Richard D. Cothern, 1931-2012: Accountant was executive with building supply firm
6/21/2012Richard D. Cothern, an accountant and executive with the construction supply firm Kuhlman Corp., died of cancer Saturday in his Springfield Township home. He was 80.
He retired 14 years ago, but remained on the Kuhlman board. In 32 years with the family-owned firm, he was secretary, treasurer, vice president of finance, senior vice president of real estate, and chief financial officer. "He did everything he could to make the company grow and be prosperous," his wife, Ann, said. "They were good to him, and he was good to them."
Before that, he was a certified public accountant for Arthur Young & Co.
He was treasurer of the Arrowhead Park Architectural Committee. A member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, he was treasurer of the fraternity's University of Toledo house corporation. He'd been on the board of Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio.
He was an officer of professional organizations. He golfed often and enjoyed fine cigars. Sometimes it seemed he knew nearly everyone.
"He loved people," his wife said. "He loved to talk to them and was totally at ease with them."
The son of Maude and Louis Cothern, he was a 1949 graduate of Libbey High School. He was an Air Force bomber pilot and later was stationed in Japan. He was a captain for the Ohio Air National Guard's 112th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Toledo Express Airport.
He had a business administration degree from UT.
Surviving are his wife, Ann, whom he married Oct. 7, 1961; daughters, Leslie Wade and Betsy Booth; son, Ted Cothern; sister, Mary Lou Gorr; brother Robert Cothern, and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. today in the Coyle Funeral Home, with a recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Joan of Arc Church, where he was a member.
The family suggests tributes to the Evans Scholars Foundation, Golf, Ill., or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Contact Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.