Charles Robert “Chuck” Rightmire, age 68 years, a former resident of Elkins, WV, and more recently a resident of Heath, OH, departed this life early Thursday morning, May 26, 2011, at his home. His death was attributed to cancer.
He was born Thursday, May 13, 1943 at Parsons, WV a son of the late Frank R. and Maxine Reed Rightmire. On July 19, 1964 at Cumberland, MD he was married to the former Frances Kay Shipman, who preceded him in death July 9, 2003. They had celebrated thirty-eight years of marriage. The last two years he has spent with his special friend Elizabeth “Beth” Carlson of Ohio. Surviving are his daughter, April Rightmire Rogers and husband Jason, New Richmond, WI; and his two granddaughters, Kayla Brittany Sheffield and Casey Kay Rogers.
He was a graduate of Elkins High School with the Class of 1960 and received a double major from Davis & Elkins College in 1965. He was a graduate assistant at West Virginia University before starting his career at Amchem in New Philadelphia, OH that began a thirty year career of traveling nationally and internationally as an executive of several large specialty chemical companies. Upon his retirement he wanted to give back to the community by volunteering at his granddaughter’s Elementary school as a teacher’s assistant; at Fairfield Medical Center at Lancaster, OH as a patient advocate volunteer and finally as a “Health Care Reform” issue specialist for AARP.
He then came out of retirement to do business development work for Lithko Restoration at Columbus, OH until May 6, 2011.
He was a member of the Lake Zurich Lions Club at Lake Zurich, IL and the New Philadelphia Lodge # 177, F. & A. M. at New Philadelphia, OH.
He will be remembered for his quick wit, one dollar bets, pranks, and in general his zeal for life and love.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 5 to 8 PM, Tuesday. Final Rites will be conducted at the funeral home chapel Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 11 AM. The Rev. Dr. Basil A. Hensley will officiate and interment will follow at the Parsons City Cemetery at Parsons, WV. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Rocky Fork First Church of God at Newark, OH on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 10:30 AM with Pastor Tom Myers officiating. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road, Newark, OH 43055 – www.hospiceofcentralohio.org
