Richard Kiehna, a Spotsylvania County resident and owner of Stafford County-based Colony Pest Control, died Sunday in Anderson, S.C., following a motorcycle crash there two days before. Kiehna was 54.

Kiehna started in the pest control business in 1979, according to Colony Pest Control’s website. He and his wife moved to Fredericksburg in 1984, where he joined a local pest control company before opening Colony in November 1987.

An obituary published by the Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home in Tennessee said Kiehna “passed away peacefully.”
According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Kiehna was driving a 2005 BMW motorcycle on Friday when the accident occurred about 3:20 p.m. in Anderson County. He was traveling west on South Carolina Highway 20 about five miles from the town of Honea Path.

A Buick SUV driven by a woman from that area who was heading east on Highway 20 turned left in front of Kiehna into a private drive. Kiehna’s motorcyle ran into the passenger side of the SUV, whose driver was charged with failing to yield the right of way.

Kiehna was born in Missouri and graduated from Greeneville High School in Greeneville, Tenn., the town where his funeral will be held Friday. A memorial service will be held in the Fredericksburg area later.
Kiehna is survived by his wife of 31 years, Candra Stroud Kiehna, as well as three children, four brothers and sisters-in-law, one sister and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Kiehna was actively involved in many outdoor activities including canoeing, hiking, camping, fishing, rafting and motorcycle riding, according to his obituary. He was a strong supporter of Friends of the Rappahannock and a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Spotsylvania.

Kiehna’s family asked that memorial donations be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.