Richard R. Schruers, 92, of Franklin, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the Caring Place.
Born on July 4, 1926 in Oil City, Richard was the son of the late Homer and Dorothy (Shaffer) Schruers. He grew up in the Nickleville area and graduated from Rockland High School in 1944.
Richard married Dorothy Best in 1947; she preceded him in death in 1981. He subsequently married Lorraine Smith Wenner, who also preceded him in death.
He then married Kathleen “Patty” Bell Cope; she also preceded him in death on April 20, 2012.
Richard enlisted in the United States Army Air Force, where he served on the 417th Night Fighter Squadron from 1944 to 1947. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal.
Upon returning home, he worked at Jones & Laughlin Steel in Oil City, retiring in 1979. Richard then worked at the Tube Mills in Nunda and Salamanca, NY from 1985 to 1992, where he did consulting work and trained personnel.
In his spare time, Richard has a variety of activities and hobbies that he loved. He enjoyed camping, gardening, baseball, especially the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was an avid bowler. He also loved woodworking purchased antique furniture, that he would then refurbish and re-sell.
Richard was on the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School Board, and was a member of the Nickleville Presbyterian Church from 1940-1985, where he served as a teacher and elder. When he moved to Franklin, he attended the Fox Street Church of God.
Left to cherish his memory are his four sons, Rick L. Schruers of Seneca, David K. Schruers (Andrea) of Atlanta, GA, Stephen L. Schruers (Matt Cherry) of Columbus, and Eugene C. Schruers (Joanne) of Knox; two step-children, Beth Cope Kosley (Dave) of Green Mountain Falls, CO, and David W. Cope (Evie) of Cochranton; his five grandchildren, Kent Schruers, Garret Schruers, Jerod Schruers, Marcy Benson, and Christy Cranford; five step-grandchildren, Samilja Helm, Gwen Doyle, Chris Stuck, Gabrielle Stanton, and Wade Cope; and his 2 great-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren.
Richard is further survived by his two sisters, Virginia Dunn of South Carolina, and Margaret Fulton of Knox; his brother-in-law, Dick Clark (Cassie), of Franklin; his sister-in-law, Colleen MacArthur; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and his two wives, Dorothy (Best) Schruers and Kathleen “Patty” Bell-Cope (Schruers), Richard was preceded in death by his two brothers, Homer Schruers, who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, and William S. Schruers; his three brothers-in-law, R.M. “Max” Dunn, Pete Stewart, and Judd Fulton; his sister-in-law, Bonny Garmong-Flickner; and his step-grandson, Jeremy Stuck.
Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, PA 16323, from 3 pm to 7 pm.
Funeral services for Richard will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, May 16, 2019 starting at 11 am, with Reverend Phil Conklin, pastor of the First Church of God in Ellwood City, officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard.
Interment will be held at Nickleville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Richard’s name to Fox Street Church of God, 229 Fox Street, Franklin, PA 16323.
To send cards, online condolences, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
