Dick Wadlington

Dick Wadlington, 74, of Cape Girardeau passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at his home.

He was born July 10, 1945, in Cape Girardeau to the late Elbert and Marjorie Welter Wadlington. He and Linda Green were married at Eisleben Lutheran Church on Aug. 5, 1979.

Dick grew up in Cape Girardeau, graduating from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1963. He then graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1967 and began teaching and coaching at Charleston (Missouri) High School before entering the U.S. Army in 1969, serving in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1971.

He returned to Cape Girardeau and obtained his master's degree at Southeast Missouri State. For a short period, he taught at Nell Holcomb School before embarking on a 30-year career at Cape Central High School as a teacher and coach. He coached golf from 1976 to 2003 and was the head basketball coach from 1980 to 1990. He retired from teaching in 2004.

Dick was also a long-time member of the Elks.

Loving survivors include his wife, Linda Wadlington; son, Jason Haertling of Fairview Heights, Illinois; sister, Nancy (Kent) Green of Littleton, Colorado; sister-in-law, Nell Jane Wadlington of Crystal Lake, Illinois; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Matt and Brenda Edmonds of Jackson.

Also surviving are grandsons, Chase and Nicholas Haertling of Fairview Heights. He also had a niece, four nephews and many life-long friends.

He was preceded in death by two brothers -- Ronald in 1980 and Gary in 1993.

A graveside service, with full military honors, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Southeast Missouri Food Bank at semofoodbank@gmail.com or by mail at 600 State Highway H, Sikeston, MO 63801.

McCombs Funeral Home of Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.