Robinson-Henn-Brossia Funeral Homes of Oak Harbor, Ohio purchased this Riddle Hearse at auction in 1988 from the Welch family of Genoa, Ohio who were the original owners. The hearse, similar to style #826, had resided in the Welch barn for many years, acting as a wonderful clubhouse for the kids before it was sold.
While the inside draperies and finish were in excellent condition, the new owners spent many hours sanding the outside. Each time they took the vehicle to Ivan Burkholder of Woodlyn Coach Co. in Millersburg, OH, he said, "more sanding". When they finally got it right, Burkholder did the rest of the restoration, applying 13 coats of black paint! He also restored the lamps, which were not on the hearse when it was purchased at auction but were later found in the Welch barn and thought to be the originals from the hearse.
