Cooper Tire retiree was WW II veteran

12/18/2001

FINDLAY - Richard Lee Sausser, 81, an Army veteran of World War II and two-time retiree of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., died yesterday of heart failure at Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center.

Mr. Sausser first retired in 1982 after 35 years in management as a tire-room foreman, then rejoined the company a week later as a fleet car driver. He worked an additional 15 years for Cooper Tire before retiring for good in 1997.

“There was a big write-up in the company paper about it that said, `Can a man retire twice?'” said his son, David Lee Sausser.

Mr. Sausser, who was born in Vanlue, Ohio, served in the U.S. Army during World War II on the Pacific Ocean island of New Caledonia. He worked in heavy truck transport, starting as a driver before being promoted to a sergeant in charge of the fleet, according to his son.

He met his wife, Dorothy Tyner, upon returning to Findlay after the war, and the couple were married in September, 1946.

The Saussers liked to travel, taking a trip to Europe and a 40-day around-the-world cruise in the early 1980s. The couple volunteered at area hospitals, passing out refreshments to patients. Mrs. Sausser died in December, 1996.

Mr. Sausser was an active member of College First Church of God in Findlay and was a member of the Moose Lodge 698 in Findlay, where he used to play bingo. He belonged to the Cooper 25-Year Club and the Cooper Management Club.

“He lived a pretty quiet, family life,” son David said. “He enjoyed his yard work and he enjoyed his grandchildren immensely.”

Surviving are his son, David; daughter, Mrs. Ann Jones; sisters, Margaret Blair and Betty Holmes, and three granddaughters.

Services will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow in College First Church of God, Findlay. The body will be in the Coldren-Crates Funeral Home, Findlay, after 2 p.m. today.