Richard C. "Dick" Hite

Richard C. ‘Dick’ Hite passed away on December 16, 2021. Dick was born on September 13, 1928 to Marie Harlan Hite and Cecil Clifford Hite in Iola, Kansas. The family moved to Hiawatha, Kansas, in 1937, where he grew up, graduating from Hiawatha High School in 1946. He attended Kansas State University to study chemistry before transferring to the University of Kansas in 1947. He graduated from KU with a degree in business in 1950. Dick decided to study law at Washburn Law School and graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1953. After graduation, he served in the US Air Force. He spent most of his service in Goosebay Labrador, Canada. He was honourably discharged as a Captain in 1956. The next 3 years he was employed by USFG as a claims adjuster before joining the Wichita law firm of Kahrs, Nelson in 1959. He practiced law with the firm until 2000. He was a founding partner of Hite, Fanning and Honeyman. Dick is survived by his children, Elizabeth (Veng) Vollavanh and their two children, Lydia and Andrew, of Millburn, NJ; Richard (Susanne Rutishauser) and their daughter, Marlena, of London, England; and Robert, of Wichita. He is also survived by his sister, Margie (Lloyd) Mairs and their children and families; his companion of the past 12 years, Anita Jones, of Wichita; and the children and their families of Edie Olsen Hite, his second wife, Tika (Kevin) Walsh, of Chicago, Illinois, and Ken (Brenda) Olsen, of Peoria, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents; our mother, Patricia Rutledge Hite, who died in 1993; Edie Olsen Hite, 2005; and Tanner Olsen, 2002. Dick had a long and successful legal career. He was actively involved in many local, state, and national legal associations as well as many Wichita civic organizations. He was a tremendous father, grandfather, husband and partner. His many interests included his family, practicing law, golf, KU sports, travel, bridge and Glenlivet. We will miss him very much. Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 pm, Saturday, January 29, 2022, at Plymouth Congregational Church. For those who cannot attend, the services will be live streamed through Plymouth Congregational Church’s website. A reception will follow the service at Crestview Country Club, 1000 N. 127th St. E., Wichita, KS 67230. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Phillips Fundamental Learning Center, 2220 E 21st St. North, Wichita, KS 67214, www.funlearn.org. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.

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