Richard C. Hertzog Sr., 82, of Salisbury Township, died May 27, 2025, at St. Luke’s Fountain Hill Hospital peacefully with his family by his side. Born in Ruchsville, Pa., he was a son of the late Charles and Lillian (Butz) Hertzog.

He attended the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and graduated in 1962, where he learned to be an upstanding member of society and become a skilled tradesman as a printer technician. He spent his career as a printer technician, first with Metro Printing and later with Rob-Win Press.

He was a fighter — resilient and strong. He loved his family deeply and did everything in his power to ensure their happiness. He also held a special bond with his dog Riley, who was always by his side, ready to cuddle with her “Pop Pop.” Finding joy in the simple things: he would spend time at the casino or local coffee shop slot machine, enjoyed meals with his wife at the diner, or playing bingo on Wednesday nights.

As a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, he never missed a game and followed his teams religiously. He enjoyed being stylish with his cabbie hat and leather coat, but you could sense his humor when you saw him wearing his colorful, bright and comically “fun” socks. He also had a surprising love for Candy Crush, reaching an impressive level 11,762.

He shared many close friendships throughout the years and wanted them to know he cherished them dearly.

His quick wit, strong will and gentle heart will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. As a dedicated Christian, he cherished attending church whenever possible and often reflected on the messages of Christ.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 57 years, Linda Lou Hertzog; sister, Linda Lukow; children, Richard C. Jr., of Catasauqua and Susan, of Allentown.

He was predeceased by his parents; siblings, Roland, Phillip, Eileen and Janice Englert; children, Robert and Lisa.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 340 E. Hamilton St., Allentown. Visitation will take place 10-11 a.m., followed by a service 11 a.m. June 7.

In honor of his love for Philly sports, guests are encouraged to dress casually — Eagles and Phillies attire especially welcome, although dress attire is perfectly fine too.

A donation in the name of Richard C. Hertzog, Class of 1962, can be made to the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf: https://psd.org/donate/. Place his name and class year in the comments section.

The Gilbert Funeral Home of Whitehall is honored to handle his arrangements