Richard F. Polen
Former West Greene School Board member
Richard F. Polen, 76, of Spraggs, formerly of Sycamore, died unexpectedly at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 2013, in Washington Hospital, after being in declining health the past six months.
He was born November 4, 1936, in Richhill Township (Ryerson), Greene County, a son of the late Fred L. and Hazel Irene Cunningham Polen.
Mr. Polen resided in the Richhill and Morris Township areas of Greene County all his life, prior to moving to Spraggs in 2004.
He was a 1956 graduate of West Greene High School, Rogersville, and a member and trustee of the former South Wheeling Baptist Church at Ryerson Station.
Mr. Polen was a peacetime veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served as a specialist 5th class, being called to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1961.
He was employed by the former Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. at Majorsville as a corrosion technician for 41 years before retiring in 1999, and was a member of the former Quarter Century Club of Columbia Gas.
Mr. Polen was a former youth football coach in Richhill Township, a former member of the school board of West Greene School District and an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
On May 13, 1956, he married Geraldine “Gerry” M. Yoho, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Mark, husband of Janeen Polen of Wooster, Ohio; two daughters, Kim, wife of James Anderson of Aleppo, and Heidi, wife of David Nelson of Spraggs; eight grandchildren, Jeremy, Jennifer, Cody and Ryan Polen, Amber Hunt, Evan Anderson and Ali and Derrick Nelson; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Jesse R., husband of Shirley Polen of Weirton, W.Va.; a sister, Margaret (Pug) Bayard of Waynesburg; and several nieces and nephews.
At the request of family, there will be no public visitation. A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 27, in Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville, with Pastor Ron McCoy officiating.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.