Dwight Russell Poole

When the sun rose on October 5, 1942, a colorful new character was coming later that day.  Dwight Russell Poole was born in Somerset, Kentucky to Charles Estle Poole and Nellie Pearl Blanton Poole.  Second son of eventually five sons in the household, he grew up in Kentucky and settled in Indiana.

He graduated from Avon High School in 1961.  Dwight was known for his wit and humor- this served him well for 80 years.  His first job was a sacker at the local grocery store.  After high school he enrolled in trade school to become a tool and die maker.  He took his skills to Western Electric in Indianapolis, Indiana and remained there until the plant closed in 1984-85.  Every year he and his family would volunteer to work at the special Olympics in Indianapolis.  Once the plant closed, he decided to relocate his family to Missouri and continue on at the Western Electric plant in Lees Summit.  Western Electric changed owners several times, being AT&T and Lucent Technologies to name a few.  A short stint at Vector and from there he was coaxed by a friend to join R&D in Lees Summit as a designer.  Dwight’s second son followed in the tool and die footsteps and works for R&D to this day.  Dwight would eventually end his career at Mr. Longarm as a designer in Greenwood Missouri.   Dwight’s first son is a mechanical designer for another local  company.  Roots run deep.

Dwight loved his family and loved God.  He was a deacon and elder in his church- a role in which he was proud to serve.  He sang in a gospel quartet in the 1970’s-80’s.  He was the shortest of the four and he sang bass.  He loved classic cars- had a gift of working on them and restoring them.  Thunderbirds were his favorite and had a lifelong project of a 1956 Tbird.  That project turned into a family collaboration and runs on the road today- if you don’t need brakes.  He was a past member of the VMCCA car club and a member of Antioch Southern Baptist Church.

After the sun set on July 19, 2023, Dwight passed from the walls of the hospital to the arms of Jesus- something he had longed to do since his heart surgery.  He was loved by all- even the nurses said they would take 100 of him.

He is preceded by parents, Charles “Estle” Poole, Nellie Pearl Blanton Poole, and former wife Brenda Ballou Poole.  Missing him here on Earth from Kentucky, Indiana, and North Carolina are brothers Hollis, Norman, Michael, and Rodney Poole.  Missing him in Missouri is his wife, Diana Poole and grandson Gage Brown,  daughter Joy Poole Durland, son Brian Poole, son Terry Poole, son in law Michael Durland, daughter in law Jenny Poole, daughter in law to be Barbara Poole, 3 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and one precious great granddaughter.  Calling him stepdad are the late Robin Pope, Elisabeth Brown Tyler, and Jessica Brown.  Calling him stepdad in law is Justin Tyler.  Calling him Papa are 5 grandsons, 4 granddaughters, and 2 more precious great grandchildren.  There is a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 28, 2023 at Antioch Southern Baptist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri. With Internment at Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.  

Visitation will be held 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 27, 2023 at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.