Richard B. Gealy, 2818 E. State St., Hermitage, passed away at 9:45 p.m. Sunday (5-9-10) in his home following a three week illness. He was 85.

Mr. Gealy was born February 19, 1925 in Grove City, PA a son of the late George E. and Minnie H. Zeh Gealy.

A lifelong Mercer County resident he was a 1942 graduate of Grove City High School.

He served with the U.S. Navy during WWII in the Asiatic and Pacific Theaters. With the help of the GI Bill, Dick was able to do an apprenticeship with Shelly Memorial in Greenville, PA. where he remained for eleven years. He was a Certified Memorialist and owned and operated Gealy Memorials in Hermitage for 42 years.

Dick was a member and past president of the Monument Builders of PA and the Morefield Cemetery Association. He was a longtime active member of Hickory United Methodist Church, Hermitage. A Free and Accepted Mason, Dick was a member of Shenango Valley Lodge # 810, Hermitage; the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of New Castle Consistory; and the Mercer County Shrine Club, Hermitage, where he was a former president. He was also a life member of the American Legion, Post 160, Farrell; and the Hickory VFW, Post # 6166, Hermitage; and a former member and director of the Mercer County Historical Society. An avid golfer, he enjoyed playing in the Tuesday Night Independent League at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course and the Friday morning Old Elks Golf League at the VFW Golf Course, both Hermitage. One of his fondest memories was scoring a hole-in-one on # 8 at Tam O'Shanter while playing with course owner, Jack Kerins and Tony Duich. Dick was a lifelong hunter; a member of the NRA and!

a life member of the Western Reserve Fish and Game Association. He enjoyed traveling and drove to Alaska in 1992. He also vacationed in Hawaii, Europe, the Holy Land and each of the United States. He was a lifelong reader and extremely devoted to his family.

Surviving are: his wife at home, the former Nancy J. Hoffman Metz, whom he married July 20, 1985; a son, Larry Gealy and his wife Betty, Transfer; a daughter, Cheri Barker and her husband John, Monroe, N.C.; four grandchildren, Amy and Michelle Gealy; and Richard and Lisell Barker; two great grandchildren, Kayla and Eli; three step-children and their families, Marilyn Pollock and her husband David, Bullhead City, AZ and their children, Kasia, Shane, Jared and Hannah; and their grandchildren, Tristen, Benjamin, Sophia, Moses and Jack; Karen Redmon and her husband Chuck, West Middlesex, PA and their children Kimberly and Kristine, and their grandson, Xander; and John Metz and his wife KJ, Gallatin Gateway, Montana.

Besides his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his first wife on August 31, 1984, the former Ethel M. Drennen, whom he married August 30, 1954; a son, Brian E. Gealy; and a brother, George E. Gealy.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Hickory United Methodist Church, 240 N. Hermitage Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148; or to Sharon Regional Hospice and Palliative Care, 740 E. State St., Sharon, PA 16146.

Calling hours will be from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday (5-12-10) and one hour before the service on Thursday (5-13-10) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Friends may email condolences by visiting our web site www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

A Masonic service will be conducted by Shenango Valley Lodge # 810 at 7 p.m. Wednesday (5-12-10) in the funeral home.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday (5-13-10) in the funeral home with the Rev. David Holste, pastor of Hickory United Methodist Church, Hermitage, officiating.

Interment: Morefield Cemetery, Hermitage.