C. Richard "Dick" Gottfried

C. Richard "Dick" Gottfried, age 81, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2013 at the Fairhaven Community in Upper Sandusky.

Dick was born of February 6, 1932 in Salem Township, Wyandot County, Ohio, to Otto Franklin and Mary Magdelena (Binau) Gottfried, both of whom are deceased. He married Mary Ellen Schmidt on March 27, 1951 at Bethany Church in Upper Sandusky, and she survives.

He is survived by a son, Rick Brian (Linda) Gottfried of Holland, Ohio, and 2 daughters, Vicky Ann (Thomas) Utley of Upper Sandusky and Babette Elaine (James) Warner of Holland, Ohio. Along with 6 grandchildren, Anita Gamber (Matthew) Patchett of Upper Sandusky, Matthew Gamber of Boston, Massachusetts, Amanda (Grady) Utley Snyder of Columbus, Ohio, Gregory Fox and Kristy Fox of Holland, and Shawn Warner of Holland. And 3 great grandsons, Ben and Seth Patchett of Upper Sandusky, and Garrett Snyder of Columbus, Ohio.

Dick is also survived by a brother Kenneth (Alberta) Gottfried of Upper Sandusky.

He was preceded in death by a sister Martha Newell, and 2 brothers, Cletus and Donald, who was killed during World War II, a sister in law, Dixie Gottfried and a brother in law, Russell Newell.

Dick was a retired farmer and also worked at various places such as Schmidt Machine, Passet's Duck Farm and Eippert's Livestock, where he drove truck for both businesses and Stoll Casket Company in the winters.

After his retirement from farming, Dick made weather vanes which he gave to many people all throughout Wyandot and surrounding counties in Ohio. There is at least one weather vane in all 88 counties of Ohio. Plus many states including Texas, where he and Mary Ellen enjoyed their winters at Port Isabel and South Padre Island, Texas, were blessed with his weather vanes.

Dick was a member of the North Salem Lutheran Church of rural Upper Sandusky.

He was a 1949 graduate of Salem High School, where he played baseball and basketball. He continued with his love of sports after his schooling, by playing
In basketball leagues and also fast pitch softball with the Baldridge Fastpitch Softball Team and also the Bethany Fast Pitch team. He also played dart ball with the church league.

For hobbies he enjoyed fishing in his earlier years, collecting arrow heads, hunting and eating morel mushrooms, and going on 30 cruises with his wife, on both riverboat and ocean cruises.

Dick will be remembered for his love of the "art of the deal".

Funeral services for C. Richard Gottfried will be held at 11:00am Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Lucas-Batton Funeral Home in Upper Sandusky, with the Rev. Joe Trester officiating. Burial will follow at Old Mission Cemetery.

Visitations will be held on Friday, November 1, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Lucas-Batton Funeral Home in Upper Sandusky.

Memorial contributions may be made to North Salem Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor's choice and can be sent to Lucas-Batton, 476 S. Sandusky Ave. Upper Sandusky, OH 43351.