Point Marion mourns death of Herod
In his lifetime, Richard R. Herod touched many lives in his hometown of Point Marion. For decades, he owned and operated the Richard R. Herod Funeral Home, where he provided comfort and care for families throughout the area. He served Fayette County as a deputy coroner for more than 40 years.
He remained active in the community through his affiliation with First Baptist Church and many civic organizations. He was a local historian.
Now, family and friends are mourning the loss of Herod, who died at home on Sunday, Jan. 6. He was 88.
“Nobody’s sadder than we are. He sure was a wonderful man,’ said Herod’s daughter, Linda Ruth Herod of Deltona, Fla.
“He was like a father to me,’ said Philip Rishel, who worked with Herod before purchasing the funeral home from him. “I’ve been with him for 30 years. He treated me wonderfully.’
“He was an outstanding leader in Rotary,’ said Ted Shaffer, president of Point Marion Borough Council. “He was very calm, cool, collected. It wasn’t easy for him to become upset. He never got involved in local politics to hold office but he did talk to people who held office and tried to guide them.’
“He was a friendly, considerate person to all and willing to help everybody,’ said Shaffer’s wife, Patricia. “He was a very good Rotarian and served on other organizations in Point Marion – Oddfellows and an honorary fireman. He was a very nice gentleman. He had a lovely family and was very devoted to his family.’
Al Dubois, also a member of Point Marion Borough Council, said, “From the first day I met him, he was always joyful. He always treated me well. I have nothing but respect for him and his good wife. I think it’s a sorrowful time for Point Marion. He made many contributions to organizations, especially Rotary. I feel I’ve lost a dear friend. He was really an outstanding gentleman.’
Herod was born Feb. 22, 1919, in Gary, Ind., a son of the late Omar L. and Anna (Ross) Herod. Linda Ruth Herod said her father moved to Point Marion when he was 3 years old.
He was married for 63 years to the late Ruth Barnthouse Herod, who died on Dec. 21, 2006. Herod was dedicated to his family, including children Richard R. Herod II of St. Paul, Minn., Linda Ruth Herod, and Joyce (Herod) Henderson and her husband, Doug, of Bolivar; grandchildren 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 great-grandchild Logan Daniel Herod.
A 1936 graduate of Point Marion High School, Herod graduated from California State Teachers College in 1940 and taught special education in Hanover until his father’s 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 until Rishel purchased it in 1986.
“That’s when he officially retired,’ Rishel said. “I worked with him from 1978 to 1986 and he still lived upstairs. He never pushed himself in but he said, ‘If you need me, let me know.”
Herod always provided care and attention to families.
Rishel said, “He was a gentleman from the word ‘go’. He was very helpful to families over the years – very helpful to me.
“Even though he was retired, he came down and talked to families he knew. If he was in town, he was here for the funeral service and people looked forward to seeing him. If he was not in his chair, they would ask where is Mr. Herod and how is he doing? It’s really a loss for the town.’
Herod was a licensed funeral director in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia and was the oldest member of the Southwestern Funeral Directors Association. He was in the process of completing his continuing education requirements to maintain his licensure.
“How many 88-year-olds are willing to sit through continuing education classes?’ asked Rishel. “He was sharp until the last day.’
Herod knew his community – the people and the history.
“He was the go-to man if somebody wanted to know things about the past,’ said Rishel.
Linda Ruth Herod said, “The community has lost probably its last best historian. He knew everybody – where they came from and he was involved with them. He worked with them and talked with them and cared for them. His presence in Point Marion ranged from when his family moved here when he was 3 years old until late Saturday night, and he kept up on everything. He wanted to remain vital, involved and interested and he did.’
Herod’s involvement included the First Baptist Church in Point Marion, where his parents were among the charter families. He served as deacon and on several committees, directing the four-part church choir for 25 years before passing the job onto his wife who directed a three-part choir for 35 years.
Herod also was the oldest member of the Point Marion Rotary Club. He was a past president and a Paul Harris Fellow and had 62 years of continuous active service.
He was an honorary member of the Point Marion Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the I.O.O.F. 1172, 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, serving on the original Albert Gallatin Regatta Committee.
“Until he was 80, he was still helping to line up the Halloween parade,’ said Rishel.
Asked her memories of her father, Linda Ruth Herod said, “His humor. His faithfulness to my mother in the depths of her illness. He was by her side until the end. He was faithful and loving to her until her last breath. He was devoted to his church but more so to his family.
“He was a constant support and provided reference points for moral guidance and life decisions. He was always willing to help and support. He was caring in his quiet way,’ she continued.
“He was a man of integrity and constancy and he never spoke a foul word in his life, never raised his voice but always expressed what he felt. He was bright, verbal – a walking dictionary sometimes. He was strong – stronger than any man I’ve known in regard to facing adversity and sadness,’ she said. “He was a wonderful man and my mother was wonderful as well and we kids have tried to live up to their legacy. They’re a tough act to follow.’
Linda Ruth Herod noted that her father had a last holiday together with close family members from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida.
“We all came to be with him at Christmas so we all benefited from some quality time. It was a tough holiday,’ she said. “My mother passed away last Christmas and he was struggling with that as we all were. He got to meet his first great-grandchild. He had a satisfying and complete holiday with his family.
We can all be grateful we had that time with him. He was still vigorous and vital and witty until his last breath. He was a good man. He was a rock – an absolute rock to many people, especially his family.’
Herod’s funeral was Thursday at First Baptist Church. Pastor Kathy Griffith officiated. He was buried in the Evergreen Memorial Park in Point Marion.