Richard Dale Royce

Richard Dale Royce, age 81 has passed from this Earth on November 8th, 2018, to be with his wife. Born on December 19th, 1936, to parents Edward Charles Royce and Edith Anderson Royce, Richard was the fifth of six children, and the last to be born at home and not a hospital. Attending Libbey High School, Richard met the love of his life, Barbara Lou Dickey, and decided to start a family. He did this after joining the United States Air Force, with their first child, Richard Edward, being born while the couple was stationed in Vermont. Richard worked briefly with his brother Leslie at General Motors before dedicating his life to the 180th Tactical Fighter Group of the Ohio Air National Guard. His weeks were dedicated to the Air National Guard and his weekends were spent with the Air Force, where he traveled the world to exotic locations such as Panama and Alpena, Michigan. Richard spent 39 years, six months and 26 days in the service retiring as Chief Master Sergeant. His career was filled with awards including one for bravery as the result of his pulling a pilot of a burning air craft to safety. After retiring from the armed forces, Richard held other jobs including Regional Director of Pinkerton Security and School Bus Driver for Perrysburg Schools. Richard was an avid member of multiple social and fraternal groups. These included Rubicon 237 Lodge of Masons where he served as Master, with the Boy Scouts of America where he was a Scoutmaster and member of the Order of the Arrow, Peace Lutheran Church and later Zoar Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 28 where he was active in local parades and on the Honor Guard. Richard was a patient man who was willing to take time to teach skills to anyone, most often his grandchildren. He passed on his love of the outdoors, including camping, fishing, and hunting, as well as gardening, to his seven grandchildren, spending many summers as a Volunteer at Maumee Bay State Park. Later in life he enjoyed collecting cars, most notably Ford Mustangs which he would take to the car shows and Music in the Park events in downtown Perrysburg. Richard put family above all else, eventually having three children, seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. He enjoyed having dogs and could often be seen walking his German Shepherd Rex throughout his Perrysburg neighborhood. Richard is survived by his brother Leslie Royce, daughters Vicki Galligan (Dennis) and Michelle Bittner (David); grandchildren Jason Royce (Nicole), Brandi Cooper (Todd), Tara Royce, Allison Babbitt (Shawn), Patrick Bittner (Allison), Abigail Kaluba (Josh), and Maggie Bittner; great-grandchildren Cheyenne, Nicolas, Brianna, Logan, Jade, Chance, Zoey, Zane, Ryder, and Chloe. He is preceded in death by his wife Barbara Lou Royce née Dickey, son Richard Edward Royce, parents Edward Charles Royce and Edith Royce née Anderson, siblings Owen Royce, Vera Timpe née Royce, JoAnne Verdon née Royce, Maurice Royce, and granddaughter Brittany Royce. Friends will be received at Witzler Shank Funeral Home, 222 E. South Boundary St., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 (419-874-3133) on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 from 2:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. with a Masonic service at 7:00 P.M. and Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 from 10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M. with a funeral service at 11:00 A.M. Burial will follow at Ft. Meigs Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Richard’s name to Zoar Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left at witzlershank.com