R.C. Herman

Rene Clarence (R.C.) Herman Jr., passed peacefully into Heaven on November 12, 2025 at the age of 87. Though he spent most of his years in Ohio, he remained a Southerner at heart - gregarious, kind, and a man of strong faith.

R.C. was born in Greenwood, South Carolina on August 7, 1938. He and his sister grew up active in their church and community. In college, he played tuba in the marching band and served as Band Commander. He was also president of the Baptist Student Union. He graduated from Clemson University in 1961 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

He served in the U.S. Army, including a one-year deployment to Korea. After returning from his military service, he went to work with the Monsanto Corporation in Decatur, Alabama. A few years later, he met Kathy (Mary Kathryn Eck) and they were married on August 21, 1971.

They moved to Ohio in 1972 when R.C. transferred to the Mound Laboratory in Miamisburg. Initially he managed the Maintenance department and later the Engineering department. During his tenure, implementation of new planning and control systems led to the federal government recognizing Mound’s Maintenance Program as one of the most cost effective of all government contractors. R.C. was known for planning, scheduling, reducing cost, and completing projects on time. He also served as President of the Ohio Chapter of The Project Management Institute. He retired from Mound in 1996 and then worked part time with H&R Block until 2021. In his role as a tax preparer, he shared wisdom and counseled his clients to improve not only their financial knowledge but also their life situations.

He stayed active in retirement by volunteering with the Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, and serving as treasurer for the Mound Science and Energy Museum (now part of Dayton History).

R.C. was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He and Kathy enjoyed traveling on old roads and going through small towns and in doing so they visited all of the lower 48 states. They also visited many National Parks, as well as most of the lighthouses in New England, on Lake Michigan, and along the northwest coast. He loved spending time with his family and cherished gathering everyone for family trips to the beach, mountains, and other destinations.

R.C. was a longtime member of Far Hills Baptist Church (now Fearless Church). He served as a Trustee, taught Bible classes and led worship services at a local nursing home. R.C. encourages friends, coworkers and all who knew him to read St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, which explains how to be adopted into God’s family. He would love to see you again in Heaven one day.

R.C. joined his parents, Reenie and Blanche (Grigg) Herman, and sister, Ruth Bowers, in Heaven. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kathy; their 3 children, Monica (Jim) Adams, Greg (Erin) Herman, and Rebecca (Patrick) Migliozzi; 6 grandchildren, Elliott, Ayana, Cora, Birhanu, Ryan and Benjamin; as well as extended family.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Newcomer Centerville Chapel (820 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Dayton, OH 45459). A memorial service will begin at 3 pm.

To share a memory of R.C. or leave a special message for his family, please visit the Guestbook below.