Richard H. Searer, 91, Tyrone, died Sunday, at his residence.

He was born in Tyrone, son of Reed F. and Annie M. Harris Searer. On June 14, 1952, he married Ann Graham at St. Matthews Catholic Church Rectory.

Surviving are his wife; three children: Richard G. (Cathi) Searer of Madison, Wis., Gretchen S. (Keith) Armington of Sparks, Md., and Annette S. (Robert) Lynn of Tyrone; nine grandchildren: Lindsay, Matthew (financee, Paige Malone) and Michelle Searer, Rachel, Caitlin and Stefan Armington and Austin, Benjamin and Alex Lynn; and a sister, Enid McConahy of Alexandria, Va.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Howard P. Searer; and a sister, Ruth S. Abrams.

Richard was a 1943 graduate of Tyrone Area High School and, upon graduation, he entered into the U.S. Army Air Corp. A veteran of WWII, he flew with the Eight Air Force as the nose gunner of a B-24 flight crew with 35 missions over Nazi Germany. He was a 1949 graduate of Dickinson College where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. After that, Richard went on to Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he graduated in 1954with highest honors. Upon completion of mortuary school, he returned to Tyrone to work as a funeral director, eventually becoming the sole proprietor and supervisor of Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, Inc. for the past 29 years.

He was a member of National Funeral Directors Association, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and Keystone (local) Funeral Directors Association on which he served as past president. In 2012, he was recognized for 60 years of service as a licensed funeral director in Pennsylvania.

He was a life-member of Wesley United Methodist Church, serving on the administrative council for 59 years, and he was also a past member of the trustees and had served as investments chairman. He was a member and past president of the former Tyrone Lions Club, as well as a member of the board and a past president of Tyrone Community Chest (forerunner to United Way). He was a member and past president of Tyrone Chamber of Commerce and a member of Blair County Chamber of Commerce. He was a former member of Tyrone Salvation Army Board and a past member of Albemarle Community Advisory Board.

For 18 ½ years (five as a secretary), he served as a member on Tyrone Hospital Board of Directors. From 1969-2014, he served on the board for Home Nursing Agency as a member of the Professional Advisory Committee and later as a member of the Hospice Advisory Board. Richard was the current vice president of Tyrone Historical Society and a former member of the combined board of Epworth Manor and Bethany Village. He was a member of Board of the Camp Anderson Association, a life-member of the B.P.O.E. Lodge No. 212 and Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Fire Company.

Funeral service for Richard H. Searer will be Friday, January 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1200 Logan Ave, Tyrone, PA 16686 with Pastor David Keyworth and Father Jozef Kovacik officiating.

Friends will be received on Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, Inc. and on Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church from 10:00 AM until the 11:00 AM service.

Interment with military honors will be made at Oak Grove Cemetery, Tyrone, following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 1200 Logan Ave., Tyrone, PA 16686; Tyrone Historical Society, 850 Pennsylvania Ave., Tyrone, PA 16686; or Camp Anderson Association, P.O. Box 221, Tyrone, PA, 16686.