Leslie L. “Les” Richhart, 88, went home to be with his Lord unexpectedly on Friday morning, March 15, 2013 from IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. By his side was his loving wife of 65 years, Elsie M. (Throckmorton) Richhart, whom he married on Feb. 7, 1948 in Morgantown. Les was a resident of Franklin and a former long-time resident of Trafalgar.

He was born in Brown County on Feb. 7, 1925 to the late James W. "Willie" and Maude Leona (Dine) Richhart.  Les was a 1944 graduate of Trafalgar High School and went on to serve as a radio technician second class with the United States Navy from 1944 until 1946 during World War II. In 1951, Les served with the United States Navy again during the Korean War as an electronics technician first class. After dedicated service to his country, Les found work as a foreman in the electronics rework department for the United States Naval Avionics Facility in Indianapolis for more than 30 years, retiring in 1980.

Les was an active member of Franklin Memorial Christian Church since 2006 and was a former member of Whiteland Christian Church - where he was a Sunday school teacher - and First Christian Church of Morgantown. Les was an avid reader of the Bible, National Geographic and Rifleman magazines. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and enjoyed wood working, tending to his vegetable garden and working with guns and gun stocks. 

Les and his wife are god parents to Katie (Jason) Carey of Bloomington and Makaleigh Layman of Nineveh and their siblings, Shannon Calloway of Whiteland, Clifton Layman of Hawaii, Shane Smith, Casey and Cory Layman, all of Nineveh. Les will be remembered by two sisters, Bonnie Sensel of Indianapolis and Anita (Phil) Schiver of Plainfield; nieces, Martha Walker and Karen Richhart, both of Indianapolis and Lori Wetzel of Mooresville, N.C.; and a nephew, Bill Sensel of Atlanta, Ga. 

The Revs. Richard Throckmorton, Stan Icenogle and Larry McAdams will conduct a funeral service at 10 a.m. Wednesday March 20, at Franklin Memorial Christian Church, 1720 N. Graham Road in Franklin. Friends can call from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 at the church. Burial will be at East Hill Cemetery in Morgantown with military rites presented by  Martinsville American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars honor guards. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center in Morgantown.

Memorial contributions can be sent in honor of Les to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be made to the Richhart family at Meredith-clark.com.