Richard Harrison Zimmer

Richard Harrison Zimmer, age 72, and a lifelong resident of the Waterford area, died Sunday, February 13, 2011 at Saint Vincent Health Center. He was a son of the late Harrison and Marie Fagan Zimmer and was born in McKean on February 17, 1938. Richard served in the United States Marines from 1956-58 and was primarily a farmer for most of his life. He raised many farm animals including cattle and chickens, and was most proud of his Appaloosa horses and the champion titles they earned. For several years also he worked at O'Brien's Feed Mill in Waterford. Richard was a generous and kind-hearted man who enjoyed teaching kids in 4-H clubs about farm animals. His further interests included guns and hunting, and proudly telling his story of winning a strong man contest in 1964 in Nevada in which he carried a 100 lb. load for one mile. Survivors include a daughter, Amber Lawrence and her husband, Miner, and their children, Ian and Gabriel, of Concord, N.C.; a step-daughter, Stacey Szoszorek and her daughter, Ashley, of Lexington, Ky.; a daughter, Cindy Saxton and her children, Ronnie, Heather, Brandi, and Brian; a son, Rick Dingle; two brothers, Bernard Zimmer and wife Rose, and Harrison Zimmer and wife, Judy, all of McKean; his longtime companion, Kimberly Kerstetter of Union City, and her children, Leonard, Jason, Zachary, Michael, and Gary Kerstetter; and his caregivers, Brandi Smiley and Katie Miklovic. Friends may call at the Van Matre Funeral Home in Waterford on Thursday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. To send condolences, visit www.vanmatrefuneralhome.com.