James Richard Ziegler

J. RICHARD ZIEGLER

1921 – 2017

Dick Ziegler, age 96, died at Hillcrest Hospital on December 21.  He was born in Hagerstown, MD, and graduated from Fairview High School in Dayton, OH, and Otterbein College in Westerville, OH.  In 1944 he married Marguerite Lightle, whom he met at Otterbein, and they moved to the greater Cleveland area.  Dick earned his master's degree from Western Reserve University and he and Marguerite raised three sons:  J. Richard, Jr. (Candy), David S. (Barbara), and Thomas M. (deceased in 1963).  He had four grandchildren (Kathryn Graham (Tom), Timothy Ziegler (Lisa), Mark Ziegler (Laura), and Andrew Ziegler (Tara)) and eight great grandchildren.  Marguerite died in 2000.

Dick devoted his life to serving others.  He worked at Beech Brook children's home, Pepper Pike, from 1948 to 1976, first as a case worker and subsequently as a supervisor and assistant director.  After Beech Brook, he worked in the social work department of Windsor Hospital, Chagrin Falls, until retiring in 1985.  Dick was a volunteer docent at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for 25 years, served as president of the docents, delivered Meals-on-Wheels, and delivered books for the Amish schools program of the Geauga County Library.  As a resident of Hamlet Village in Chagrin Falls, he led group activities and served as a Hamlet Ambassador.  In the 1950s and 1960s he was Kiwanis Club secretary and helped run children's softball leagues in Orange Village. 

Dick was a long-time member of the Federated Church.  He was active in the elderlife program, was co-leader of the Good Grief discussion group, and was skipper of the Same Boat Friends men's group.  Marguerite served as organist at the church from 1955 to 1965.

A private family burial service was held at Evergreen Cemetery in Chagrin Falls.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday March 3rd. at the Federated Church 76 Bell Street Chagrin Falls, OH.  Contributions may be made in Dick's memory to the Federated Church, 76 Bell St., Chagrin Falls, OH 44022.  Arrangements by Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, Chagrin Falls. www.stroudlawrence.com.

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