SPATH, RICHARD J.

Richard J. “Rich” Spath worked for the City of Billings Water Department for 27 years, retiring in 1983. During World War II, he served in the Marines and was wounded on Iwo Jima. He received the Presidential Unit Citation for action on Guadalcanal and the Purple Heart. A member of DAV and AARP, he enjoyed fishing, camping and gardening.

Mr. Spath, 67, of 1931 Patricia Lane, died Saturday [August 5, 1989] in Billings Deaconess Medical Center after a long illness.

Born in Cleveland, N.D., a son of Matt and Elizabeth Spath, he attended school and graduated from Billings Senior High School. He played halfback on the championship football team for the school in 1938-39. On Nov. 9, 1946, he married Gina Mimmo in Billings.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Mrs. Dennis (Rita) Hove of 3046 Forsythia Drive, Jackie Roose of 3116 Boulder Ave., and Mrs. Stan (Nikki) Eckert of 2963 Myrtle Drive; two brothers, Reuben E. of Palm Bay, Fla., and George of Mesa, Ariz.; two sisters, Mrs. Gene (Eleanor) Walsh of Mesa and Pauline Gradwohl of Edgar; and four grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Smith’s West Chapel with burial in Mountview Cemetery.