Richard L. Bline

Richard Lyle Bline, age 70, of Howard, OH formerly of Granville, OH, passed away on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at his home under the care of hospice after a battle with cancer. He was born on August 31, 1950 to the late Lyle G. and Etta (Richards) Bline.

Calling hours for Rick will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, 2021 at McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home, 133 South Prospect Street, Granville, OH. There will be a graveside service following at 5:30 p.m. at Welsh Hills Cemetery, 1548 Welsh Hills Road, NE in Granville with Captain Christine Moretz of the Knox County Salvation Army officiating. Social distancing and masks will be required.

Rick graduated from Granville High School in 1968 and went on to study at The Ohio State University before earning his associates degree in nursing from Central Ohio Technical College in 1991. The first part of his working career was in journalism and he was a former owner and publisher of the Granville Sentinel. Once he earned his RN, Rick held many nursing positions throughout central Ohio and Boca Raton, Florida over the last 30 years. Rick was employed as a health aide with Newark City Schools at the time of his passing.

Rick was an active member of his community and an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan. In his earlier years, Rick was a member of Granville Presbyterian Church, president of the Granville Athletic Boosters, a member of both the Newark and Granville Jaycees, volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and a volunteer firefighter and paramedic for the Granville Township Fire Department for 20+ years. In more recent years, Rick was a board member and volunteer at the Knox County Salvation Army, a board member of the Apple Valley Homeowners Association and a member of the Apple Valley Golf League.

Rick is survived by his life partner of 22 years, Mary Lyons and her sons Marc (Kelly) Lyons, Grant (Lisa) Lyons, Mathew (Shelli) Lyons and their families. Rick is also survived by his brother Tom (Lu Ann) Bline, niece Leslie Bline (Mark Downs), nephew Mark (Brittany) Bline, many cousins and his faithful rescue cats Char, Hemey and Sissy.

The family prefers that expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial contributions be directed to the Knox County Salvation Army at 206 East Ohio Avenue, Mt. Vernon, OH 43050.