Richard Eby

Celebration of life services for Richard Eby, 85 of Branson, will be Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 3:00 P.M. in Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home & Crematory, Branson.  Richard passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in Cox Medical Center, Branson.

Richard George Eby was born May 15, 1935 in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania.  He was the son of Allen Elisha Eby & Frances Deborah (Elliott) Eby.  After his parents divorced, he spent many years with his brother, living at Church Farm School in Paoli, PA.  It was here that he studied the Christian faith and accepted Jesus.  He later attended Upper Darby High School where he graduated in 1953.  After high school, Richard entered the United States Navy serving 20 years active duty, retiring as a Senior Chief and continuing his service in the Naval Reserves. He served his country for thirty years.

Richard married Kinuyo Nishimura on May 24, 1963 in Japan.  They had celebrated fifty-seven years together.  Richard and Kinuyo were blessed with two daughters. 

After retiring from the Navy, Richard moved his family to Lead Hill, AR where he and his brother Bob started a hog farm on which Richard raised his children. While raising hogs, he also enjoyed being a school bus driver for Lead Hill school from 1977 to 1987.  In the words of school principal, John Davidson, “Mr. Eby’s love for golf drove him to request, promote and persist the Lead Hill Scholl Board and Administration to begin the additional sport of golf for the students.  He freely volunteered his time and services to the students of Lead Hill to encourage and foster a love for golf. That first year was 1982 almost 40 years ago. As we look back at the last few years of student success, the effort was certainly worth it.  And Mr. Eby’s dreams of a quality golf program had been fulfilled.”  Richard’s final 20 years were spent in Branson where he and his wife lived with their daughter, Naomi and two granddaughters, Jessica and Bonnie. 

Richard and his wife Kinuyo enjoyed playing Bingo and he enjoyed playing golf with his friends.  He helped his daughter, Naomi tremendously with her business, building lead generation boxes, brochure racks and anything else that needed done.  Lots of road trips, fun times and great memories helped forge an incredible strong bond between father and daughter.

Every year during Thanksgiving and Christmas, Richard would say, “the most important thing in life is family and always remember the Golden Rule…to treat people the way you want to be treated.”  Then in some of his last words to Naomi, he said, “love one another.”

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Carl & Robert.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Kinuyo Eby of Branson; his two daughters, Teresa Mueller of St. Louis and Naomi Mink of Branson along with five grandchildren, Jennifer, Jade, Jackie, Jessica and Bonnie and four great-grandchildren, Everett, Zane, Kamora and Myler.

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