Dr. Alexander, Jr.

"1917 - 2017"

Canton, Dr. Richard Thomas "Dick" Alexander, Jr., age 100, passed away on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home.

Dick was a native of Davidson County, Tennessee, son of the late Richard Thomas Alexander and Grace Andrews Alexander. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Virginia "Pittsy" Alexander, who died in 2001; a son, James Pitts Alexander and a sister, Mary Alexander Ream. Dick was a veteran, having served in the Army's 83rd Division during World War II, having been part of both the Battle of the Bulge and the Normandy Invasion. He was awarded the Bronze and Silver Star and also the French Legion of Honor in 2010. He was a 1935 graduate of the Lincoln School of New York; earned his Bachelor and Master degrees from Columbia University and his Doctorate of Education from the University of Tennessee. His teaching experience came from the Springdale School & High Valley Camp, Bethel High School, Western Carolina University, the University of Tennessee, and until his retirement he was a professor of Elementary Education for 25 years at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. While at Ball State, he also served as Foreign Student Advisory and Director of the Ex El overseas program. He was granted Emeritus status in 1982. Dick also was a firm believer in service to your community, having served on the board of the Haywood Waterway as well as the Salvation Army, he also delivered Meals-on-Wheels until the age of 96 and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesville.

Dick is survived by two sons, Richard Thomas "Tom" Alexander, III and his wife, Jo, of Waynesville and William Edward Alexander of Indianapolis, Indiana; a granddaughter, Michelle Alexander Parrott and her husband, Gregg; and four great grandchildren, Alex, Michael, Seth and Sara Parrott. Additional survivors include one nephew and two nieces.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Pastor Holly Davis officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m. prior to services at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Dr. Alexander, memorials may be made to Meals-on-Wheels, 157 Paragon Parkway, Suite 300, Clyde, NC 28721, or he would have encouraged individuals to volunteer their time to a charitable cause in their community.