Richard Dick Dreher

Richard (Dick) Lewis Dreher, Sr, aged 93, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 18, 2017 under hospice care at John B. Parsons Home in Salisbury, Maryland. Born March 5th, 1924, in Canton, Ohio, he was the son of George M. Dreher and Kathryn Miller Dreher and was raised in Canton by his great aunt Janet Lewis. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Emily Miller, with whom he graduated from Lehman High School in Canton, Ohio, in 1942. He is also survived by his children Richard Jr. (Debbie) of Westfield, NJ; Melissa Kaspar (Rande Wilmarth) of Eugene, OR; Christopher Wilde (Kathryn) of Tyaskin, MD; his grandchildren Max Kaspar, Annalisa Wilde (Thalia), and Meredith Wilde; Richard Jr’s stepchildren Gabrielle Mahar and Mitchael Mahar; his stepchildren Christie Clarke and Doug McFerren (Kathryn), step-grandchildren Gretchen Alt (Adam Greene), Amanda Walter, Rebecca Myer (David), Katherine Mogg (Matthew), Lincoln McFerren (Christina), Brooke McFerren (Peter Osborn), Emily Leek (Matthew), and ten step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Bartley Dreher and his brother John. Dick served in the US Navy from 1944 to 1946 and graduated from the University of Michigan, where he met Mary, with a degree in chemical engineering. Dick worked for B.F. Goodrich for almost 45 years as an engineer and salesman in their plastics division. His knowledge of chemistry and his ability to bridge the gap between the raw material and the processes in the plant led to a successful sales career with steadily increasing responsibilities. Except for a brief stint in the 1950s, Dick spent his entire career at Goodrich. In 1958 he accepted his first sales position and moved his young family from Berea, Ohio to Marshfield, Massachusetts. The family enjoyed the beach town with all it had to offer including boating on the North and South Rivers. In 1968 the opportunity to lead the NYC office was presented and the family was off to Westfield, NJ. Dick was about 75% complete with the MBA program at Northeastern at the time of the move and commuted to Boston weekly to complete his studies, graduating in 1969. The next stop with Goodrich was the Philadelphia office, and he and Mary moved to Marlton, NJ, in 1981. While in Marlton, they spent many summers camping on the Mullica River. Dick finally retired in 1992, stating several months later, “If I had known how busy I would be in retirement, I would have retired much sooner.” Upon retirement, Dick and Mary moved to Cape May, NJ. After Mary died, Dick and Emily reconnected through class reunions and were married 2005. They lived in the Philadelphia suburbs. A lover of nature, birds, music, reading, and community, he particularly enjoyed Mozart, swing bands, mysteries, presidential biographies and was always ready for a good time. He was a charter member of the Berea Athletic Club in Berea, OH, and also a charter member of the Bon Vivants, a post-newcomers' couples group, in Westfield, NJ. Through the various moves, Dick was active with the Episcopal Church, the Kiwanis, the YMCA Men’s Club, and the public library. Dick put a lot of energy into keeping connected with people: He would write letters to family members whenever he had down time, and he helped to keep people in touch by editing and distributing a retirees' newsletter for his business group. He also loved camping and the outdoors. Summer vacations in NH at Shawtown Campground on Lake Ossipee were highlights for the family in the 1960s. Special family excursions were to National Wildlife Federation Summits in Colorado and North Carolina. Wherever he lived, Dick always had the red can full of bird food to keep his bird feeders full. Dick’s legacy is found in his understanding of the importance of community and his love of nature, particularly our national parks and the shore. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring him by donating to Reading Is Fundamental (www.rif.org), Coastal Hospice Maryland Eastern Shore (https://coastalhospice.org), or a charity of your preference. To share your thoughts with the family, visit www.boundsfuneralhome.com.