Harold T. Bricker, 84, slipped peacefully from this life into the next at his home at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2015. His health had been lingering for the past year.

He was born in Shelby, Ohio on December 2, 1930, a son of the late Lenora (Stiefel) Bricker and Lee W. Bricker. Harold came to this area as a young boy when his father established Isaly’s on Sixth Street in the downtown, which later became Bricker’s Cafeteria in 1968 and remains an East Liverpool landmark.

Harold graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1948, and had been a proud member of the East Liverpool High School Alumni Association. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Geneva College in 1952 and a Master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954.

While attending Geneva, he was encouraged to pursue a career in teaching. The only opening for a student teacher within twenty five miles of Geneva was at East Liverpool High School. After completion of student teaching and graduation from Geneva, he was hired by East Liverpool. At the end of the first semester of teaching, he was drafted in the United States Army where he was immediately placed in the Adjutant General Section of the 2nd Armored Division. This section in Germany was in charge of 14,000 men. Upon his discharge, he returned to his teaching position, where he taught for the next nine years. At that time, he decided to leave teaching and join his family business, Bricker's Cafeteria, where he worked tirelessly every day of the week until he retired in 1997.

Harold was involved in many community associations including FISH, Salvation Army and the East Liverpool Historical Society, along with the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Senior Chamber of Commerce at one time. He was given the Community Builders Award from the Masons, and was honored as a Wall of Fame recipient from Kent State University for his commitment and service, as well as the Presidents Council award from Geneva College.

A man of great faith, he was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church and had been instrumental in re-building the church at its present location on Hill Boulevard. He had served as Sunday School teacher for 50 years and had served in virtually every capacity at church, including president of Church Council many times. Harold had also been a familiar face in the church, whether singing in the choir or helping serve meals to others.

Harold is survived at home by his wife of 61 years, the former Doris Jean Smith, whom he married June 27, 1954. Four daughters also survive: Janice (David) Snyder of East Liverpool; Lisa (Roger) Turrill of Laughlintown, PA; Sara Bricker of East Liverpool; and Ann (Dan) Dietz, also of East Liverpool. There are six grandchildren: Ed (Allison) Stansbury, Greg Stansbury, Dayna (Jonathon) Horvath, Eric Dietz, Gretchen Dietz, and Andrea Dietz, along with three great-grandchildren: Alex, Nina and Brooke.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. Ronald Bricker, two half-brothers, William Bricker and Howard Bricker, and a half-sister, Alma Stiefel.

Friends may visit at the Dawson Funeral Home on Tuesday, where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.

Services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, with Pastor Eric Edwards of the church officiating. Friends may also visit at the church one hour prior to the time of the service.

Harold will be laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery, where the Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will provide full military honors. Following the burial, friends and family will return to the church for a continued time of fellowship.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St. John's Lutheran Church, 400 Hill Boulevard, East Liverpool, OH 43920.

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