Richard Owen Batzel Sr. Obituary

Richard (Dick) Owen Batzel Sr., 74, a lifelong resident of Gouldsboro, Pa., passed away Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Patricia A. (Bell) Batzel. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Nov. 4. Richard was the son of the late Owen Batzel and Beatrice (Swingle-Batzel) Leader.

He graduated from North Pocono High School, class of 1960, and served his country from 1961 to 1969. Richard was a lifetime member of the Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire Company, a founding life member of the Gouldsboro Ambulance Squad where he was an EMT, a lifelong member of the Gouldsboro United Methodist Church, served as a supervisor for Clifton Twp., Lackawanna County, and was EMA director for Clifton Twp.

Throughout his years with the fire company and ambulance squad and in conjunction with the American Red Cross, Dick taught CPR to hundreds of volunteers; he was also a first responder and EMT instructor. Before his illness, Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and mostly spending time with his family, especially his great-grandchildren, Ethan and Amelia.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Karyn Reppert and her husband, Scott, of Wind Gap, Pa.; a son, Richard (Richie) Batzel Jr. and his girlfriend, Nikki Hatfield, of Chesapeake, Va.; two granddaughters, Ashley Heller and her husband, Travis, of Blakeslee, Pa.; and Cheyenne Reppert of Pen Argyl, Pa.; great-grandchildren, Ethan Heller and Amelia (Mia) Heller of Blakeslee, Pa.; two brothers, Douglas Batzel and his wife, Kathy, of Daleville, Pa.; and Joseph Batzel and his wife, Janet, of Gouldsboro, Pa.; three sisters, Marion Wyckoff, of Gouldsboro, Pa.; Lois Chapman and her husband, Ernest, of Annandale, Va.; and Brenda Grabousky and her husband, Ed, of Moscow, Pa.; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his two brothers-in-law, George Bell and Carl Bell, and his in-laws, George Bell and Arlene (Ovens) Bell. There will be a memorial service at the Gouldsboro United Methodist Church on Main Street, Gouldsboro, on Tuesday, Dec. 26, at 11 a.m.