Herman D. Ring, 86, of Pandora, died on October 3 at Bridge Hospice in Findlay surrounded by his family following a courageous five-and-a-half year battle with cancer.

He was born on November 16, 1935 in Stockport, Ohio, the son of Herman and Eva (Ball) Ring. On September 21, 1958, he married his childhood sweetheart, the former Nina Murphy, and they were married for 50½ years. She passed away in 2009.

He graduated from Windsor High School in Morgan County, Ohio and later from the Ohio Linotype School in Logan. A skilled linotype operator, he embarked upon a career that spanned 37 years in Ohio, working at newspapers in Jefferson, Columbus Grove and Toledo, where he retired from The Blade in 2000 after 27 years of service.

Together, Herman and Nina enjoyed loading up the car with the family and heading off to see new places. Favorite destinations included Las Vegas, California, Nashville, the Rocky Mountains, Atlantic City, Arizona, Seattle, Pacific Northwest and Florida. Visiting all states except Hawaii, their adventures included three trips by car to Alaska and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic while son Kevin was stationed with the US Army in Germany. A love of music, especially country-western and the crooners from the 1940s-1960s, they sought opportunities to see countless performances of nearly all their favorites over the years. Herman and Nina were charter members of the Dean Martin Fan Club and active in the Dean Martin Festival held annually in Steubenville.

Their passion for travel, music and entertainment provided countless friendships with folks all over the country with whom they would visit during their travels and stay in contact with frequent phone calls, cards and letters. Herman and Nina were regular visitors at nursing homes, brightening the lives of the residents by often creating a party-like atmosphere with sandwiches, snacks and treats for all the residents and staff.

Herman is survived by four children and eight grandchildren: son Michael of Gahanna and children Nicole (Matthew Rogman) Ring, Columbus, Chelsea (Alex) Hartley, Panama City, Florida, and Sarah (Trevor Goebel) Ring, Westerville: son Gregory (Mary Ann) Ring, Bluffton and children Donald, Columbus, and Ethan, Bluffton; daughter Kimberly (Joseph) Passabet, Port Clinton, and children Nicholas, Seattle, Kelly (Eric) Reynolds, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Christopher (Derya), Istanbul, Turkey, and son Kevin (Edwin Reyes), Seattle.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred Grace Newburn.

The family will gather for visitation from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday and one hour before the 11:00 a.m. service on Saturday, October 8 at Hartman Sons Funeral Home,10879 SR 12 West in Columbus Grove. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Bluffton.

The family would like to thank the medical team at The OSU James Cancer Hospital in Columbus for the top-notch care and support during his diagnosis and treatment in the early stages of his battle, the oncology surgical team at Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center and the staff at Mennonite Memorial Home during his surgery and physical therapy treatment last year and the team at Bridge Hospice for their comfort care and compassion during his final days.

Herman enjoyed a multitude of friends and was blessed with wonderful neighbors in Pandora, including Lenny and Linda Core, Dan Casey and Becky Hauserman, Jeff and Lori Rieman.

Memorial contributions in Herman’s memory may be made to Friends of Felines Rescue Center, 14597 Power Dam Road, Defiance, OH 43512 (www.fofrescue.org) or to a charity of your choice.

A message of comfort or remembrance may be left on the funeral home’s Tribute Wall at www.hartmansonsfuneralhome.com