Family and friends gathered at the Walton Fire Hall on West Street in Walton on Sunday, May 29 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Richard C. ‘Dick’ Yarnes of Freer Hollow. Dick was born May 18, 1932, the son of Richard H. and Juanita C. Yarnes of Walton. The event was organized by his son Mike Yarnes and daughter Roseann Yarnes Hotaling. His sisters Eleanor Donnelly of Walton and Faye Yarnes of Liberty, partner Edith Mills and several nieces and nephews were in attendance as well as 75 guests.
Dick graduated from Walton schools in 1951 and worked at the Scintilla Plant in Sidney for a short time before enlisting in the Navy on Jan. 3, 1952. He took a 14-week course in electrical work at the naval training station at Great Lakes, Ill. that served him well when he returned to civilian life. For eighteen years he was an instructor at Delhi College teaching electrical construction.
He was a member of the Walton Fire Department and Emergency Squad and served on the Walton Historical Society Board of Directors. He was also a member of the team that installed the fire alarm system in Walton and the wiring at the Delaware County Fair for several years.
Serving during the Korean War on the aircraft carrier USS Midway in Europe and Japan, he was part of the post-World War II occupation forces. He always volunteered for shore patrol because, “I got to see and go places all the other guys couldn’t.” He was an electrician’s mate and honorably discharged as a petty officer in 1955. Since his discharge he has been a member of Post 32 The American Legion and Post 270 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was an American Legion Boy Scout leader and was recently honored for his continuous membership that now stands at 67 years. Dick Yarnes was the Grand Marshal of Walton’s 2022 Memorial Day parade.
