Robert Ready

The Reverend Robert Cecil Ready, Sr., age 82, of Mansfield, died Friday, December 26, 2008 at MedCentral Mansfield Hospital after a brief illness. He was born May 2, 1926 in Minerva, Ohio to the late Willard C. and H. Irene Pearce Ready and was a resident of Mansfield since 1960.

Rev. Ready received an A.B. from Asbury College in Kentucky and an M.A. from The Ohio State University. He was a retired Chief Petty Officer with the United States Navy, having served in WWII and the Korean Conflict. He was a retired Special Education teacher and School Social Worker for the Mansfield City Schools. He also was a retired minister at the Perrysville United Methodist Church for eight years and a supply minister for various churches in the East Ohio Conference. He earlier was the Mansfield Area Executive for the Johnny Appleseed Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Rev. Ready was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post # 4120 of Minerva, and a life member of the Korean War Veterans of Richland County. Rev. Ready recently enjoyed a trip to the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. courtesy of the Honor Flight Program. He was also a member of the National and State Retired Teachers Associations.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Erma Wingert Ready; his son and daughter-in-law, Robert C. Ready, Jr. and Diana of Mt. Vernon; four grandchildren, Danya Sean Platt, of Lancaster, Robyn Lonzell Watson of Orlando, Florida, Kevin Heather Ready of Delaware, Ohio, and Shannon Jesse Johnson of Nantucket, Massachusetts; and four great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Kathaleen Ready.

Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond Street, Mansfield. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home conducted by Rev. Steven Brown. Military graveside services conducted by the Richland County Joint Veteran's Burial Detail will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 12 N. Diamond Street, Mansfield, Ohio 44902.