Richard Hayward Leon's Obituary
The Rev. Dr. Richard Hayward Leon, 79, of Redmond, WA and Tucson, AZ, died in a bicycle accident in Tucson on November 7, 2014.
He was born to Douglas and Helen Hanson Leon on March 9, 1935 in Seattle, WA. Richard, known to everyone as Dick, graduated from Franklin High School, class of 1953, and the University of Washington, class of 1957. He received a Masters in Ancient Indian History and Archeology from Benares Hindu University, Benares, India in 1961, a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1962, and a Doctorate of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1982. He was married in Seattle, WA to Carolyn Vandiver of Yakima, WA on September 17, 1961.
He was ordained at Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church in 1962 and began his career as a Presbyterian pastor in Hamburg, New York in 1962. He was called to serve as head pastor of Union Church of Manila in the Philippines in 1970. He subsequently served as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Spokane beginning in 1976 and Bellevue Presbyterian Church in 1986 where he served until his retirement in 2001.
Dick was passionate about making life better for every person he encountered. He led by the example that loving others is more important than being loved, that an honorable life started each morning with a positive outlook, and that faith provides a deep wellspring of joy and love to be bestowed onto others. As a result, he was a beloved community figure whose support and encouragement will be greatly missed.
Dick became a Christian at the age of 16 at a Billy Graham crusade in Seattle. At the University of Washington he was involved in University Presbyterian Church’s Calvin Club, was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and held the offices of freshman class president and student body president at UW. During this time he participated in his first international mission with Wycliffe Bible Translators in the jungles of Peru. Dick also took time out during his seminary studies at Princeton to spend two years studying Eastern Religions in Benares, India.
Dick committed himself to many service organizations and speaking engagements throughout his life including membership in Rotary Clubs at each stop in his career, and most recently with Kairos USA, an organization seeking peace in the Israel/Palestine conflict.
Dick’s unwavering Christian faith was his foundation. With such solid footing and a passionate interest in all people, he never missed an opportunity to make others feel special – whether a lifelong friend or a new acquaintance. He inspired everyone to be interested, to connect, and then to make a difference in the world.
He was an enthusiastic supporter of Carolyn’s passion for the Russian people, participating in short term mission trips she led to Russia. An avid athlete and sports fan, Dick was competitive and supportive at the same time. He made all activities fun with his love of play and good natured view of the world.
Dick is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 53 years, his three children, Jay of Seattle, Catherine of San Francisco, and Wynne of Seattle, his sister Marjorie and her husband Russ Sleight of Palm Springs, his daughter-in-law Lindsey Bauer of Seattle, and his two grandchildren, Sarina and Claire Leon of Seattle.
Services will be held in Tucson, AZ at 2:00 PM on Friday, November 14, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2450 E Fort Lowell Rd, and in Bellevue, WA at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 22, at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue Way.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Richard H. Leon may be sent to KairosUSA (kairosusa.org), Friends of Tent of Nations, (fotonna.org), or World Vision (worldvision.org).
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