Richard “Dick” Clothier
DICK’S LIFE STORY
Richard Iven Clothier completed the earthly portion of his journey on June 8, 2025 at Lamoni Specialty Care. This amazing and blessed journey began in Dow City, Iowa, on January 19, 1937, when a son was born to Leila Wirth Clothier and W. Iven Clothier. Soon after the birth of a brother, Robert, the family moved to Independence, Missouri, in part due to the abundance of church activities in the “Center Place” of the RLDS church (now Community of Christ).
Still experiencing the effects of the Great Recession, the family purchased a basement home on a small acreage northeast of Independence. Richard and Robert learned the value of hard work during these years, helping grow and raise their own food in addition to church and other activities. It would be several more years before the family would be able to build the upper story on the dwelling.
When he was still four months from his sixth birthday, Richard began his lifelong pursuit of learning in a two-room country school located an (often-walked) mile-and-a-half from the family’s home northeast of Independence. A decision by the school that he should skip the sixth grade meant that when Richard arrived for his freshman year at Graceland College he was only 16 years of age. And when his life’s career of teaching music began with a part-time assignment during his senior year at Kansas State College of Pittsburgh, he was only 19. It was a closely kept secret that a few of his students were actually older than he was.
During the second year of his first full-time position teaching all music courses at Wellington, Missouri, the military came calling. Upon completion of six months active duty with the National Guard, he opted to take advantage of the break in his teaching career and begin a Master’s degree program at the University of Iowa. He was greatly encouraged in this decision by the fact that one Miss Louita Goode had just returned from a year of teaching in South America and was enrolling in the same program at the U of I. The couple had dated at Graceland, and before the first semester at U of I was over, they were engaged and planning a wedding in the spring.
The wedding took place in the Lamoni church on April 16, 1960, with Apostle Charles Neff officiating, and by that time Richard (now known as “Dick”) had been hired to join the Graceland music faculty in the fall. Harold Neal was elated to cede the duties of marching band and other courses over to Dick. It was not long before a daughter, Kathleen Gail, and a son, David Russell, joined the family, which quickly became the center of life and love. When the college decided to offer a four-year program in Music Education, the family accompanied Dick to Colorado, where he completed his Doctorate in Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, in 1967.
The 37 years at Graceland were to become the defining focus of Dick’s life journey, a career which he approached not so much as a job, but rather as a calling. He loved working with his students and was dedicated to their success. Dick’s contributions during these years included not only teaching band, orchestra, and a wide variety of music courses, but also heading the Music Department and the Fine Arts Division at various times. When the Shaw Center was completed in 1982, he was given the post of Director of the new facility, a position which he proudly maintained until his retirement in 2000.
Highlight experiences of these years would include 10-day ensemble tours during spring break, enthusiastically-received World Conference performances by the orchestra, the Inaugural Shaw Center concert, the semester with a visiting Bulgarian violin virtuoso, as well as arranging the appearance of numerous famous performers on the stage of the Shaw Center. Dick acknowledged that the excellence of the orchestra during these years was due not only to intensive recruiting efforts, but also to the contributions of students from Louita’s Suzuki Strings program in the local schools.
No doubt the most extraordinary segment of the journey began in 1973, when he and Louita were, quite miraculously, invited to head up the music department at the prestigious American School in London, England. The family spent seven unforgettable years in that magnificent city, and returned regularly thereafter to visit beloved friends and places.
Dick’s ministry in Community of Christ was central to his life journey. Ordained as a Deacon at age 12 and later as an Elder, he served as Assistant Pastor both at Farview Heights congregation in Independence, and later at Lamoni, ultimately serving in the office of High Priest.
In retirement, Dick continued his musical activities, focusing especially on the ministry of music. His love affair with the hymns of the church resulted in his becoming recognized as the leading expert on the musical heritage of the denomination, leading historic hymn festivals and writing extensively on the hymnology of the movement. He authored two books on this subject and served on the committee for Hymns of the Saints, as well as a consultant for Community of Christ Sings.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, lovingly known as Independence pediatrician “Dr. Bob” Clothier. He will be missed by his wife of 65 years, Louita; daughter Kathi Angeroth (Rodney) of Council Bluffs, IA; son David Clothier of Arlington, VA; nephews Russell Clothier (Anne) of Kansas City, MO, Raymond Clothier (Darby) of Lewiston, ME; and niece Julie Bover (Mike) of Independence, MO; and the literally a thousand of friends and former students who have sent their love and tributes.
A Service of Gratitude and Remembrance will be held at the Lamoni Community of Christ church on Saturday, June 21 at 10:30 a.m. with Stu Sherman and Jane Gardner officiating and Jan Kraybill at the organ. Memorial gifts may be directed to Lamoni Community of Christ congregation or Graceland University music scholarships. Professional arrangements were made through the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, IA.