Richard E. Heist, 75, of Walnutport and formerly of Allentown, died March 13, 2018, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Kathleen L. (Fries) Heist for 53 years.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Elmer and Louise (Berreth) Heist.

He attended Allentown High School and graduated from Lehigh County Community College.

He was in the U.S. Army and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard during the Vietnam era, active duty stateside service artillery.

He worked at Western Electric, AT&T and Lucent Technologies before he retired in 1990. He then owned Rich’s Racing and Hobbies in Tannersville and Northampton.

He was a member and former deacon of Zion’s Stone United Church of Christ, Kreidersville.

He was a past president of the Allentown Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers and was responsible for bringing the Hug-A-Bear program to the Lehigh Valley. He was Mr. Shmoo the Clown with the Keystone Pioneers.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Karen and her husband Gary Hammer; a son, David and his wife Susan; four grandchildren, Allison, Kylee, Eric and Brandon; three sisters, Sharon and her husband Gary Hothan, Brenda Peterson and Cynthia McCormick; two brothers, Donald and his wife Georgene and Brian and his wife Wendy; seven nieces; and 11 nephews.

Contributions may be made to Lehigh Valley Hospice, 2166 S. 12 St., Allentown, 18103.

Arrangements were made by Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton.