Dick was born at 39 Main Street, Tiffin on August 27, 1919 to the late Richard and Helen (Bustetter) Scheiber. His wife Phyllis (Fleck) Scheiber, whom he married on April 29, 1944, died on June 26, 2010. Dick and Phyllis grew up in the same block of Sycamore Street.
Surviving are sons Richard (Eva) Scheiber of Rapid City, S.D. and Robert (Diane) Scheiber of Tiffin, daughters Margaret Swanson of Marietta, Ga. and Cathy (Rick) Larmer of West Warwick, R.I. and his sister Mary Carbone of Rochester, N.Y. His brother Thomas (Rita) Scheiber died December 24, 2006. Nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren complete his family.
Dick was a 1937 graduate of Calvert High School and 1941 graduate of St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, Ind. He began navy flight training in June 1941 and earned his wings as U.S. Naval Aviator No. 12694 at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. on May 11, 1942, with a specialty in ship-based catapult-launched seaplanes.
Dick retired in 1979 from National Machinery after 30 years of service, including nearly five years at the company's Nuremberg, Germany plant with his family. Locally, Dick was a past president of the Tiffin Y.M.C.A., past president of Tiffin Serra and three-term governor of Serra International's District 51. He was a member of St. Joseph's parish, Knights of Columbus and Tiffin Serra Club. He also served as a lay advisor to Mercy Hospital, as a loaned executive to the United Way and as an airport planner for the Chamber of Commerce. He was a parish councilman for both St. Mary's and St Joseph parishes. He was a 10 year founding trustee of the former Betty Jane Center, served 13 years on the board of the Family Counseling Services and was an active member of the National Machinery Quarter Century Club.
One of Dick's greatest passions and joys was sharing his love of flying with people of all ages, but especially with children. From 1987 through 1999, sponsored by Expanding Horizons in Learning, he taught seven sessions of aircraft history and flying to 276 children. He was also regularly invited into local area schools to speak about his World War II experiences as the naval aviator whose mother said he'd never become a navy pilot "because he was too skinny and still got carsick."
For the past 23 seasons Dick was honored to share his love and enthusiasm for the game of tennis as he assisted the Columbian High School girl's tennis team. The coaches and members of these teams brought much joy and happiness to Dick and he was always excited to watch their growth and success as a team and as individuals. The team's daily interaction with him and especially the season-ending dinners were deeply meaningful highlights for him that he shared enthusiastically with family and friends.
Dick was always grateful for the opportunities these experiences gave him to connect with so many engaging young people who he saw as our promise for a bright future. He volunteered, in the 1980's, at his beloved Calvert High School, working with seniors, on a variety of topics.
Dick has donated his remains to the University of Toledo Medical Center for research and physician training.
Visitation will be Friday, March 28, 2014, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm, at Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883 (419)447-3113. The National Machinery Quarter Century Club will meet at 7 pm and there will be a wake service at 8:45 pm, at the funeral home. A Memorial Mass will be 11 am Saturday, March 29, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Rev. Joseph Szybka officiating. Burial with military honors will take place at a later date at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Calvert Catholic Schools, Tiffin Sisters of St. Francis, Community Hospice Care or to a charity of the donor's choice in care of Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883 (419)447-3113.