Richard Kenneth Harr

SILVER LAKE - Richard Kenneth Harr, 69, died peacefully on November 7, 2022, after a long battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia. He was born on November 29, 1952, in Youngstown, Ohio, to John and Margaret Harr. Richard graduated from Boardman High School in 1971 and then earned his B.A. in Business and Accounting from Mount Union College in 1975. He was a proud member of the basketball teams at both schools.

While attending Mount Union, Richard met the love of his life, Gale Roberts, and they married on October 8, 1977. They built a home in Silver Lake, Ohio where they raised their two children, Brandon and Brittany. Richard was a devoted father and loved spending time attending his children’s sporting events, cheer, and dance recital activities. In addition, he was Treasurer for their high school athletic booster club, worked concession stands, and attended many fundraisers.

Richard’s career in finance began as a CPA for Peat Marwick. Later, he held controller and V.P. Finance positions for The Steelastic Company of Akron and Corrpro Companies of Medina. He retired from HTV Industries of Pepper Pike in 2015 and served as a Trustee for The Veale Foundation for several years thereafter.

Richard was a gentle 6’7” giant. He was kind and loving and had a lot of great “one liners.” He was a man of faith and served in many capacities for years at The Church in Silver Lake, including as Moderator and Treasurer. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity. Whether a participant or spectator, he loved all sports. He played adult league basketball for years, and he had his only hole-in-one playing golf at Congress Lake Country Club on Hole #14 on August 16, 1993. He loved the water - swimming, boating, and water skiing. Richard enjoyed collecting model trains, and his amazing knitting skills were developed by a grandmother who would not allow him to sit idly while he watched TV. He loved traveling whether for work or pleasure; and during retirement enjoyed trips to Alaska, Italy, and Greece, the Canadian Rockies, or just the family condo in Hilton Head.


Richard was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret Harr; his mother-in-law, Marilyn Roberts, and his niece, Leslie Topoleski. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Gale; son, Brandon (Sarah) Harr; daughter, Brittany (Greg) Abbott; grandchildren, Parker, Aubrey, and Carson Harr, and Jack Abbott; sister, Marjorie (Robert) Topoleski; father-in-law, William Roberts; sister-in-law, Cheryl (Frank) Salerno; brother-in- law, Jeff Roberts; many nieces and nephews; many dear friends, and his dog, Chance.


Pastor Matthew Skifstad, of Victory Life Church, will conduct service at 12 PM on Monday, November 14, at Redmon Funeral Home, 3633 Darrow Road, Stow, Ohio 44224. Friends may call from 1 PM to 4 PM on Sunday, November 13, and from 11 AM to service time on Monday.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.lbda.org) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org).