Richard F. Myers

Richard F. Myers, age 92, passed away on February 13, 2015 following a brief illness at his home in Winter Haven, Florida. He was surrounded by his family. Richard was born on May 26, 1922 at his grandmother's house at 1495 S. Arch Avenue, Alliance, Ohio to Paul and Verna (Farmer) Myers. He grew up on a farm 3 miles northeast of Beloit, Ohio. Richard had many pets growing up, but Teddy, a little fox terrier, was his best friend and slept at his feet.
He was a birth-rite member of East Goshen Friends Church. He attended Beech Ridge, a one room schoolhouse, north of Beloit. He graduated from Sebring High School in 1940 and was president of his class. He was a member of the Mount Union College graduating class of 1944 and a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He joined the US Navy in 1942 and attended Dartmouth College through the Navy V-12 Program. Upon graduation from the Navy V-12, he attended Cornell University's Mid-Shipman School and graduated as an Ensign in the US Navy. His war service was in the Pacific Theater, aboard the USS Lumen, an attack cargo ship. On September 21, 1944, he married Lois Everett (Class of MUC'46), at her parents' home in Alliance, Ohio
In 1945 he joined the family business, Myers Equipment Corporation, a dealership selling school buses and truck equipment, located in Canfield, Ohio. Richard became president of the company upon the retirement of his father and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1995.
He loved listening to country western music and reading the daily newspapers. He also loved University of Mount Union football and baseball.
Richard and his brother, David, formed Myers Brothers Farms in 1949 and began raising Shetland ponies. As the business grew, they added dairy, livestock, and grain farms. Upon his retirement, Richard sold his share of the businesses to his brother, David.
He was a member of Smith Grange; Mahoning County Farm Bureau; Sebring Masonic Lodge; 32nd Degree Mason at Scottish Rite-Valley of Youngstown; Alliance Country Club; Trustee of University of Mount Union; Board Member of Salem First National Bank; Board Member of Society Bank, East (Canton, Ohio); Board Member of Carpenter Body Works (Mitchell, IN); Board Member of Ohio School Bus Distributors Association; Board Member, Secretary, & Treasurer of National School Bus Distributors Association; Member of National Truck Body and Equipment Association; Charter Member of Canfield Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow; First President of Salem Shrine Club.
Richard will be greatly missed by his family, including his wife, Lois (Everett) Myers, daughter, Candiss Myers Fites; son, Richard L. (Lenny Vaughters) Myers; granddaughter Valerie (Eric) Fites Sturgeon; great-grandson, Caleb Sturgeon; sister, Violet (Frederick) Schoeni; brother, David (Ruth) Myers; and brother-in-law, John (Ann) Everett.
Preceding him in death were his parents, sister, Mary Jane Spencer, brother-in-law, Leonard Spencer, and brother-in-law, Frederick Schoeni.
A Memorial Service will be held at University of Mount Union, DeWald Chapel, Myers Sanctuary at 11 am. Friday, March 13, 2015. Friends may call from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at DeWald Chapel, Myers Sanctuary.
The Myers family requests that contributions in memory of Richard be made to the University of Mount Union, 1972 Clark Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601 or East Goshen Friends Church, 16800 South Range Rd. Beloit, Ohio 44609.
Arrangements are with Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.