AKRON — Richard C. Hiers, 93, rural Akron, died at 6:04 p.m. March 24, 2017, at Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester. He was born Sept. 12, 1923, in Miami County, to Elmer and Martha Beeson Hiers. On July 20, 1946, in Fort Wayne, he married Wanda D. Petterson, who passed on Sept. 27, 2011. He worked for the Shewman family in Peru in earlier years. He then, for many years, worked as a mechanic for South End Motors. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II. He enjoyed his small farm north of Akron in years past. Maintaining a very neat yard and garden was very important to him. Survivors include daughters, Norma Kay (husband Lynn) Smith, Roann; Martha (husband Jerry) Finney, Rochester; Wanda (husband Ron) Bruner, Rochester; Connie (husband Gary) Gerard, Elkhart; and Bonnie Gelbaugh, Warsaw; sons, Richard Jr.(wife Judy) Hiers, Niles, Mich., and Robert (wife Pam) Hiers, Mentone; 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Donald (wife Bobbie Ann), Logansport. He was preceded by his parents; brothers, Elmer and Frederick; a sister, Margaret Shanabarger; and a son-in-law, Rex Utter. Services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, with Pastor Wanda Carter and Michael Walters officiating. Burial will be in Athens Cemetery, with graveside military rites performed by the Fulton County Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to Fulton County Animal Shelter. Share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
