Richard Zeiter Obituary

Richard D. "Dick" Zeiter

Aug 29, 1935 - Dec 16, 2023

Norwalk

Richard D. "Dick" Zeiter, 88, of Norwalk, passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, after a lengthy illness while surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Aug. 29, 1935, in Centerton, to Mervin D. Zeiter and Helen M. Martin Zeiter. His stepmother was Lucile Zeiter.

Dick proudly served in U.S. Marine Corps from 1954-1959, spending one and a half years in Korea and the remainder in the U.S. He was part of the 7th motor transport 1st Marine Division, achieving the rank of E-4 Sergeant. Dick married his sweetheart, the former Carol Sommers, on April 25, 1964. Known for his sense of humor, when Dick started a family after serving in the Marines and his children asked him what the "USMC" tattoo on his arm stood for, his response was "Uncle Sam's Misguided Child."

A hard worker and jack of all trades, Dick had a variety of jobs such as railroad worker, brick layer, welder, equipment operator, and building construction with Roth Bros. In 1959, he started a material hauling business, Zeiter Trucking Inc., which he began with a single dump truck and has been in operation for 63 years. Over the years, the company has grown steadily and today has nearly 45 employees in addition to several owner operators and a fleet of 27 tractors and seven straight trucks. Dick retired from the family business in 2000, turning it over to his children to continue his legacy. Along with his family, Dick and his wife, Carol, also ran Zeiter's Ceramic Supply Inc. from 1982-2000, which was a retail and wholesale ceramic business as well as the manufacturer of Buckeye Slip and Mary Ann Porcelain. Zeiter's Ceramic Supply Inc. was the largest complete wholesale/retail ceramic supplier in Ohio.

Dick had a variety of hobbies and interests including camping, snowmobiling, traveling, motorcycling, and enjoyed all Ohio sports teams. He especially enjoyed playing dart ball and played for the Courthouse Café and The Lutheran Church League. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles and Wakeman Snowballers Snowmobile Club. He enjoyed new challenges and working with his hands, whether it was building, repairing, creating, or cooking. After Dick and Carol retired from the trucking and ceramic businesses, they spent winters at Poinsettia Park in Fort Myers, Florida. Dick was a member of the park's board of directors and served as its President for three years, secretary for one year, and board director for one year.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Carol; children, Mark (Deborah) Zeiter of New London, Steven (Lisa) Zeiter of Norwalk, Teresa (Timothy) VanBrandt of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, Richard (Holly) Maxwell Zeiter of Farmsville, Virginia, and Gary (JoAnn) Salyer Zeiter of Little Hocking; Deborah (Timothy) Buck of Monclova; grandchildren, Brittany (Adam) Weeks, Nicholas (Tara), Heather, Sydney, Austin, and Shelby Zeiter, Trevor and Joshua Myers, Mason VanBrandt, Jessica Talbott, and Brian Buck; and great-grandchildren, Mia and Nolan Weeks and Allyson Lockhart.

Dick was preceded in death by his father, Mervin Zeiter; stepmother, Lucile Zeiter; mother, Helen (Martin-Zeiter) Jennings; sister, Mary Ann Simons; stepbrother, Robert Zeiter; grandson Timothy Buck Jr.; granddaughter, Natasha Marie Salyer; and numerous other relatives.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, and 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, until the time of Dick's funeral at 11 a.m., all at Walker-Eastman-Heydinger Funeral Home, 98 W. Main St., Norwalk. Burial will follow the funeral at Woodlawn Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that those wishing to contribute to Dick's memory may do so by donating to Huron County Humane Society, 246 Woodlawn Avenue, Norwalk, Ohio, 44857 (in memory of Richard Zeiter) or LifeWise Huron County, P.O. Box 84 Norwalk, Ohio, 44857.

Dick's family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care of Huron County in Norwalk for the care and comfort they gave Dick over the past few years.

Condolences can be shared at www.walkereastmanheydingerfh.com.