Freddie L. Heter, age 87 of New Philadelphia, passed away on Friday, July 17, 2026, in his home after a period of declining health.

Fred was born on November 29, 1938, at his family farm to the late Elmer and Olive (Edie) Heter.

He was a coal miner by trade, working at several Ohio and Pennsylvania coal mines. He also loved to farm on his family farm. He raised the standard barnyard fare of cows, pigs, and chickens, but also kept horses, ponies, geese, hunting dogs, and even raised a baby racoon and two baby squirrels rescued from his mining sites. For several years he operated a backhoe to supplement the family income and to keep the road clear in winter for the school bus; a task his children did not appreciate. In Fred’s free-time he enjoyed fishing, hunting, collecting coins, restoring antique tractors or just tinkering in his garage. After retirement, Fred began fixing lawn mowers for friends and family. He was always available to lend a hand, plow a driveway, weld something that was broken or help fix whatever machine was not running. He was loved and appreciated by his family, friends and neighbors. Fred and Mary were fixtures at Dee’s restaurant in Dover, where they enjoyed breakfast daily.

Fred is survived by his children, Lisa (Jan) Downing and Greg (Jan) Heter both of New Philadelphia; grandchildren, Joshua (Kendra) Heter, Trent (Katy) Heter, Rita (Daniel) Addison, Angelo (Callie) Downing, Jared (Shannen) Downing, Jessica

Downing, and Lazarus Downing; great-grandchildren, Zella, Jackson, Daniel, Abram, Luther, and Merritt; brother, John (Mary) Heter; and sisters, Marilyn Otte, and Carlene Graham.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary M. Heter; brothers, Wayne Heter and Dan Heter; brothers-in-law Al Otte and Richard Graham and daughter-in-law, Jenny (Atkinson) Heter.

The family will greet guests on Sunday, July 19, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory at New Philadelphia. A private burial will take place at a later date in Ridgecrest Memory Garden.