Richard VanZile, 68, of Bryan, Ohio, and formerly of Warsaw, died March 26, 2009, in Hospice Community Professionals of Defiance, Ohio.
He was born Aug. 3, 1940, in Elkhart, to Ernest and Evelyn VanZile. On Sept. 30, 1961, he married Irene Keegan Zimmerman. In 1996, he married Pam Davis.
He had various adventures throughout his life including being a civil engineer for the Whitman (Mass.) street department and a police officer. He put himself through college and received a degree in engineering, allowing him to move and pursue a career with both Zimmers for 10 years and DePuy for 10 years, and then moving to Wright Medical in Tennessee. He was a highly respected individual in our community where he was involved in Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Church and Jaycees. He also served on many boards including YMCA, Heart Association and Right to Life. His great love was being a volunteer fireman for the city of Warsaw. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, taking many trips with friends from the Warsaw area. He also enjoyed traveling to many places including Holland and Australia. He was very involved with his grandchildren.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1959-62, in the Stratic Air Command Unit.
He will be sadly missed by his only daughter, Michele VanZile-Myers; and granddaughters, Brianna, Taylor and Alexis Myers. Also surviving are two sisters, Betty (and spouse Ron) Gilbert and Wanetta Hasting; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William VanZile.
