11/7: Rev. Dr. Richard "Dick" Leon Died
Seattle Presbytery
Rev. Dr. Richard "Dick" Leon (Honorably Retired, Parish Associate at Sammamish PC and former Senior Pastor at BelPres) was killed in a bicycle accident November 7, 2014 in Arizona where he and his wife Carolyn live during the winter months.
From BelPres Communications:
It is with a heavy heart that we send this email. Late this afternoon we received word of the death of beloved, former Senior Bellevue Presbyterian Church Pastor Dr. Richard Leon, known affectionately by all as Dick. He died while doing one of his favorite activities, riding his bicycle in Arizona. This news is such a shock and is almost impossible to believe. When we think of Dick we hear his strong preaching of God's love and grace. Today we hold onto Dick's faith and claim God's eternal promise that "in life and in death we are the Lord's." Please pray for Carolyn and the family in this time of grief. As we receive more details and information about a memorial we will post updates.
From Rev. Jeff Lincicome, Senior Pastor at Sammamish PC:
Dick leaves a long legacy for Jesus Christ, serving Christ and the church all around the world as a dynamic preacher and teacher, a talented leader, and a faithful and gracious pastor and friend. I know many of us rank Dick among the giants of the faith and will be forever grateful for his influence and friendship. SPC has been blessed to have Dick teaching for us, leading us in times of transition, and most recently preaching for us this past summer during my sabbatical.
Death is always a blow, and this death is particularly devastating. But what we believe and hold to is that death doesn't have the final word: Jesus Christ does. And because of that, we have hope, even in the face of tragedies such as this. Please hold Carolyn, and their children in your prayers, and I'd invite you to join us in worship Sunday as we comfort each other, grieve together, and look to our God for hope. In times like this, the family needs to be together. Please join us.
From Scott Lumsden, Executive Presbyter:
Our hearts grieve with his wife Carolyn and her family in their loss and with the communities of Bellevue Presbyterian and Sammamish Presbyterian Church. Words cannot express our shock and sadness at this tragic news, yet we affirm the hope even in our grief.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39