From the Pantagraph

KOKOMO, Ind. — Richard T. Lawless, 81, Kokomo, Ind., passed away Sunday (Aug. 7, 2011) at St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo, Ind.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at noon Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kokomo, with Father Ted Dudzinski officiating. Burial will follow with military honors in Kokomo Memorial Park Cemetery. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, Kokomo, with a rosary service at 8:30 p.m. Friday, and from 11 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church.

He was born Sept. 1, 1929, in Chatsworth, son of James W. and Alma Fulton Lawless and was a descendent of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He married Helen Ridenour, and they were married for 37 years before her death on April 17, 2009.

He attended Illinois State Normal University and studied agriculture. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954. He farmed in Strawn from 1954 to 1969, and then moved to Kokomo, Ind., where he worked at Chrysler until his retirement in 1994. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion 244, United Auto Workers Local 1166 and St. Patrick Catholic Church.

He is survived by six sons, Michael T. Lawless, Stephan R. Lawless, James W. Lawless, Van P. Lawless, Jeffrey J. (Linda) Lawless and Daniel P. (Marie) Lawless; two daughters, Donna C. (Richard) Davis and Renie K. (Scott) Gunning; 24 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Jerry Lawless, John Lawless and Dan Lawless; and five sisters, Mary Wurmnest, Vera Hubley, Theresa Kerber Roland, Alma Lemme and Sister Rea Katherine Wurmnest.

In addition to his wife, Helen Lawless, he was preceded in death by his parents, two stepsons, one great-granddaughter, three brothers, and his first wife, Jackie Lawless.

Online messages of condolence may be made at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.