Richard Sailor

Richard D. Sailor, life-long resident of Jackson Center, passed peacefully to heaven at 12:00 Noon, Friday, February 17, at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Sidney, OH following a three-month illness. He was born January 21, 1926 in Sidney, OH, the son of Paul L. and Margarette A. Brockman Sailor, who preceded him in death. On August 28, 1948, he married Marcille Augusta Wildermuth, his loving spouse of nearly 65 years, who passed to eternity in May 2013.

Other survivors include his beloved daughters, Marsha Sailor, Jackson Center and Marianne (Wayne) York, New Bremen, and his son Kevin Richard (Deb) Sailor, Jackson Center. He is also survived by his grandsons, Matthew (Kelly) York, Jackson Center, Michael (Lisa) York, Cincinnati, his granddaughters, Katy (Brett) Zimpfer, Botkins, and Elizabeth Sailor, Jackson Center; six great-grandchildren, Evan and Addison York, Jackson Center, William Richard and Madeline York, Cincinnati, Carter and Emma Zimpfer, Botkins; two brothers, Ralph (Barbara) Sailor, Jackson Center, and Lynn Sailor, Sidney; one brother-in-law, Ermine Wildermuth (Marlene) of Wapakoneta; a sister-in-law, Ludema Wildermuth of Sidney, brother-in-law and lifelong friend Ralph Zwiebel of Jackson Center; numerous nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and William Veit, his brothers Robert and John Sailor, and a sister-in-law Geraldine Sailor; his father and mother-in-law, George and Matilda Wildermuth, his in-laws Mildred and Robert Weidel, Vernon Wildermuth, Carl and Elsie Keysor, Miriam Zwiebel, one niece, and three nephews.

Richard was a graduate of Jackson Center High School Class of 1944. He entered the U.S. Army after graduation and survived a troop train wreck in Jellico, TN on his way from boot camp in Indiana to Camp Stewart, GA. He went to the European Theater of WWII in January 1945 with the 4th Battalion, 53rd Armored Infantry where he drove a half-track. He was in the CCB spearhead unit that opened Buchenwald Concentration Camp, a topic he chose not to talk about for many years. Richard was a member of the American Legion Sherer Post 493, Jackson Center, for more than 70 years.

Richard completed courses in light, energy, & electricity through the University of Wisconsin, in 1946-47. Following his military service, he established his own business, Dick’s Electric Service that grew to become Sailors Service & Supply, contracting with builders in a three-county area to provide plumbing, heating, and electric for new homes and businesses.

He became the first Village Administrator in Shelby County in 1968, after serving on the Board of Public Affairs and Village Council. Richard earned his Class I Operator certificate for Water Distribution Systems in 1970, his Class I Operator certificate for Water Supply Works in 1971, and his Class II Operator certificate for Waste Water Works in 1974. He served his hometown community in this position until 1991, giving over 35 years total of public service. Richard was well versed in the Ohio Revised Code pertaining to municipalities and was asked his interpretation.

Richard became a founding member of the Ohio Municipal Electric Assn., (OMEA) and a founder in the electric Co-operative, AMP-Ohio that grew to become American Municipal Power, (AMP) supplying power and services to 135 municipalities in nine states and holding membership in the national American Public Power Assn. In June 1986, he was honored to receive the 7 Hats Award from AMP-Ohio and the APPA, at the organization’s annual meeting in Toronto, Canada.

Richard took great pride in developing his hometown, building modern water treatment facilities, designing a new fire and rescue building, a public works building, and constructing curb, gutter, storm drainage, and sidewalks on low lying streets as well as the main streets of the village.

He was named to the Jackson Center High School Hall of Fame by the Jackson Center Education Foundation in 2000.

Richard was also an active member in the American Water Works Assn. and honored by them with an award in 1988 for outstanding service to his community. He served on the Shelby County Republican Central Committee, led a 4-H group in the study of electricity, and participated in the Jackson Center Kiwanis and the Greater Jackson Center Area Growth Assn. He was devoted to his hometown and dedicated to its improvement.

He was a member of St. Jacob Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jackson Center, and served on the vestry in past years. Richard led the adult Sunday School Class and also represented his congregation at the Western District Conferences of the Lutheran Church during the 1960s.

Richard enjoyed solitaire on his computer and iPad, getting his daily dose of Andy Griffith, and being with his beloved family. Richard maintained an active lifestyle up to the time of his three months of illness. He will be deeply missed by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who saw him often and spent many happy times with him at family events, in worship, and dining out.

Pastor David Sanders will officiate at a celebration of Richard’s life on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Jacob Lutheran Church, Pasco-Montra Road, Jackson Center. Visitation will be at Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, 214 Pike Street, Jackson Center, Tuesday from 2 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Burial will immediately follow the service at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home in Jackson Center.

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