Dr. Richard Traul

Dr. Richard Snyder Traul, 74, of Bellefontaine, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 in Bellefontaine.

He was born on September 28, 1940 to the late Dr. John B. and Thelma (Snyder) Traul.

On September 26, 1965 he married the former Nancy Beightler in Bellefontaine and she survives along with their children, Dr. John B. (Abigail) Traul of Roseburg, OR, Suzanne (Nick) Selvaggio of Urbana, OH and Dr. David E. (Dr. Christine) Traul of Westlake, OH; grandchildren, Zachary and Zoe Traul, Stephanie and Anna Selvaggio and Andrew and Lauren Traul; his siblings, Jane Moffitt of Marion, OH, Susan Pallos of Scottsdale, AZ and John M. Traul of Portland, OR; sister-in-law, Joyce Ritter of Bellefontaine, OH; mother-in-law, Bernice Beightler of Bellefontaine; cousins, Howard A. Traul II of Bellefontaine and John Traul of Edina, Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews.

Richard “Dick” Traul, a 1958 graduate of Bellefontaine High School, attended The Ohio State University earning his undergraduate degree in 1962, and his Medical Doctorate in 1965. Dick then completed a medical internship in Kalamazoo, Michigan before training in anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dick served his country as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, before returning to Kalamazoo in 1971 where he practiced anesthesiology for 23 years. In 1995, Dick entered “retirement” when he and Nancy returned to Bellefontaine, Ohio and soon after started working part-time with his operating room friends and colleagues at Mary Rutan Hospital. It gave Dick great pride and personal fulfillment to care for the people of his community, including many of whom had been cared for by his late father and grandfather (Dr. Lee E. Traul, Middleburg, OH). Dick enjoyed visiting the Logan County District Library to borrow books that he read while listening to a wide variety of music. He adored his grandchildren, who were fond of playing games and reading with “Poppy”. Dick was also an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking the Appalachian Trail, canoeing at Algonquin National Park, and fishing on Lake Erie with his family and friends. While the Lake Erie Water Snakes may sleep easier in his absence, we all will feel the loss of a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend.

Gene Marine officiates a 3:00 p.m. memorial service on Friday, July 3, 2015 at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, 321 N. Main St., Bellefontaine with two hours of visitation prior to the service.

Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, Bellefontaine assisted the family with arrangements.

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