Richard (Dick) Hunnewell McKenney

Richard “Dick” McKenney, 83, of Wilmington, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter.

Dick was born in Plainfield, NJ March 31, 1930 the son of the late Phillip Everette and Mary Vermilye McKenney. He served his country faithfully in the United States Army after graduating from Bordentown Military Institute. Upon graduating from the American Bankers Institute he went to work for United National Bank in Plainfield where he retired as Assistant Vice President. In 1986 he and his wife retired to Wilmington and made their home in The Cape where they loved the game of Golf. After his retirement he went to work for Marine Federal Credit Union as an Assistant Vice President, and was a member of the Wilmington Rotary Club, and a active member of Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years Nettie, daughters Susan Welc and husband Richard of St. Charles, MO, and their children Jennifer, Steven and wife Tracy; Nancy DeMuth and husband Donald of Wilmington and their children Jason and wife Jennifer, Lyndsey and husband David, April and husband Shawn, Donald Jr and wife Jane; Janet DiCecco and husband Tony of Elizabethtown, PA. and their children Crystal, Kelly and husband John, and TJ and wife Calina; nine great-grandchildren. Brothers William McKenney and Phillip E. McKenney and wife Dawn.

Memorial service will be conducted 11:00 AM Monday April 29, 2013 at Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

A reception will follow the service, where the family will greet friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church, “Meeting Room Fund” 800 Piner Road Wilmington, NC 28409, or Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive Wilmington, NC 28401.

Please share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the “Sign Guest Book” tab above.

LETTERS FROM THE GRANDCHILDREN:
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Hello Pop!
I miss you so much and I wish I was closer to you so that I could come hug you!

I was looking back over the years and I was giggling at the time when Tj was still really young and into dinosaurs.. we were out on the golf cart and we had to stop and use the restroom. While you were in the restroom, you knew that it echoed. So you let out a bellowing T-rex roar to impress him and there was a lady walking her dog who looked in disbelief at the torment that someone was going through in the bathroom!! I remember we were all laughing til we cried!

I remember standing outside with you while you were grilling dinner and you would whistle to the birds. You would take the time to teach me which call was what and they would answer you. Sometimes we were even lucky enough to get some of the wonderful grilled toast that was a special side treat!!

I remember dancing around the living room with you!! I loved getting to see the fun in your eyes as you were twirling us around in the living room. I remember that you also did that in my parents living room when I got married too.

I remember that you would call my soon to be husband Mitch and I remember that when you asked him what he wanted to drink you told him that a daiquiri was a lady’s drink and he blushed!

But most of all Pop, I remember the way that you looked at Nana. I knew that you loved her. The looks that you would steal when she wasn’t looking. You would always have an adoring look and I knew that one day I too would want, crave that from a man. You taught me that when you love someone, you love them with all of you. I am grateful that I have been blessed with such a fabulous grandfather. You have this look about you that I can see in odd moments when I am at work and an old-school looking doctor walks in. There is a stature and a power with the way you entered a room. When I run into a man with similar age and height I ache to see you because it reminds me of you!

I wish that I could be down to sit with you. I am saddened that I am unable to. I miss you and I love you! Find peace and comfort that we will all be together again very soon and there won’t be any pain. We will also get to be together instead of separated by miles of road. We will be able to hug when we want and laugh all the time. Thank you for being my grandfather!! I love you more then you will ever know!

Love always and forever,
Crystal

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This message is for pop. Mom said you were alongside him.

Hi pop!
I just want to tell you how great of a grandfather you have been! I have some of my best memories from my trips to visit in NC. Most vivid are memories of learning the game of golf. I always enjoyed your lessons on the course. But I really just liked being around you. Watching golf on tv and going to work at the range with you. I have great memories spending time at the driving range. Helping you fill buckets, trying to swing the club with the hinge in it. But mostly I enjoyed your interactions with people. Everyone knew you by more than just name. They always had great things to say about you and it really reflected how great my grandfather is!

I love you Pop!

Steve

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Pop,
First I want to say that I love you and I miss you and I wish we still lived down there so I could be with you now. There are so many great memories that I have of you growing up. Coming to spend the summers with you and Nana were always the best. Going to work with you and helping you restock the golf balls, getting to help at the register and always bugging you to buy me candy. One of my favorite memories is being able to comb your hair. You were always so particular about you hair and keeping it the way you wanted but anytime I wanted you would always let me comb it the opposite of how you liked it.

I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!
Lyndsey
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I remember some of my happiest memories of childhood were going to Nana and pop pops house in north Carolina. All year i would spend waiting for summer so we could go. Yes of course we loved the beach but it was to spend time with you two. You always made me feel as though we were so important to you like all year you couldn’t wait to see us too. I remember golf cart rides with pop going to find alligators. You always had time to go you never said you were too busy and you made it an adventure I still cherish. Pop always let me drive the cart even though I was probably too young and I would feel like such a grown up. I remember going on the golf courses behind your house and putting with you. I remember when you would grill for us and how delicious everything tasted and you trying to teach me how to grill properly. I remember aquarium trips and I remember pop making me London broil sandwiches the day after it was for dinner and that I still eat them the way he taught me. Pop always ate special k and I still eat it because it is my favorite and he introduced me to it. I remember going to north Carolina by myself and spending time playing checkers and chess with pop. Dinners out and souvenir stores and the pool and bike riding and walking amber together…I miss those times still. I couldn’t have asked for a better grandfather because pop was the only grandfather I remember as my fathers dad passed away and he was always so cheerful. I can’t remember a time that pop wasn’t there with a smile and a joke for me. As an insecure teenager pop was never someone I questioned his acceptance of me. I love him so dearly. Not a day went by that I ever found pop pop to not have time to listen to my endless talking and we all know I talk a lot. Thank you for making my family complete. Thank you for all the time and unconditional love. Thank you for still showing that love to my son because Adam loves to talk about his wonderful pop pop. You were amazing and always will