Richard C. Waring, 86, Liberty, MO, passed away July 4, 2022.
Richard was the oldest of three children born to Bert and Rita Waring. He grew up in Excelsior Springs and graduated from Excelsior Springs High School in 1954. During his high school years he was an accomplished athlete, attended Boys State and received his Eagle Scout Award.
After graduating high school, Richard attended William Jewel College graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics in 1958. He then attended the University of Arkansas receiving a Masters of Science degree in Physics in 1960. Richard began his teaching career in 1960 at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. He retired in 1998 as an Associate Professor of Physics and Director of the Mathematics and Physics Institute, a program at UMKC for talented and gifted high school seniors.
During his 38 years at UMKC, Richard was twice elected President of the Sigma Pi Sigma, a national physics honor society, elected to two 3-year terms to the National Council of Physic Students, and received the Alumni Outstanding Undergraduate Award. His areas of specialization were optical physics, atomic spectroscopy, and infrared absorption. Students of Richard’s will fondly remember his field trips to Worlds of Fun to study the physics of rollercoasters.
In 1961, while getting his wisdom teeth pulled, Richard met the oral surgeon’s nurse, Peggy Mills, and asked her out on a date. One year later they were married.
Richard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Peggy; his three daughters, Vicki, Leslie and Jo Ellen; five grandchildren, Austin, Courtney, Nathan, Brooke, and Jake; and two great grandchildren, Madeleine and Claire.
Richard and Peggy were avid antique collectors, including fruit jars, cut glass, depression glass and kitchen primitives. Richard was a Civil War buff and loved his John Deere tractors. He took great pride in maintaining his dream home spending countless hours in mowing and trimming his property.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at Bross & Spidle Chapel, 217 W. Broadway, Excelsior Springs, MO. Graveside service following at 11:30 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, Kearney, MO.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives.
Our Sincere Condolences
Richard was an amazing and kind hearted person. It was amazing getting to know him as I’ve grown up. I loved going over to Richard and Peggy’s house to just talk to them. Richard would show me his antique jar collect and tell me the story behind the ones that stood out. I could talk to him for hours and sometimes I would. We used to laugh because he was always mowing or doing something around the house, but it paid of because his yard was beautiful. Anyone who got the pleasure of meeting Richard was a very lucky person because he was truly an amazing individual.
Shyla Heindel
A unique man, a wonderful neighbor, Richard will be greatly missed by our family. His endless energy, his kindness and warm personality are not often found these days. I never knew Richard as the brilliant scholar that he was. I only knew him as the neighbor who shared his garden bounty but he touched my life and made me smile and I guess that’s one of the best things to remember about him.
Sandie Heindel