Donald Gene Richard

Donald Gene Richard, 85, of Dover, died Friday, September 15, 2006, in his home, following a long battle with cancer.

Born Oct. 26, 1920, in Dover, he was a son of the late Fred Jr. and Opal Patton Richard. Gene graduated from Dover High School, and served honorably in the United States Navy during the Second World War and the Korean War. He owned and operated the former Stallard�(TM)s IGA in Dover, a neighborhood store that was known for its specialty foods and cuts of meat. Gene made sure that personal attention was first and foremost at Stallard�(TM)s.

Gene was a member of St. John�(TM)s United Church of Christ in Dover, and had also been a very active member of Dover�(TM)s First Moravian Church, where he was instrumental in its renovation and expansion. He also belonged to the Masonic Lodge, Kiwanis and the Phi Sigma Fraternity, all of Dover.

Gene enjoyed travel, and had visited every continent on Earth except for Antartica. He liked yard-work, especially growing flowers. For several years Gene planted flowers at the Warther Museum (Mooney Warther was Gene�(TM)s uncle). He also liked to try his had at woodworking.

Gene doted on his grandchildren, and spent many happy hours with them. Additionally, he thoroughly enjoyed Richard family reunions where he visited with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Schide Richard, whom he married Jul. 5, 2003; a son, John F. (wife, Karen) Richard of Alpharetta, GA; two grandsons, Connor and Colin Richard; stepdaughters, Sarah (husband, Don) Goodwin of Westfield Center, Amy (husband, Gary) Derck of Waxhaw, NC, and Mary Ann (husband, William) Kearney of Sacramento, CA; six step-grandchildren; a sister, Wanda Stallard of Sun City Center, FL; a brother, Jack (wife, Ruth) Richard of Centennial, CO; several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his first wife, Laura Jane Meyers Richard, in 1963; his second wife, Mary Louise Brewer Richard, in 2002; two brothers, Raymond “Red” or “Bud” Richard and William Richard.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2 �" 5 p.m. Masonic services will be conducted Sunday at 4:45 p.m. in the funeral home. Gene�(TM)s life will be celebrated in a service Monday, Sept. 18, at 11 a.m., in St. John�(TM)s United Church of Christ, Dover, with Rev. Ed Shriver officiating. Immediately following the service, there will be a reception in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center. To sign an online register and share a fond memory of Gene, please visit the Toland-Herzig Web site and click on “obituaries.”

The family suggests that contributions in Gene�(TM)s memory be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 W. Third St., Dover, Ohio 44622.