Roger E. Richards, age 96, of Bluffton, South Carolina and a former resident of Wellston, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at the Masonic Home in Springfield, Ohio. He was born Jan. 2, 1920 in Coalton, Ohio to the late Everett Evan Richards and Augusta Leach Richards.
Roger was a 1937 graduate of Coalton High School and was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps, having served during WW II. He was the former general manager for Plant City Steel in Marion, Ohio. Roger was a member of the Hope United Methodist Church in Wellston; Black Diamond Lodge #538 F&AM; Scottish Rite Valley of Columbus; Aladdin Shrine; and a former active member of the Wellston Lions Club.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Roganne and Tim West of Bluffton, South Carolina; granddaughter, Amy Reynolds (Chad) of Houston, Texas; great-granddaughters, Ashley Lauren Reynolds and Emma Grace Reynolds; sisters, Garnetta Holzapfel (Leonard) of Wellston and Wilma Sims of Hamilton, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Roger was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Eunice Anthony Richard on Sept. 23, 2016; and sister, Pauline Vorys.
Graveside services, with military honors, will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Ridgewood Cemetery in Wellston, with John Pelletier, CLP officiating. There will be no calling hours. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the McWilliams Funeral Home. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com