Richard M. Fawcett

MUNROE FALLS - Richard M. Fawcett, 95, died March 5, 2026.

Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, he was preceded in death by his parents, D. Walter and Rachel Fawcett; brother, Tom Fawcett; sister, Jeanne Fletcher; son-in-law, Rick Lloyd, and great-grandson, Trenton Ward.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Lois; son and daughter-in-law, John and Carol Fawcett; daughter, Susan Lloyd; son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Lavonne Fawcett; grandchildren, Eric (Alissa) Fawcett, Anna Lloyd, and Christopher Lloyd; several great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

He was an area resident since the 1950s and a U.S. Army veteran. Rich was a longtime member and former elder at First Christian Church of Stow and had been the last surviving founding member of the Friends of Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library.

Rich lived his ninety-five years with a quiet steadiness that left a lasting imprint on everyone who crossed his path. He never sought recognition, yet his influence reached far beyond the places he served. He believed in showing up, in doing the work that strengthens families, communities, and minds. That belief guided him through his years in the U.S. Army, through his decades of service at First Christian Church of Stow, and through his remarkable commitment to the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. But nowhere was that belief more evident than in the classroom.

Rich was a teacher in the truest sense of the word. He taught English at Tallmadge and Hudson High Schools before moving on to The University of Akron, where he continued shaping young minds with the same patience, clarity, and quiet conviction that defined his life. He had a gift for helping students see more in themselves than they realized was there. Many students returned to visit him years later, carrying with them the lessons he had planted - lessons about curiosity, discipline, and the value of thinking deeply. Those visits were a testament to the kind of teacher he was: the kind students remember, the kind who changes the trajectory of a life.

After retirement, Rich found a new rhythm - quite literally. He was a talented drummer and played in several professional Dixieland jazz bands. Music gave him joy, camaraderie, and a different kind of stage on which to share his gifts. It was another way he connected with people, another way he brought energy and warmth into the world. Those who heard him play saw a side of him that was lively, expressive, and deeply rooted in the pleasure of creating something together.

As a founding member of the Friends of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, he helped build a place where knowledge could flourish for generations. He understood that libraries are more than shelves and books. They are community anchors, places where imagination is nurtured, and where people of all ages come to discover something new. Rich’s work there was an extension of his calling as an educator - a way of ensuring that learning remained accessible to everyone.

At home, he was the steady center of a large and growing family. He carried the memory of those who went before him and held deep pride in those who followed. His family was not just part of his life; they were the living proof of a legacy built on love, patience, and unwavering support. He celebrated their milestones, encouraged their pursuits, and was a quiet source of strength.

Rich’s life was not defined by grand gestures but by the accumulation of small, faithful acts. He showed up for his family, church, community, students, and the music he loved. In doing so, he created a legacy that lives on in the minds he shaped, the library he helped build, the congregation he served, the musicians he played alongside, and the generations who carry his name and memory forward.

His story is one of service, steadiness, and love expressed through action. Those who knew him will remember his kindness, his humility, and the way he made the world around him just a little better. That is a legacy worth honoring.

Rev. Jonathan Rumburg will conduct a memorial service Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 1 PM, at First Christian Church of Stow, 3493 Darrow Road, Stow 44224, where friends may call from 12 PM, until service time. Private interment will be at Silver Springs Cemetery.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Friends of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Road, Stow, OH 44224, in honor of Rich’s lifelong dedication to learning, community service, and the library he helped to build and support.