Richard “Dick” Kingston, 96, of Atchison, died Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026.
Kingston was born Feb. 5, 1930, in Neodesha to Harry and Edna Linn Kingston. He graduated from Neodesha High School in 1948 and attended Independence Community College before transferring to Pittsburg State University. While at Pittsburg State, he joined the Kansas National Guard in 1951. His unit was called to active duty during the Korean War and served at Fort Lewis, Washington. After his release from active duty in 1953, he served two more years in the Neodesha National Guard as a staff sergeant.
Kingston worked for Sinclair Pipeline Co. for two years before returning to Pittsburg State, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1957 and a master’s degree in 1962. He taught industrial arts in Ottawa and Salina, Kansas, and at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
From 1966 to 1970, Kingston helped establish the Central Kansas Area Vocational Technical School, serving the McPherson, Newton and Hutchinson areas. He came to Atchison in 1972 as assistant director of the Northeast Kansas Area Vocational-Technical School. He retired as its director in 1991.
Kingston was a member of Atchison United Methodist Church, Salina Masonic Lodge and Fleming-Jackson-Seever American Legion Post 6 in Atchison. He and his wife, Alice “Jean” Koelling, married Sept. 12, 1954. They were avid RV travelers and members of the Good Sam Club. Kingston served as assistant state president for the club’s Kansas East District, which covered seven counties. The couple traveled to Texas in their RV each winter for more than 20 years.
Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Jean; son Charles (Colette) Kingston; and daughters Anita (Mike) Krallman and Debbie (Brad) Petersen. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Virginia McKinney.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Atchison United Methodist Church. The family will meet friends at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the service. Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
