Richard R. Herod
Richard R. Herod, 88, a lifelong resident of Point Marion, Pa., passed away Sunday, January 6, 2008, at his home…. Richard R. Herod, 88, a lifelong resident of Point Marion, Pa., passed away Sunday, January 6, 2008, at his home.
Born Feb. 22, 1919, in Gary, Indiana, he was the son of the late Omar L. and Anna (Ross) Herod.
He was also predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Barnthouse Herod, on December 21, 2006.
He was the devoted father of Richard R. Herod, II of St. Paul, Minn., Linda Ruth Herod of Deltona, Fla. and Joyce (Herod) Henderson and her husband, Doug of Bolivar, Pa., the beloved grandfather of Richard R. Herod, III of Woodbury, Minn., Daniel B. Herod and his wife, Marlena of Mayville, Wisc. and Emily Ruth and Laura Anne Henderson of Bolivar and a very proud great-grandfather to Logan Daniel Herod.
A 1936 graduate of Point Marion High School, Richard graduated from California State Teachers College in 1940, and taught special education in Hanover, Pa. until his father’s untimely death in 1942. He then attended Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, graduating first in his class in 1944. After receiving his funeral director’s license, he owned and operated the family funeral home providing service to local families and those in surrounding communities until his retirement in 1986. Since then, he has remained active at the funeral home, assisting with visitations and funerals. He was licensed as a funeral director in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, was the oldest member of the Southwestern Funeral Directors Association, served as a Fayette County Deputy Coroner for over forty years, and was currently in the process of completing his continuing education requirements to maintain his licensure.
Richard was a pillar of the First Baptist Church in Point Marion, of which his parents were among the charter families. As a lifetime member he served as a deacon and on several committees in the church including pulpit, finance and music, directed the four part church choir for over 25 years sharing his passionate love of music and singing in his resonant bass voice.
He continued to remain active in the community, and was the oldest member of the Point Marion Rotary Club, in which he was a past president and a Paul Harris Fellow, and currently had 62 years of continuous active service. He was also an honorary member of the Point Marion Volunteer Fire Department, member of the I.O.O.F 1173, served on the Albert Gallatin Visiting Nurses Association Board of Directors for Volunteer Services and was past president of the Point Marion Chamber of Commerce, where he served on their original Albert Gallatin Regatta Committee
His love of Point Marion was well known, as was his knowledge of the history of the town and families in the area. His mark on the community and the people he served will long be remembered. His loving guidance, quick wit and constant support will be missed by his family and friends.
The community is invited to pay their respects at the RICHARD R. HEROD FUNERAL HOME, Point Marion, Pa., today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday in the FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. the hour of Service, with Pastor Kathy Griffith officiating.
Interment follows in the Evergreen Memorial Park, Point Marion.