Richard H. Heilbron

Richard H. Heilbron, 96, of Overland Park, KS passed away on June 18th, 2018. He was born on March 2nd, 1922 in Maplewood, MO, to Richard and Lois Kuhlman Heilbron. Dick, as he preferred to be called, attended William Jewell College, the University of North Carolina and the University of Chicago, where he graduated with a B.S. in physics. Dick was commissioned in the United States Army Air Force in 1944 and served in the Western Pacific. After WWII Dick returned to school and earned a law degree, J.D., from the University of Kansas City School of Law and was admitted to the Missouri Bar. During law school, Dick became employed as claims adjuster with Farmers Insurance Group and after obtaining his law degree became personal injury defense trial attorney for Farmers Insurance, as founding partner in the Heilbron and Powell Law Firm. Dick retired from Farmers Insurance in 1987. He then worked for Home Insurance Company of New York as a consultant until May 1989.

Dick belonged to Kappa Alpha Fraternity and Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. Dick served as President of Jackson County Law Library for three years and taught various phases of trial practice at seminars sponsored by the Bar Association and the UMKC Law School. Dick was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to the 16th Judicial Circuit Bar Committee for two consecutive four-year terms. The committee hears and adjudicates ethical complaints against lawyers. He also served as Division Chairman for one year and General Chairman for two years. In 1987 Dick was honored by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association at the Bench Conference by being presented with its Third Annual Litigator Emeritus Award.

Dick was highly respected by his colleagues and adversaries alike for his court room skills and his high standard of ethics. He was truly an honorable gentleman.

Dick was an avid reader and loved jazz. He was a founding member of the Friends of Jazz, later known as Folly Jazz. He spent many hours lovingly caring for his large yard.

Dick was an exemplary husband and father. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jane Doak Heilbron (nee Brandom) in 2012. They had been married 68 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents. Dick is survived by four children Richard H Heilbron, Jr. (Patti), Susan Doak Williams (Larry), Martha Jane Manso (Carlos) and Nancy Land Heilbron.

Dick is also survived by eight grandchildren, Carlos Alberto Manso (Susana), Cristina Doak Yates (Chris), Sarah Heilbron Pipkin (Donald), Cara Susan Williams, Jane Ahring Waggoner, Alejandro Martin Manso (Katie), Richard Barnett Heilbron, and Laura Ellen Williams. He also has four great granddaughters, Elena Brynn Medlock, Nora Taylor Manso, Annabelle Noel Manso and Claire Doak Yates.

There will be no memorial service per Dick's wishes. However, a gathering of friends and family is scheduled on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 6 p.m. at Tatsu's Restaurant in Prairie Village. Those interested in attending, please advise as such on the Amos Family Funeral Home website.