Richard A. Birkhold

Richard A. Swayney-Birkhold, age 42, of Bryan, Ohio, passed peacefully in his sleep at 2:59 A.M. on Friday, March 25, 2016, in the Cleveland Clinic, surrounded by a special group of close family after battling extended illness. He was a graduate of Bryan High School and Four County Joint Vocational School. He was a service technician with S. K. Bates Company before his illness and was known for helping many others as a home-based auto mechanic and skilled laborer. Richard was an example of compassion and generosity. He would help anyone by opening his home to others in need, giving his money or his labor or just making someone laugh who was in need of a smile. He had deep passions for cars, cooking, music and spending time with those closest to him making them happy. Richard was born on September 30, 1973, in Hicksville, Ohio. He is survived by his life-long love and significant other, Kara Bates, of Bryan; parents, Fred and Kimberly (Irwin) Birkhold, of Payne, Ohio; birth mother and stepfather, Betty (Don) Egler, of Bryan; brother, Eric (Melissa) Birkhold, of Bryan; sisters, Ashley (Jason) Borer, of Fayette, Ohio, and Heather Birkhold, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; grandmother, Grace Irwin; special family members, Steven K. (Nancy) Bates, of Bryan, Amanda (William) Kane, of Fairview Park, Ohio, Steven M. Bates, of Riverside, California, and Andrew (Kaiti) Bates, of Allentown, Pennsylvania; nine special nieces and nephews; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his birth father, Mark Swayney; grandpa, Wilbur Irwin; and grandparents, Harlan Fred and Bonnie Birkhold. A private memorial service for Richard will be held at Krill Funeral Home, Bryan. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan, from 2:00-4:00 P.M. Dress is casual in honor of Richard. Memorials may be made to The Children's Lantern, Defiance, Ohio, to support the causes of feeding children or foster care or to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Richard A. Birkhold Memorial Fund.