Richard James "Dick" Farrell

Community leader and journalist Richard James "Dick" Farrell, 67, of Dover died Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, surrounded by his family. He credited his family for their support during his hard-fought battle with heart and respiratory issues.

Born March 3, 1951, in Cleveland, Dick was a son of the late Larry and Dorothea Keeler Farrell. He attended St. Clement Catholic Elementary and graduated from Lakewood High School, both in Lakewood. He graduated from Kent State University in 1976.

Dick, a news junkie, began his career as a journalist at The Times-Reporter in 1973 as a reporter and in 1990 was named editor, a position he served in until 2009. In his retirement, he worked for Zoar Golf Course and as a substitute teacher at Dover.

He had been a member of the board of trustees at Kent State University at Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia since 1981. He also had been a member of the Ohio Newspaper Assn., serving that organization in various capacities, and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dover and Atwood Yacht Club.

He was technically savvy and used his skills to promote the local campus, the area and state, and his beloved Cleveland sports teams. Always hopeful, from his hospital bed he posted a photo of Bud Light "Victory Fridges" featuring beer to be given away when the Browns win.

On July 29, 1978, he married Suzanne Skocaj, who survives, as do their two children, Kate (Brian) Burtch of Concord Township and Christopher (Liz) Farrell of Upper Arlington, and four grandchildren, Benjamin, Brendan, Anna and Jake. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.

Dick loved boating, golfing and watching the Weather Channel, but more than anything he loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory in Dover. A Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church with Father Jimmy Hatfield officiating. A meal will follow at the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions be made to the Dick Farrell Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the Tuscarawas County University Foundation, 330 University Dr. NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, or at https://www.kent.edu/tusc/rfmemorial. The scholarship will be awarded to a student attending Kent State Tuscarawas.

To sign an online guestbook for Dick, visit the obituary link on the funeral home's website, www.tolandherzig.com.