Richard Alexander, 87, of Indianola, passed away Saturday, November 11, 2023. Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Indianola with burial following in the Scotch Ridge Cemetery, Carlisle, IA.

Richard was born on November 27, 1935 in Centerville, Iowa to Ralph and Edith (Goudy) Alexander. Richard's family moved to Urbandale, Iowa in 1943. He then graduated from Urbandale High School in 1954.  He joined the National Air Guard and became an aircraft mechanic.

He began his lifelong career in 1956 at Western Electric Company, where he met Violet Lucille Paxson. They were married in 1959. Together they raised three sons. Richard loved spending time with his family.  He spent his weekends camping, boating, fishing and attending motorcycle races. He often took his boys to hill climb, flat track or motocross races.  Richard loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He enjoyed the many band concerts, dance recitals, baseball games, soccer games and other numerous activities. His passion was repairing broken electronics from tube televisions to boat engines. He was always generous with his time, talents and tools.  Family, neighbors and friends knew who they could count on to have a handyman help them through any project.  After retirement in 1993, he began his own small business and earned his certification as an electrician and HVAC technician.  AT&T (formerly Western Electric) called him back to help repair the equipment that was damaged in the flood of '93. He was also very proud of his membership with the Issac Walton League and American Motorcycle Association.

Richard loved heading south to Mississippi to spend time in the warm ocean air and visiting relatives.  He built his own retirement home in Ocean Springs.  His generosity was widely known as he opened the invitation to "come down to Mississippi where it's warm" to everyone he met.   Everyone he knew had a place to stay in Mississippi!  Many friends including Jeanette Porter and her family came to share in the joy of the South.  He was always pleasant, joyful and complimentary even through his diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Violet of 50 years, his brothers James, Thomas and Robert. He is survived by his brother John (Judy) Alexander and his children, David (Patricia) Alexander, Doug (Justine) Alexander and Darren Alexander, his five grandchildren Hailey (Matthew) Chappel, Riley, Trinity, Renee, Sam and 2 great grandchildren Everleigh and Holland.

Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. Reciting of the Rosary will begin at 7 p.m.  Memorials in his memory may be given to Suncrest Hospice or the family for a contribution at a later date.