Richard E. Wrinkle

Lifelong Lebanon resident, Richard E. Wrinkle, was born April 5, 1948 in Springfield, Missouri, the son of Virgil J. and Marjorie B. Kelly Wrinkle. He passed away Friday, December 27, 2024, in his Lebanon home at the age of seventy-six years, eight months and twenty-two days of age.
Richard was raised in Lebanon, graduating from Lebanon High School in 1966. His ambition was to be a police officer, but he first served in the United States Army before pursuing his dream in law enforcement.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Richard attended Southwest Missouri State and graduated from Drury College with a BA in History and Criminal Justice. He then earned a MA degree in Public Administration from Webster College. He worked for the Lebanon Police Department and the Laclede County Sheriff's Department for a total of forty-five years. He was elected Sheriff in 2000 and served in that position for three terms.
Richard had transferred between the Laclede County Sheriff's Department and the Lebanon Police Department during his forty-five years of service. In 2017, he returned to the sheriff's office as a captain and became the chief deputy. He became the first law enforcement officer in Laclede County history to hold the position of chief deputy for two different sheriff administrations in two different centuries.
On May 10, 2021, the Lebanon City Council declared the day as "Richard Wrinkle Day".
Richard also was a Shriner and enjoyed participating in those activities.
He served as the manager of the Lebanon Cemetery and served in that position until his health forced him to resign in 2024.
On December 26, 1982, he married Vera Lee Sebeniecher. Through Vera he gained three step-daughters, Jennifer, Holly and Lisa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil J. and Marjorie B. Wrinkle; his wife Vera; and his step-daughter Jennifer.
He is survived by his brother, Charles Wrinkle of Lebanon, Missouri; his step-daughters, Holly Mattery of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Lisa Williams and her husband Tim of Nixa, Missouri; his grandson, Gabriel James Smith of the home; eight other grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
As we bid farewell to Richard, we celebrate a life lived to the fullest, marked by an enduring commitment to service and a profound love for his community. His was a life that exemplified leadership. He dedicated his life to serving and protecting his community with unwavering integrity leaving a lasting legacy as a dedicated Sheriff who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Service for Richard Wrinkle will be Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Lebanon Cemetery with full military rites.
A memorial has been established to Lebanon Cemetery and donations may be left at the funeral home.