Richard Hardy Leadbetter

Richard joined the Navy in 1944 and served on several ships including the USS Nereus in the Pacific Theater in Nagasaki, Japan. He was awarded the WW II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, and CO Commendation. As a proud WW II veteran, he was an Honor Flight recipient in 2012.

He met and was married to the love of his life, the late Janice L. McMahon, in 1950 for 73 years. They raised their family in Lansing, IL where Dick was an active community and school member, owner of Lansing Quick Wash, and Sea Scout leader. Upon retiring from Lansing Paint and Supply, they moved to Bass Lake, IN and wintered in Port Richey, FL.

Richard loved the outdoors and traveling and would gather the family for weeks long camping trips to national parks, visiting family in Iowa and Cape Cod, and Las Vegas. He couldn’t bypass a slot machine- and would walk away a richer man every time!

Devoted father to the late Stephen (Cheri) Leadbetter, Linda (Fabrizio) Frigo, Nancy (Bill) McGuinness, Carol (Tim) Shaw; brother to Phillip (Ruth d.) Leadbetter and the late Roger Leadbetter. Loving grandfather to Carrie (Phil) Leadbetter, Kristen (Rockford) May, Andrea Frigo, Croix (Ariana) Frigo, Megan (Mike) Haddad, Heather Peterson, Katie (Zachary) Banas, Connor (Tara Crutchfield) McGuinness, Michael (Teenie) Shaw, Randy (Miranda) Shaw and Tyler (Rose Snooks) Shaw, and seventeen great-grandchildren.

A Graveside Service with Military Honors is planned for Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11:00 a.m at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W. Hoff Road, Elwood, IL 60421.

A memorial luncheon for Richard and Janice immediately follows at Silver Dollar in Elwood, IL.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Honor Flight by visiting: honorflight.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Leadbetter family at: https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/indianpolis-in/Richard-leadbetter-1291530