Richard I. Esmonde, 95

Richard I. Esmonde, 95, of St. Marys, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima.

He was born Oct. 11, 1926, in Lima, the son of Alva and Ethel (Zimmerman) Esmonde.

He married Betty Jean Wilhelmy on Jan. 17, 1947, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 3, 1995.

He is survived by his children: Alan (Kim) Esmonde of Lima; Dorothy (Phil) Brill of Pulaski, Tennessee; Richard (Monica) Esmonde of Nolansville, Tennessee; William (Leigh) Esmonde of Sumpter, North Carolina; Mary Esmonde of Crossville, Tennessee; Timothy Esmonde of Anchorage, Alaska; Martha Arehart of Luguoff, South Carolina; David Esmonde of St. Marys and Patricia (Dan) Cook of St. Marys. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; siblings: Wilbur Esmonde, Annabelle Shepherd and Dona Bougham and by his long time companion, Margaret Morris.

Richard was a 1944 graduate of PandoraGilboa High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in WWII, and also in the Naval Reserves. He retired from Avco New Idea in Coldwater. He was an avid history buff, and loved the St. Marys Roughriders. He was a life member of VFW Post 9289.

Funeral rites will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the Miller-Long and Folk Funeral Home, 314 W. High St., St. Marys. Burial will be held in Crossville, Tennessee.

Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home, where memorial gifts may be given to the Auglaize County Council on Aging.

Condolences may be sent to Richard’s family via MillerFuneralHomes.net.