Richard S. Horvat, Sr.

Richard S. Horvat, Sr.

September 22, 1935 - July 20, 2026 (90 years old)

It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Richard “Dick” Horvat. He was born to John and Mary Horvat of Akron, OH and graduated from St. Vincent High School.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, sister Shirley and son James. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life for the past 70 years, Margaret, children Theresa (Jerry) and Richard (Cheryl), granddaughters Danielle (Rob) and Karla (Zach) and great grandchildren Easton, Landon, Reagan and Rowan, as well as his sister Sue.

A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served at Camp LeJeune, NC, Dick carried a deep love for his country throughout his life. He served with honor and dedication, embodying the values of courage, loyalty, and integrity that remained with him long after his military service ended.

He dedicated 42 years of his life to the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, where he built a career marked by hard work, commitment, and pride. During those years, Dick formed lasting friendships with many wonderful people who became an important part of his life. The stories, laughter, and camaraderie he shared with his coworkers remained among his most treasured memories.

Dick had a lifelong passion for motorcycles, specifically BMWs and found joy in the freedom of the open road. The two-wheeled love affair started with his first bike, a 1960 R-26 and one of his many bikes, a 1985 K 100 RT, was shipped from Germany to Detroit in a crate and he brought it home in a pick-up truck. He said his whole life had been blessed with being a biker because without it, life would have been very dull. Logging in hundreds of thousands of miles on his bike, Dick attended 17 national BMW rallies. He rode through every U.S. state (except Rhode Island and Alaska), Mexico, Nova Scotia and several European countries. Wearing some variation of a BMW t-shirt was a staple in his wardrobe. In 1972, Dick was proud to be one of the founding fathers of the Akron BMW Motorcycle Club. His son, Rich, inherited a passion for riding.

Dick will be remembered for his kindness, humor, and calm presence. He had a way of making others feel at ease, offering steady support and quiet wisdom whenever it was needed. To those who knew him, he was a source of comfort and peace. His laughter, patience, and loving heart touched countless lives and left lasting memories that will be treasured forever. Though he will be deeply missed, his legacy lives on through the family he cherished, and the values he passed down.

As Dick once said: “Enough of this crap…let’s go for a ride!”

There will be no public service. A military funeral honors ceremony will be held at a later date at the Veterans’ Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.