ATHENS — B. Richard “Dick” Whitmer, 80, of Athens, Ohio, died unexpectedly Saturday, July 19, 2003, at his home.

He was born Sept. 2, 1922, in New Holland, Ohio, son of the late Robert and Artie Barclay Whitmer.
He graduated from North High School, Columbus, Ohio, in 1940.
As a boy, he was active in the Boy Scouts of America and attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
He organized the first Explorer Patrol and served as assistant scout master for many years.
He was active in the youth fellowship at Kohr Memorial Presbyterian Church and served as president of Youth of Ohio Synod of the Presbyterian Church in 1942.

He joined the United States Army in 1942 and participated in the Normandy Invasion, the liberation of Paris and the assault on Germany.
He was wounded in Germany and awarded the Purple Heart.

He worked for the War Department as chief of civilian personnel in Paris from October 1945 until March 1947. There, he met his bride-to-be, Francoise, in 1945, and they married in 1946.

Dick worked for the Veterans Administration and the Federal Housing Administration in Columbus until 1959. He studied at Ohio State University, receiving a degree in business administration.

Dick and his family moved to Urbana, Ohio in 1959 and he became executive vice president, managing officer for the Perpetual Federal Savings and Loan Association. They left Urbana in 1976 and came to Athens, Ohio where Dick served as president, managing officer of Athens County Savings and Loan Co.

He served as loan officer at Bank One of Athens from 1978 through 1981.
From 1981 to 2001, he operated B.R. Dick Whitmer Appraisal Service in Athens. Dick was a 25 year member of the Lions Club and longtime member of Athens Fish and Game Club.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Myrl Whitmer; and a sister, Martha Shirtzinger.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Francoise C. Whitmer; two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Michael Ward of Athens, Christine and James Lentz of Chicago; four grandchildren, Matthew (Jessica) Ward, Benjamin Ward, Stephanie Lentz and Andrew Lentz.
He is also survived by two sisters, Annalee Harrison and Ruth (Earl) Lang of Columbus, OH; a brother, Gerald (Betty) Whitmer of Peachtree City, Ga.; and a special and good friend, David Hughes of Athens. He is survived by numerous nephews, nieces, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Services will be held Wednesday, 11 a.m., at Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home, Athens, with the Rev. Ed Brown officiating. Graveside military services will be conducted by Athens VFW Post 3477 and American Legion Post 21, at a local cemetery to be determined.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alexander Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 158, Albany, OH, 45710.
Veteran