SALEM, Ohio – Richard Francis Higgins, 68, of 9700 Salem Warren Road, Salem, Ohio, died Friday, May 17, at Salem Community Hospital.

He was born on Nov. 11, 1936 in Oldtown, to the late Robert G. and Grace Thomas Higgins.

He owned and operated the Irving Big Stop Restaurant in Farmington for 14 years, retiring in 1997. Prior to that, he was an ordained minister for 17 years at the Church of the Nazarene serving several churches.

He was a member of the Greenford Christian Church and had resided in Salem for the past six years.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Brown) Higgins, whom he married June 24, 1961. Also surviving is a son, Scott E. (Erica) Higgins of Salem, Ohio; two daughters, Darolyn G. (Peter) Boivin of Barrington, R.I., and Sharalyn A. (Shane) Albertson of Canaan; four grandchildren, Hannah Grace Higgins, Colton Albertson, Gage Albertson, and Erin Boivin.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Grace Thomas Higgins, and two sisters, Iris Higgins and Alma-Jean Gilman.