Richard Byron Fisher

Richard “Dick” Byron Fisher, 90, of Circleville passed away on November 9th after a brief illness and hospice stay at Altercare Canal Winchester. He was born July 2, 1933 in Hilliard(s), Ohio, the son of Arthur Jacob and Kathryn (Krohn) Fisher, a dairy farming family. He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn (Lyn), his parents and an older brother, Frederick Eugene (Gene).

Dick graduated from Hilliard High School and then Capital University with a degree in secondary social studies education. While at Capital, where he met his wife, he played fullback and linebacker on the Crusaders football team for four years (as well as running track and playing baseball for two years each). Dick was a loyal supporter of Capital athletics his entire life. Upon graduation and after he and Lyn married, Dick entered the US Navy, serving two years aboard the USS Boxer out of San Diego, CA and Bremerton, WA.

After his military discharge, Dick and Lyn moved to Circleville in 1957, where over the course of his career, he first taught American History and Government, then spent 28 years as a school counselor, after earning his master’s degree at The Ohio State University. He also held leadership positions in the Circleville Education Association during those years. Dick was also an assistant football and head baseball coach there and enjoyed following Circleville athletics for the rest of his life. After he finished coaching, he served as a basketball and football official for many years.

During the summers, he painted for the J. Boyd Stout Co. and was co-director of Circleville’s first summer Head Start program. Dick was a charter member of the Scioto-Paint Valley Mental Health Board which established the first mental health clinic for a five-county area. He was also a member of the first training class for EMTs in Circleville, serving on the local squad for 12 years. As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for 66 years, Dick sang in the choir for all of those years; taught adult Sunday School classes and led a men’s Bible study; and served on call committees as well as in many capacities on church council, including various committee chairs, secretary, vice-president and president. He was also a faithful steward of the Trinity Biblical Garden that Lyn co-founded there. Other volunteer efforts over the years included the Pickaway County Master Gardeners (charter member), the American Red Cross, and Circle of Caring, where he helped build ramps for the handicapped and provided transportation to medical appointments.

He played on and coached the Circleville Oil slow pitch softball team, was a member of the Circleville Men’s Barbershop “Minor Chords” Chorus and performed in several Hi-Fever Follies (in earlier years) and Roundtown Players Theatre (in later years) productions. He was also a member of the BPO Elks and was a Pumpkin Show official for many years, as well. Dick and Lyn cherished their experiences as host parents to AFS exchange students, Jule Lempfert (Germany) and Klever Salas (Ecuador) and considered them members of their family for the rest of their lives. In retirement, they enjoyed traveling abroad to many different countries. In honor of his service to community, Dick received the Rotary Service Over Self Certificate of Merit in 1996 and he and Lyn were inducted into the Central Ohio Senior Citizen Hall of Fame in 2004, representing Pickaway County.

In recent years, Dick had served on the Pickaway County Council for Youth Leadership Board that he helped form, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council (representing Pickaway County for multiple terms), the Berger Hospital Foundation Board, volunteered with the Pickaway County Genealogical Library, and was a member of the Pickaway County Retired Teachers Association.

Dick was a man of conscience and integrity who loved his Lord, his family and his community, giving all within his power to improve the lives of others. Dick is survived by daughters, Linda (Jack) Knicely of Lancaster, OH and Kathy (Michael) Green of Columbus, OH and son, Brad (Nicole) Fisher of Ashburn, VA; 7 grandchildren: Hayley (Matt) O’Shields, Lucas Knicely, Brian Williams, Carly Green, Sarah (William) Martin, Emily Fisher and Nickolas Fisher, one great grandchild Oliver Finn O’Shields, special friend Alice Harker, one sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, and many beloved friends.

Calling hours will be at Defenbaugh Wise Schoedinger Funeral Home, Circleville on Monday from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm and a Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday at 11 am at Trinity Lutheran Church, Circleville with Pastor Mark Nodo officiating. The graveside service will be held at 1 pm Tuesday at Sunset Cemetery, West Broad St., Galloway with a bereavement luncheon following back at the church at 2:30 pm. Those wishing to make memorial donations are asked to do so to the Trinity Lutheran Church Pre-School in Circleville.