Richard "Dick" Eaton

George Richard “Dick” Eaton, age 88, of Hilliard, Ohio, passed away, Monday, January 8, 2018 at Madison County Hospital in London, Ohio.  Dick was the only child born to Pearl James Eaton and Doris Eva Grierson Eaton, in Columbus, Ohio on January 4, 1930.  Dick grew up in Columbus, and graduated from Columbus North High School in 1948.  During high school, Dick was active in sports and school activities and was the team captain for the 1947/8 basketball and baseball teams.  After high school, Dick played minor league baseball from 1948 to 1955, interrupted by a 2-year stint in the army from 1950 to 1952.  After returning home from the army in 1952, Dick enrolled in The Ohio State University and pursued a degree in education while still playing baseball, graduating from OSU in 1957.  Dick then began a 30-year teaching and coaching career in the Columbus Public School system, where he returned to his alma mater, North High School, teaching and coaching basketball and baseball.  In 1966, Dick completed an MA degree in education from OSU and was vice principal at Crestview and Dominion junior high schools in Columbus.  Later, Dick was vice principal at Whetstone and Mifflin High Schools, retiring in 1988. Dick married Patricia Joan “Patti Jo” Henderson on June 7, 1952 in Columbus, Ohio. Dick and Patti Jo lived in Columbus and Hilliard until Patti Jo’s death in 2000.  In 2002, Dick married Dottie Baker, and was welcomed into Dottie’s loving family of four daughters and their families, acting as step-grandfather. Dick is survived by and will be missed by his sons: Tim (Patricia) Eaton of London, Ohio; Matt (Debbie) Eaton of Trabuco Canyon, California; Paul Eaton of Columbus, Ohio; stepdaughters Cheryl (Tim) Lewis; Lori (Tim) Dougherty; Cassie (Brent) Allen of Hilliard, Ohio; and Cindi (Steve) Lorenz of Cleveland, Ohio; grandchildren Mark Eaton of Trabuco Canyon, California, Rachel Eaton of Findlay, Ohio, Ben Eaton of London, Ohio; step grandchildren Breanna and Claire Lewis, Pat and Ellen Dougherty, Camden, Carmen, and Corbin Allen. Dick was an avid golfer, and loved dogs.  A memorial service will be held on February 24, 2018 at 5 PM, at the Hilliard Presbyterian Church, 3600 Leap Rd., Hilliard, Ohio.  Arrangements completed by the Tidd Family Funeral Home, Hilliard, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, suggest contributions in memory of Dick Eaton to Columbus Humane http://www.cahs-pets.org/i-want-to-help/donate.