Richard (Dick) Lee Farrell, 88, of Sandusky, Ohio, joined Jesus in heaven on Friday evening, April 30, 2021, in Parkvue Health Care Center, Sandusky.
Dick was born in Elyria, Ohio, to Doris Yeteve Newton Farrell and Oscar Beauchamp Farrell. He was a graduate of Vermilion High School in 1950 and married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn May Hamman Farrell in 1952 in Vermilion, Ohio. He served in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1954.
Dick graduated from Ohio University in 1958 with a Master's Degree in Education. He subsequently served Willoughby-Eastlake Schools as teacher and assistant principal, Manchester High School in Akron as principal, Mogadore High School as principal, Dover High School as principal, Fairview Park High School as principal, Old Fort Local Schools as superintendent of schools, and superintendent of Erie County Local Schools, (now known as North Point Educational Service Center) in Sandusky, Ohio, from 1975 to 1987. In this position, he expanded special education programs from 5 to 32 units serving five counties. He implemented the Firelands Academic Challenge competition, the S.U.P.E.R. (Substance Use Prevention and Educational Resources) Program, and the Saturday Morning Enrichment Program, Under Dick's
leadership, the Northern Ohio Educational Computer Association (NOECA) was begun, and he was instrumental in the development of an insurance cooperative, then known as the Huron-Erie School Employee Insurance Consortium. He also worked to establish the Bay Area Gas Consortium, and his efforts saved participating districts millions of dollars in operating expenses. Integrity in service was always his standard.
Dick served as a consultant to the Ohio Department of Education as the legislative chairman of the Ohio County Superintendents' Association. He was a former chairman of the Ohio Education Computer Network Management Council and the Northern Ohio Special Education Regional Resources Center. He served as a chairman of Goodwill Industries, was a member of the Erie County Regional Planning Commission, the North Coast Youth Advisory Board and the Betty Rinderle School.
Dick is a Christ-bearer and was an active member of Columbus Avenue United Methodist Church for 28 years and The Chapel for 17 years. Many rich relationships were formed in those settings. He worked with Habitat for Humanity, and provided a ministry every other week to the youth in the Erie County Detention Home for many years. Many will remember Dick's ministry of writing encouraging notes to them. In his leisure time, Dick enjoyed reading, gardening, and painting. Preceding him in death are his wife of 64 years, Marilyn, his mother Doris and his father Oscar, as well as a granddaughter.
Survivors include his sister, Sandra, and brother, Robert, as well as his daughters Brenda (Gary) Kerlin and Jennifer (Jim) DeCamp and son Bruce Alan (Claire) Hamilton-Farrell.His life was blessed by five grandchildren: Joshua (Nicole) Kerlin, Jillian (Andrew) Miller, Abigail (John) Jarman, Katelyn (Tim) Vonville and Shannon Farrell. Eight greatgrandchildren also brought joy into Dick's life: Isabella, Shauna, Gavin, Luke, Cael, Levi, Adelaide and Nolan.
Dick will be remembered in a private funeral service for his family on Thursday May 6, 2021, at Ransom Funeral & Cremation Service, Castalia, with Pastor Todd Nielsen of The Chapel officiating. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
Should you wish to honor his life, a donation may be made to The Chapel, 4444 Galloway Rd. Sandusky, OH 44870, Stein Hospice Services 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences and gifts of sympathy may be shared with the family by visiting www.ransomfuneralhome.com
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Richard L. Farrell, please visit our floral store.