Richard L. Bethea

Richard Lionel Bethea, 74, of Water Valley, formerly of Memphis, passed away on February 27th, 2013 at his home. Lionel was born on April 4th, 1938 to Jesse Lee Bethea and Myrtle Gilmer Bethea in Dallas County Arkansas. He graduated from Memphis Humes High School in 1956. It is there he met his future bride Glenda Baird. He worked at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company for 25 years until the plant closed in 1983. In his spare time, during the late sixties and early seventies, he coached baseball for Leawood Baptist Church, and football for the Gaisman Sports Association. Following his career at Firestone he went to work for the city of Memphis at the Memphis Botanical Gardens where he later retired. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, son Michael, wife Glenda, and brother Carl. He is survived by his brother Billy, daughter Renee (Jerry), sons Russell (Sandy), Rick (Cindy), and Ronald (Christine); grandchildren Zack, Michael, Lindsey, Alicia, Justin, Ryan, and Elizabeth; great-grandchildren Taylor, and Gracie. The family request that any memorials be made to the St. Jude Children Research Hospital. The funeral service for Mr. Bethea will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, 2013, in Wells Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Paul Middleton presiding. Burial will follow in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until service time on Sunday at Wells Funeral Home.