Richard J. "RJ or Dick" Hurford, age 94, of Alliance, passed on to the home of his Lord, after a four year illness Saturday, November 1, 2014, at his daughter's home with his family at his side.
He was previously of 12th St. and Burt Avenue in Alliance and was living with his daughter, Judith (Larry) Kosiba on Georgetown St. on the family farm in Minerva.
Richard was born March 24, 1920, at his home in Alliance to James D. and Anna (Quitter Vogel) Hurford and was a lifelong area resident.
He attended Alliance City Schools and would have graduated in 1938, but quit school to support his parents. He was employed by the former Lembright's Bakery, State Liquor Department, Stark County Cab, Alliance Manufacturing, Bonnie Forge and Tool and retired from Transue and Williams Forge as a die setter in the Cold Trim Department.
He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church serving as head usher, Deacon, on the music and worship committee, and the Camp Limrod board.
Known as the "Candy Man", Richard would always give out Werther Original candies to anyone he would meet.
Richard enjoyed sports and previously played baseball, basketball, fast pitch softball and seven-man football for Goat Hill and Alliance City teams. He was president of the AHS Choir, parents association and band equipment supervisor for John Wetzel. He also enjoyed bowling, was an avid fisherman and artist, and member of the Chaingang for Alliance High School and Mount Union College for many years until he was 83 years old.
Richard was a private in the United States Army Air Corp serving during World War II. He was a radio operator 727 single aircraft warnings/7th Air Force Division and a mechanic. One of his missions was to be on the deserted island of Torie Shima with one other serviceman for six months to alert the United States ships when the Japanese airplanes took off.
Survivors include his daughter Judith Hurford (Larry) Kosiba of Minerva; two nieces that he helped raise, Vicky Walker (Phil) Soderman of California and Donna Walker (Bill) Book of Loveland, OH; ten grandchildren, Jessica, Wes, Jeff, Susan, Heidi, Kris, Erik, Heather, Scott and Michael, and 13 great-grandchildren from all of his three girls; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss his wonderful smile and wit.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 60 years, Lenora M. (Walker) whom he married March 12, 1943 and who died June 8, 2003; four brothers, Tick, Al, Carl and Fred; four sisters, Clara Dietrick, Ann Boyle, Ethel Combs and Helen Barnhouse and four nephews, Bill and Jim Hurford, David Barnhouse and Bus Boyle.
Richard's family would like to give a special thank you to his caregivers. His family cannot express enough the devotion and excellent care that Richard's caregivers gave him throughout his last five years. Without them they would not have been able to keep him at home with them. They are deeply grateful for Fannie Barnes, Angie Hancock, Kathy Berry, Francie Taylor and Amber LeMasters and his granddaughter, Jessica, who lived with him for two years. Also they are grateful for the Canton VA, Canton Maxim Health Care of Canton and Alliance Hospice for all the caring services that they supplied for Richard.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, November 10, 2014, at First United Presbyterian Church with Pastor James McCurdy officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, November 9, 2014, at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will be held at Alliance City Cemetery. Fellowship and a luncheon will be held at the church following the service to celebrate his life.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Presbyterian Church, 425 E. Market St., Alliance, OH 44601 or to the Alliance Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, 885 S. Sawburg Rd., Suite 106, Alliance, OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.
He was previously of 12th St. and Burt Avenue in Alliance and was living with his daughter, Judith (Larry) Kosiba on Georgetown St. on the family farm in Minerva.
Richard was born March 24, 1920, at his home in Alliance to James D. and Anna (Quitter Vogel) Hurford and was a lifelong area resident.
He attended Alliance City Schools and would have graduated in 1938, but quit school to support his parents. He was employed by the former Lembright's Bakery, State Liquor Department, Stark County Cab, Alliance Manufacturing, Bonnie Forge and Tool and retired from Transue and Williams Forge as a die setter in the Cold Trim Department.
He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church serving as head usher, Deacon, on the music and worship committee, and the Camp Limrod board.
Known as the "Candy Man", Richard would always give out Werther Original candies to anyone he would meet.
Richard enjoyed sports and previously played baseball, basketball, fast pitch softball and seven-man football for Goat Hill and Alliance City teams. He was president of the AHS Choir, parents association and band equipment supervisor for John Wetzel. He also enjoyed bowling, was an avid fisherman and artist, and member of the Chaingang for Alliance High School and Mount Union College for many years until he was 83 years old.
Richard was a private in the United States Army Air Corp serving during World War II. He was a radio operator 727 single aircraft warnings/7th Air Force Division and a mechanic. One of his missions was to be on the deserted island of Torie Shima with one other serviceman for six months to alert the United States ships when the Japanese airplanes took off.
Survivors include his daughter Judith Hurford (Larry) Kosiba of Minerva; two nieces that he helped raise, Vicky Walker (Phil) Soderman of California and Donna Walker (Bill) Book of Loveland, OH; ten grandchildren, Jessica, Wes, Jeff, Susan, Heidi, Kris, Erik, Heather, Scott and Michael, and 13 great-grandchildren from all of his three girls; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss his wonderful smile and wit.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 60 years, Lenora M. (Walker) whom he married March 12, 1943 and who died June 8, 2003; four brothers, Tick, Al, Carl and Fred; four sisters, Clara Dietrick, Ann Boyle, Ethel Combs and Helen Barnhouse and four nephews, Bill and Jim Hurford, David Barnhouse and Bus Boyle.
Richard's family would like to give a special thank you to his caregivers. His family cannot express enough the devotion and excellent care that Richard's caregivers gave him throughout his last five years. Without them they would not have been able to keep him at home with them. They are deeply grateful for Fannie Barnes, Angie Hancock, Kathy Berry, Francie Taylor and Amber LeMasters and his granddaughter, Jessica, who lived with him for two years. Also they are grateful for the Canton VA, Canton Maxim Health Care of Canton and Alliance Hospice for all the caring services that they supplied for Richard.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, November 10, 2014, at First United Presbyterian Church with Pastor James McCurdy officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, November 9, 2014, at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will be held at Alliance City Cemetery. Fellowship and a luncheon will be held at the church following the service to celebrate his life.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Presbyterian Church, 425 E. Market St., Alliance, OH 44601 or to the Alliance Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, 885 S. Sawburg Rd., Suite 106, Alliance, OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.
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