Ernest Walter Ricker

Ernest W. Riker, 89, a resident of Park Village Care Center in Dover and a former resident of Roswell, died Monday, April 14, 2003 at Park Village following an extended illness.Born in New Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Charles W. and Anna Ricklic Riker and had retired after twenty-seven years with Marlite where he worked as a machine operator. A member of Sacred Heart Church in New Philadelphia, he was also a member of the former St. Elizabeth Church in Roswell and the Keeping Touch Senior Citizen Group. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, enjoyed writing poetry and loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.Surviving is his wife, the former Elizabeth “Betty” Farkas, of Park Village in Dover, whom he married October 24, 1936. Three daughters, Betty (Jay) Huffman of New Philadelphia, Karen (Steve) Gloeckner of Dover and Mary Ann (Newt) Rothacher of Dennison; three sons, Ernest Riker Jr. of Tuscarawas, David (Carol) Riker of New Philadelphia and Fred (Linda) Riker of Dennison; three sisters, Hazel Kluba of Colorado, Irene Arnold of Dover and Betty Carlisle of New Philadelphia; a brother, Clyde Riker of Michigan; eight grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. A son and two brothers are also deceased.A funeral mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at 1:30 PM in the Sacred Heart Church in New Philadelphia with Monsignor George J. Schlegel officiating. Burial will be at St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Roswell. A reception will be held in the Geib Family Center following the committal. Visitation will be held (Today), Tuesday, April 15, 2003 from 4 to 7 PM at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home in New Philadelphia. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Sacred Heart Church, 139 Third Street NE, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.