Richard Arrighi

Richard Charles "Dick" Arrighi, 87, of Beloit, died on May 1, 2013 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, KS. Dick Arrighi, was born on Nov. 4, 1925, in Beloit, to Carl Dewey and Elizabeth "Bess" Heidrick Arrighi. He was the second of their two children.
Dick grew up in Beloit, attending St. John's the Baptist Catholic Grade School and spent most of his summers on the Heidrick family farm. In 1943, he transferred to Maur Hill School, the Benedictine high school in Atchison, KS for his junior and senior years. Despite his small stature, he excelled in athletics, both football and basketball, getting the nickname, "the little giant".
Dick was drafted out of school during his senior year into the US Army and left for basic training on Feb 14, 1944. Dick was assigned to the 393rd Regiment of the 99th Infantry Division, which had been activated and was being sent to Europe. The division arrived in France on November 3, 1944.
Dick's company suffered heavy casualties in December 1944 during the now-famous Battle of the Bulge, the largest German offensive of the war. Dick survived the month-long battle but was later seriously wounded in January 1945, while firing on a German position, for which he received the Purple Heart.
After the war, Dick attended St. Benedicts College in Atchison before accepting a job at the Mitchell County Post Office in 1948. The job became a career and he worked there a total of 37 years, three years as a clerk-carrier and then as a rural letter carrier before retiring in 1984.
Dick met and married Eldora Anna Riedel on Sept. 4, 1950 and together, they raised three children. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on Sept. 4th 2012.
Dick never gave up his true passion which was to be involved in anything athletic and he coached the St. John's Grade School basketball teams from 1951 to 1962 and tutored some excellent players. He also became an avid and competitive golfer, playing in any local or regional tournament he could find. He was especially proud of his five "hole-in-ones."
Dick also liked to hunt and fish and was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife, Eldora, his children, Dr. David Arrighi of Abilene TX, Mrs. Carol Wells and her husband, Richard Wells, of Fulshear, TX, and Thomas Arrighi, of Washington, MO, and four grandchildren, Kelsey Arrighi, Oak Park, IL, Juliana Arrighi, Portland, OR, Austin Wells, Austin, TX and Amanda Wells, Atlanta, GA.. He is also survived by numerous other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his sister Frances Ellen Arrighi, of Houston, TX.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, May 4 at the St. John's Catholic Church in Beloit. A parish rosary service will be held at 7:00 PM Friday at the McDonald Funeral Home, where visitation will take place from 9:00 AM until the rosary service begins. Memorials may be given to the St. John's Education Fund.