Richard Lewis Harper, 85, passed quietly from earth to his Heavenly Home on March 22, 2016, surrounded by all his “girls.”
He was born on Feb. 1, 1931, in Vinton County, to Clifford Lee and Annabelle Oberholzer Harper.
He graduated from McArthur High School, Class of 1948.
On May 11, 1952, he married Lois Jane Fee, a wonderful partnership for 63 years.
After working 37 years at the Mead Paper Corp., he retired in 1993 as a heavy equipment operator. During his retirement, he faithfully served as a volunteer at the Adena Regional Medical Center, totaling 196 ½ volunteer hours.
In his spare time, he loved gardening, square dancing and driving his 1984 Crown Victoria, fondly called “Black Beauty.” He was a member of the Walnut Street Church congregation.
Throughout his life, he remained a “country boy who tried not to trample too many toes along the way.”
He is survived by his wife, Lois; his sister, Gladys Bowman, of Sun City, Florida; three daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn and Paul Clifton of Circleville, Deborah and Lionel Skay of Mt. Perry and Dian and James Smith of Chillicothe; grandchildren, Robert and Shannon Abner of Westerville, Noah and Amber Abner of Sunbury and Rebecca and Roman Smith of Chillicothe; four great-grandchildren, Grace, Gabriella, Carter and Claire Abner; and two sisters-in-law, Eloise and Mary Lou Harper, both of McArthur.
He will be truly missed by all who loved him so much.
He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers, William and Howard Harper, all of McArthur.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 24, 2016, at Haller Funeral Home, Chillicothe, with Rev. Jim Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Cemetery. The family will welcome friends and extended family members from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at Haller’s.
Visit www.hallerfuneralhome.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
