Richard Grether

Richard Lee Grether (Dick), 90, passed away July 15, 2025 to be with his lord. He was born on July 13, 1935, in Akron People’s Hospital to the late Park and Mae Grether and was a resident of many towns and cities including Stow, Northampton, Copley, Talmadge, Wadsworth, Loudonville and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He was also an Orlando, Florida resident. He married Carole (Nee) Kelley in 1958 and had two children, Richard and Ronald. He graduated with honors from Hudson High School in 1953 and went on to Hammel Business College. He was employed as an Evans Savings Association bank teller and then manager of The American Bank of Commerce South Plaza Branch. Next at The Centran Bank of Akron. His last stop was Vice President of Loans at the Loudonville Farmers and Savings Bank where he retired. Richard was well renowned in the bank community as someone others could count on and made a great and friendly impact on community customers providing them with loans to pursue their ambitions and financial needs. His next adventure was manufacturing and delivering Hydrospa Jacuzzis with his brother Tom in Orlando, Florida. His final profession was self-employment as a carpenter. Since his childhood was filled with animals and farms, he followed in the footsteps of so many of his paternal relatives as a farmer all while working at the banks. He owned a 60 Acre Farm with Cows, Pigs, horses and share-farmed with a neighbor growing corn and soybeans. His hard work provided his family with a nice home and barn full of tons of activities and mischief for his two boys to enjoy with their friends. Although his boys moved to Miami, Florida with his former wife, he visited them very often and provided a home for them in Ohio during the summer months that he and brother Bob built. He ensured the boys were introduced to manual labor, responsibility and respect from an early age which proved pivotal in both their adulthoods. As a loving dad, he made sure that he visited both of his boys and their wives, Yolanda and Debbie at their Air Force and Army bases and homes after their service was complete.

He was a member and President of the Copley-Fairlawn Kiwanis Club providing his community with life-enhancing services. He was also a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio for 50 years. He was baptized, married in and a faithful member of the Steels Corners Church of Christ where he introduced his boys to God’s Word. Before his health left him, Dick loved going to McDonalds to drink coffee and have fellowship with his breakfast buddies everyday.

Richard was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert and Thomas and sister, Barbara Myers; he is survived by his loving sons, Ricky and Ronny; Grandchild, Raymond Drury; Great grandchild, Mila Drury; his sister, Joyce Harrington, daughters-in-law Yolanda and Denise, and former spouse Carole White.

Visitation will be Thursday July 24th from 11 am - 12 pm at the Steels Corners Community Church 3996 State Rd Cuyahoga Falls. Memorial service will follow at 12 noon. Inurnment will immediately follow at the Northampton Township Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Steels Corners Church or your choice of charities.