Richard (Dick) Allen Best

Richard (Dick) Allen Best, age 90, of Lafayette, passed away January 29, 2024. He was born on September 1, 1933 to Oscar and Pearl (May) Best. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Sharon. Surviving are Dick’s children: David Best and Steven (Amie) Best and granddaughters Carolyn Best and Quinn Best.

Dick grew up in Garrett, Indiana. He moved to Lafayette to attend Purdue University. Soon he met Sharon Sayler, a student at Jefferson High School. They often spoke fondly of their first dates feeding the ducks at Columbian Park. He married Sharon on May 16, 1953, in Lafayette before Dick was deployed for duty as an Army volunteer during the Korean War. 

While Dick was in Korea, he and Sharon planned “moon dates” to observe the moon from different sides of the world and dream about their reunion. It would be many years later before Dick and Sharon finally made their honeymoon trip to Niagara Falls for their 50^th wedding anniversary with their son Steve’s family in 2003. 

After his military service, Dick worked as a radio dispatcher for the Indiana State Police from 1956 – 1976. He worked a second job as a beverage distributer during these years so Sharon could remain at home raising their two sons. He next worked as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service from 1976 - 2003. Dick was very active in the American Postal Workers Union. 

Dick was always willing to volunteer his time for others.  He led the local post office Stamp Out Hunger annual food drives for years. He also spent many years as an adult leader for Lafyette’s Boy Scout Troop 380 (including a long stint as Scoutmaster, during which time he organized monthly camping trips for the troop). He served on multiple committees at Congress Street United Methodist Church, where he was a member since 1953, as well as serving as an usher and working in the annual Pumpkin Patch. He also volunteered at Lafayette Food Finders.

He retired so that he could play more euchre with his grandkids. (His first game with the two little ones was a 10 to 0 loss and is a family legend.)
 Dick enjoyed watching musicals with Sharon, playing dart ball at church, repairing and refinishing old furniture, and gardening. (Anyone want some gooseberries?) A good Saturday was full of neighborhood garage sales so he could tell you later how much money he saved.

Friends may call on Saturday, February 3 from 10:00 am until time of service at 12:00 pm at Congress Street United Methodist Church in Lafayette, officiated by Reverend Rick Puckett. Entombment will follow at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Lafayette Food Finders at www.food-finders.org. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home is honored to serve the Best family. Please leave memories and condolences at hahngroeberfuneralhome.com