Richard de Bear

Rich is survived by his wife of 44 years, Wendy de Bear (neé Barich), children Michael (Nicole), Matthew (girlfriend Jaclyn Williams), and Melanie (Brennan) Smith, grandchildren McKayla, Kennedy, Grayson, Joey, and Xavier, father Richard Sr., brothers Robert (Jane), Chris (Cathy), and sisters Patricia (Mark Talkington) de Bear, Diana (Ralph) Fortson, and Nancy (Gerald) Naski. He is preceded in death by his mother Estelle.

Rich was born on October 30, 1952 in New York City before moving to Michigan. He attended Alma College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He and Wendy married on June 15, 1974. After living in Dallas, San Francisco, and Cleveland, they settled in Worthington in 1981. He was the President and Owner of Library Design Associates, Inc., and worked with numerous libraries, colleges, and universities over his career before retiring on December 31, 2017.

Rich was a devoted father and grandfather, and avid golfer, having played courses all over the country as well as in Ireland and Scotland.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held for family and friends at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Dublin on Friday, August 17 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Rich's name to Columbus Humane or The Sea Pines Museum and Forest Preserve Foundation of Hilton Head Island.