Obituary
Richard Fortner

Richard Donald Fortner [80] was born in Stollings WV on March 3, 1945, to Helen Rose [Kessler]
and Leslie Donald Fortner. This middle son, of “Tom [Thomas Edward], Dick, and Harry [David],”
was preceded in death by his parents and all siblings, including sister Katheryn Grace. He is
survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 59 years, Rosanne [White], two sons,
Christopher Neil [Kathryn] of Manlius NY, and Craig Michael [Teresa] of Apex NC, and six
grandchildren. Richard passed to pain-free rest among family at Transitions LifeCare in Cary NC
on September 2, 2025.

Richard devoted his life and career to helping others, from mentoring office colleagues to
encouraging the growth of young men in Scouting, from helping the Oak Island Beach
Preservation Society with its nonprofit mission, to supporting education efforts of teachers at F.
T. Stone Laboratory on Lake Erie. Caring was in his nature, learned at the hand of his venerated
Papaw M.F. Fortner who helped many in their rural Appalachian community deal with the
challenges of the Great Depression. With his dear younger brother Harry he founded the virtual
Hatcreek Cattle Company to do good for others. No cows, just the love of two guys who always
wanted to be cowboys, and who could recite many lines from Lonesome Dove, the media origin
of Hatcreek.

After graduating from Logan [WV] High School in 1963, Richard and Rosanne were what he
called “academic vagabonds,” supporting each other as they built their education careers. They
received their Bachelors degrees in science education from West Virginia University in 1967.
After teaching science in Roanoke County VA for a short time, Richard was awarded an NSF
Academic Year Institute scholarship for study at Oregon State University, where he received his
Masters Degree in Science Education in 1969. His last academic work was at Virginia Tech,
where he did research on algae species succession in an urban reservoir. With colleagues from
VPI, he spent two field seasons from 1972-73 as a cutting-edge environmental scientist for the
US Antarctic Research Program on Lake Bonney in Antarctica, serving as field team leader in the
second season. Aside from family and Scout adventures, Antarctica was his golden moment, a
source of stories and friendships for the rest of his life.

Though he rarely considered himself a leader in the profession that chose him [Director of The
Ohio State University’s Engineering Experiment Station], he made a difference by supporting
faculty and assisting those around him. He supported the development and activities of the
Buckeye Bullet battery powered race car, a huge opportunity for a guy who loved wheels! Along
the way, Richard’s interesting life included earning spending money for his young family by
recycling cardboard; helping international scholars at OSU find good cars and places to stay for
their time at the university, and supporting wildlife protection through the Sea Biscuit Wildlife
Shelter on Oak Island. He took good care of students, his and others. He called the children of
Rosanne’s students “academic grandchildren” and enjoyed watching them grow.

Scouting was his passion, and organizing “fun with a purpose” as Assistant Scoutmaster and
Outdoor Chairman of BSA 365 in Worthington OH for almost 30 years took him into the lives
and development of hundreds of young men. Watching and assisting those on the Trail to Eagle
let him see and support the best that young people can be when they learn, serve, and share
their talents with the community. Sons Chris and Craig still live as Eagles, changing lives and the
environment as they go about their professions.

In later life Richard and Rosanne traveled to visit Cyprus, the beaches of Normandy, western
National Parks and the Oregon coast (with sons and their families). They found happy lives
among sweet neighbors and good dogs, retiring to “Honalee,” a wonderful home on Oak Island,
NC, where grandchildren and their grownups could romp in the surf, catch blue crabs off the
dock, and wait for sea turtles to hatch. Life’s happiness is in children’s laughter, quiet walks
together and smiling as dear family members make good choices while they build their own
lives. A coffee mug by his sink reminds that “The just man walketh in his integrity. His children
are blessed after him.” That’s Richard.

Certain things add heft to a life’s legacy – paying forward into a strong and just world,
supporting the journeys of students, colleagues and offspring, speaking truth to power, and
following an unfailing moral compass. Richard had a vision and implemented best practices in
living before that was a “thing.” Basically, he lived by the Scout Oath and Law. He truly believed
with JFK that “on this earth, God’s work must be our own.” Though Parkinson’s Disease and
glaucoma limited activities of his later years, Rosanne was by his side through all the high tides
and low tides. Richard D. Fortner’s life made a difference in the lives of many others who carry
his legacy and teachings forward.

Celebrations of Richard’s life are planned for Oak Island NC, Worthington OH, and Cary NC at a
later date. Friends wishing to honor Richard’s life are invited to contribute to Sea Biscuit
Wildlife Shelter, https://www.seabiscuitwildlifeshelter.org/, BSA Troop 365,
https://www.bsa365.org/ or Covenant Christian Church of Cary NC
https://www.covenantchristianchurch-cary.org/ .