James Richard VanFossen

James Richard VanFossen, 78, of New Philadelphia, died Tuesday, August 21, 2012 in Union Hospital at Dover following a period of declining health.

A son of the late James Harrison and Oga Leota VanFossen, Richard was born October 27, 1933 in Belmont County, Ohio.

He was a 1951 graduate of Freeport High School. Richard was a veteran of the United States Army and served stateside as a mechanic. He was an employee of the Ohio Department of Transportation serving as an Engineer Technician and retired in 1996.

Richard was an avid woodworker and especially enjoyed making birdhouses. He also enjoyed being outdoors and tending to his yard and gardening around his home.

He is survived by his wife, Karen (Barger) Van Fossen whom he married on September 7, 1958; his children, Cheri (Randy) Heisler of Goose Creek, South Carolina, Lorne (Corrina Simplican) VanFossen of Uhrichsville, Scott (Tammy Willison) VanFossen of Uhrichsville and Andrea (Mike) Foltz of Dennison; his grandchildren, Brandon (Nicole) Heisler of Watertown, Massachusetts, Brittany Heisler of Enfield, Connecticut, Sam VanFossen of Nashville, Tennessee, Quinci VanFossen of Uhrichsville, McKenzi VanFossen of Fairlawn, Ohio, Miranda VanFossen of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Reilly and Marshel Foltz both of Dennison; a great grandchild, Brynlee Heisler; a sister, Leota Stoyanovich of Uhrichsville and a brother, Alan (Patricia) VanFossen of Coshocton.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Richard’s life will be held on Friday, August 24, 2012 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Carolyn Behrendt officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover where the Dover V.F.W. will render military honors. Following the committal service, a luncheon will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.

Contributions may be made in Richard’s memory to A Christmas to Cure Cancer, 5226 Columbine Court, Columbus, OH 43230.