from the Brooks Institute School of Photography.

During the Vietnam War, Richard served four years in the U.S. Air Force. He was honorably discharged as a Captain. Following his military service, Richard worked 15 years in various departments of the UCLA Medical Center and 5 years as a security guard in Santa Monica. He retired in 2007.

Richard enjoyed volunteering for organizations such as UCLA International Student Center and Shriner’s Hospital for Children. He had a keen interest in genealogy and was a prolific contributor to findagrave.com website having created 13,604 memorials- civilian and military- for them.

Richard was active in Victory Christian, Living Hope Fellowship, and Congregational Christian churches and was a member of Naturist Society.

Richard enjoyed sports, old movies, travel, photography, and going to the casino.

Survivors include: son, Eric, and two granddaughters, Erica and Rica of the Philippines; brother William (Lisa) of Culver City, CA, and cousins, Dr. Mike Wesley and Clark Wesley of Hutchinson, Becky Wesley of Colorado, and Cindy Marion of Wichita.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert.

A private family inurnment will take place in Stafford Cemetery in Stafford, KS. 

Elliott Mortuary of Hutchinson was in charge of arrangements.