Richard Polen

Richard F. Polen, 76, of Spraggs, Pa. and formerly of Sycamore, Pa. died unexpectedly at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 2013 in The Washington Hospital, Washington, Pa., after being in declining health for the past six months.He was born November 4, 1936 in Richhill Twp. (Ryerson), Greene Co., Pa. a son of the late Fred L. and Hazel Irene Cunningham Polen.Mr. Polen had resided in the Richhill and Morris Twp. areas of Greene County all his life prior to moving to Spraggs in 2004.He was a 1956 graduate of West Greene High School in 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 prior to retiring in 1999 and was a member of the former Quarter Century Club of Columbia Gas.Mr. Polen was a former LL football coach in Richhill Twp., a former member of the school board of West Greene School District, and was an avid Pittsburgh Steeler 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, 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; several nieces and nephews.The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.