Richard Beaber

Richard Wittwer Beaber, age 101, of New Philadelphia, passed away peacefully, on Sunday, November 5, 2023, in Park Village Southside at New Philadelphia.

Born December 23, 1921, in his family home at New Philadelphia, Dick was a son of the late Virgil and Alice (Wittwer) Beaber.

Dick was a 1939 graduate of New Philadelphia High School.  He served in the US Army during World War II as a US Military Police Escort.  He guarded prisoners of war from North Africa.  After the war he began a career in the grocery business.  He worked at Beabers IGA from 1946 to 1966.  In 1966 he opened Dick’s IGA, which he owned until 1975.

He married Betty Lou Mason on March 5, 1944.  They enjoyed 21 years of marriage before her passing on March 23, 1965.  He then married Dorothy McKnight on June 14, 1974.

In 1975, Dick and Dorothy moved to Florida.  He was always a hard worker, and worked at Richard Oil Corporation and convenient stores.  He also worked as a chauffeur for over 22 years in West Palm Beach, and as a greeter at Atriums in Palm Beach as well.

He is survived by his son, Jeffrey (Kathy Routten) Beaber of Hampton, Virginia; daughters, Patty (Tim) Burson of New Philadelphia, and Sherie Reese of New Philadelphia; exchange student son, Bo Bangsston of Stockholm, Sweden; grandchildren, Rachel (Travis) Marchant, Daniel Burson, and John (Candice) Reese; great-grandchildren, Tripp, Payton, Nico, and Connor; brothers, Glenn Beaber, and Jerry Beaber; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Betty; and second wife, Dorothy.

The family will greet guests, on Friday, November 10, 2023, from 12:30 to 1:30 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory at New Philadelphia, where Pastor Harley Wheeler will lead a service at 1:30 PM in the Funeral Home Chapel.  Burial will immediately follow in Evergreen Cemetery in New Philadelphia, where the Carl C. Stoller VFW Post 1445 will offer military honors.

The family requests that memorials in Dick’s name be given to Broadway Global Methodist Church, 120 Church Ave. SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.

The family would like to thank both Park Village Southside and Community Hospice for their wonderful care for Dick and their entire family.