Obituary of Richard Gene Hayman

Richard Gene Hayman, 90, peacefully passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2023 at VITAS in Rockledge, Florida. Born in Bedford, Ohio, he spent many years in Cleveland Heights, Maumee and Parkman before moving to West Melbourne, Florida in 1999.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Delores (who was the best one, as he used to say) and the sweetest Shih-Tzu, Lilly. Richard and Delores married in 1999 and they had their marriage blessed in the church by Father Carl of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in 2018.

He leaves one daughter, Victoria Warner of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and her 3 children and Brother-in-law, Richard Rosinski and his wife Frances. As his stepchildren, Leslee (David) Roth, Lisa (Craig) Wilson, Loren (Leigh) Foulkes and Larry Foulkes were growing up, Richard was a big part of their lives and had always treasured his time with them.

In 1952, the day before he turned 19, he joined the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. Richard’s father and mother were there to see him off. He always said his father had a feeling that he may not be back and that was the first and last time that he ever saw his father cry. He was honorably discharged in 1956.

Richard retired in 1995 as a Building Official from The Ohio Public Employee System. After his retirement he was always there to help his friends not only at the River Pines Resort in Parkman, Ohio but also at Hollywood Estates in West Melbourne, Florida where was instrumental in developing the brick garden at its new entrance.

He was an avid bird lover. In Ohio, several hummingbirds would daily join him on the deck of the house. In Florida, purple martins would come to the house and stay for at least 3 to 4 months in the gourd house that Richard provided. The entire neighborhood enjoyed the sounds and antics of those purple martins.

For many years Richard and his wife enjoyed spending their summers in Ohio and their winters in Florida. They both loved traveling, enjoying the comfort of cruise ships while seeing several parts of the world. He was a God-loving man, a gentle, caring and sweet man. His last nurse even said “They don’t make them like Richard any more”. He will surely be missed.

A funeral mass is scheduled on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1710 Hickory Street, Melbourne, Florida. A burial with honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1, Mims, Florida.