Richard "Dick" S. Reeder, 87 died at 6:40 a.m. June 16, 2014, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton, of complications from kidney disease. He was born Aug. 18, 1926, in Lima to the late Homer E. and Verda (Steinman) Reeder.
He attended Lima Public Schools and enrolled in Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., which he attended for two years before transferring to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He received a bachelor's degree in Speech and Theatre in 1952. He and a business partner then formed Audio House, which designed and installed both residential and commercial sound systems. In 1958, he returned to Lima and joined the community theatre, Amil Tellers of Dramatics, as director.
In March 1961 he married Sally Hogan King, a widow with three young children.Dick and Sally moved to Bluffton in 1980. Besides his love of theatre, Dick enjoyed photographing places he and Sally visited on their travels.
Survivors include his wife Sally; son Mark (Brenda) Reeder of Lima; two step children Gary King of Louisville, Ohio, Nancy (William) Ferguson of Worcester, Mass.; eight grandchildren Matthew Reeder, Megan Reeder, Chad (Michelle) King, Sarah (Douglas) Hartzler, Emily (David) Coulter, Heather (Jason) Harley, Gretchen King, Rachel (Shawn) Miller; 12 great-grandchildren Hannah, Emma, and Samuel Hartzler, Logan, Evan and Gavin King; Kaelynn, Nathan, Cloey and Alex Coulter; Suzanna and Erin Harley; and a sister Peggy (Jim) Smith of Lima.
He was preceded in death by a stepson, Gregory King.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bluffton Presbyterian Church. Pastor David Good officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bluffton Presbyterian Church, the Richard and Sally Reeder Family Scholarship Fund at Bluffton University or to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
