Darrel Lee Dear I, age 79, passed away at 3:15 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at the Otterbein Cridersville SeniorLife Community.
Darrel was born July 19, 1943, in Bellefontaine, OH, to the late John and Doris Thelma (Easton) Dear. On October 30, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart, Janis (Geboy) Dear who preceded him in death on September 15, 2019.
Darrel attended Bellefontaine High School and was a graduate of the Northwestern Business College. He retired from the Ford Motor Company, Lima Engine Plant after 33 years of service. Darrel was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed, fishing, hunting, camping, horses and motorcycles. He especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his three children, Darrel (Ronda) Dear II, Todd (Tammy) Dear and Darcy Dear all of Lima; nine grandchildren, Chasity (Troy) Lowell, Lance (Taylor) Dear, Luke Dear, Jenna (Alex) McCormick, Kiley (Luke) Rowe, Emma (Henry Eriksen) Deters, Lucy Deters, Foster Deters and Frannie Deters; seven great-grandchildren, Addyson and Parker Lowell, Ella Dear, Kannon and Crew McCormick, Nova and Zoey Rowe and many beloved brothers and sisters-in -law, nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is preceded in death by a brother, Larry Dear, sister, Doris McCann.
Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, May 1,, at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Eastside Chapel. Burial will follow in Salem Westminster Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the funeral home and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, May 1, prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.