Obituaries

Richard R. Zeiter 1946-2024

Dick Zeiter age 78, died peacefully in his home on October 13, 2024. Dick was born at his parent's home on West Bancroft Street, west of Crissy Road on April 17th of 1946 to Cloyce (of Edon Ohio) and Margaret (Hahn) (of Blissfield Michigan) Zeiter. His early years were spent playing on his parent's part-time 5 acre mini-farm where they raised strawberries, sweet corn, chickens, rabbits and more. He attended one semester of the first grade at Rabb School (Immaculate Conception) before his family moved to Reynolds Corners. Dick attended Fall Meyer School through the 8th Grade and 4 years at Rogers High School, graduating in 1964. Dick began his working life in the seventh grade caddying at the Inverness Club. He spent four years on the bench and the fifth year working in the pro shop. After Inverness, he worked at the Ontario store (6 months), Bargain City (Reynolds Corners, 2 years) and Libby Glass in the Maintenance Department (2 years). After age 18, Dick worked part-time at several service stations. At age 19, he spent one season on a pit crew at ARCA's Toledo Speedway.

In 1967 he went to work at the Spicer Transmission Division of the Dana Corporation where he spent time as a machine operator and precision grinder. As Dana downsized, Dick experienced many layoffs during which he worked at various interim and part-time jobs. In the early 70's, during a longer layoff, he operated the Greenwood Mobil Service Station at Lewis & Alexis. In 1976 he began a TV Tower business and gravitated to a Garage Door Business that he started part-time and operated full-time until 2020. Always the part- timer, after his divorce, Dick operated a mobile D-J service from 1981 until 1993 when he and his second wife began a part-time concession business selling clothing at bluegrass music festivals about 6-8 weekends a year. They traveled to and sold at festivals until the end of 2015.

After his final layoff from Dana in 1984, Dick's Garage Door Business grew and in 1987 he became a Master Distributor of Genie Garage Door Openers providing openers and parts to door dealers around the country. About 1995 his distribution business took on a line of gate operators that he distributed to fence and gate dealers in the US and Canada. He valued the help of his long term key employees, Deb and Ken Grimes, who insured that in later life he was able to slow down and spend time away from the office.

In the late 60's he spent time as a truck driver and then switchboard operator & telephone lineman in the Army National Guard at Oak Harbor and Camp Perry. In the late 60's and early 70's Dick enjoyed listening to police and fire radios and as a member of F.O.P.A. and Lucas/Wood County React, assisted with traffic control at many accidents and fire scenes in the Toledo area. In the late 70's Dick spent seven years as a volunteer at the Sylvania Township Fire Department #2 Station. He also spent some time on Dana's Fire Brigade. Dick was baptized and confirmed at Epiphany Lutheran Church. He sang in the Junior and Chancel Choir and later became an usher and then head usher at the second service until 1967.

Dick enjoyed traveling in his motor home to bluegrass festivals, clothing buying trade shows as well as door & gate conventions with his favorite part of the trip being "getting there". He loved to pre-plan the trips and travel there after which he tended to get bored and was ready to hit the road again. At one time, he and his wife annually spent about 80-90 nights on the road.

Dick leaves behind his wife of 42 years, Charlene Marie (George, Murphy) Zeiter, his son Jeff Zeiter of (Denver Colorado), stepsons, William Murphy Jr. and Michael Murphy (Michelle); eight nieces and nephews, five step-grandchildren, and his beloved dog, Muffin.

Dick was preceded in death by his brothers Robert of Glendora California (2005), Donald of Maumee (2007); sister, Dolores Zeiter (2020); stepdaughter Michele Murphy (2005) and his step-grandsons Devin Murphy (2005), and Joshua Murphy (2017). He was also preceded in death by two favorite traveling companions: Tiffiny (2000) and Little Bit (2015) the family Shih Tzus.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the Walker Funeral Home (5155 W. Sylvania Ave.) from 2 pm – 8 pm, with a funeral on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 11 am. Interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.