Richard Damon “Dick” Koontz
Richard Damon “Dick” Koontz, age 79, of Shelby, died Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at his home.
Dick was born October 23, 1937 in Shelby, to Kenneth Merle and Elaine Daisy (Kibler) Koontz. He was a 1955 graduate of Shelby High School and, immediately following graduation, began working at the Shelby Autocall until joining the United States Navy in June of 1956. He had a career in the Navy as an electronic instructor until his retirement in March of 1976. Following his Navy retirement, Dick became a junior year electronic instructor at Penta County Joint Vocational School in Perrysburg, Ohio from September of 1976 until June of 1982. Upon leaving Penta County JVS he joined the United States Navy Electronics School in Great Lakes, IL as an instructor and retired in 1988.
Dick was a life member of several organizations, including: Shelby American Legion, Shelby VFW, North Charleston, SC Masonic Lodge #369, and the National Rifle Association. Other memberships include Shelby Owls Club, Fleet Reserve Assoication, and Shelby F.O.E.. After his retirement Dick traveled the United States by train and car. He enjoyed helping his neighbors, walking at the reservoir, and loved dogs, especially his dog, Snapper.
Dick was preceded in death by his mother and step-father: Elaine and Joseph Dolan and his father and step-mother: Kenneth and Lois Koontz.
At Dick’s request there will be no calling hours or funeral services. Care for Dick is being provided by Bob, Catherine, and Jake at the Turner Funeral Home in Shelby. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shelby Foundation, 142 North Gamble Street, Shelby, Ohio 44875.
To share a memory or express a condolence, please visit: penwellturner.com
Charlie was very happy to see you, I know.
So sorry about the loss of my dear friend.
Mr. Koontz was a very nice man. His mother and my great- grandmother shared a room at Heritage Care Center. He was in there everyday, three times a day to see his mother. He always brought my grandma the Shelby Globe and News Journal when he would come to visit her. I will miss running into him at Cornell’s.
It is with a heavy heart and much sadness I’m posting this. Although my Dad was the biggest influence n my decision to join the greatest Navy on the planet. This crusty ol’ Chief is the reason I found the best rate in that greatest Navy.
I remember it like it was yesterday, this young snot-nosed punk sat down in Mr. R.D. Koontz’ Junior Electronics class at Penta County Vocational HS. Some of the first words out of his mouth were, “If you’re here to fuck off in my class and you think it’s going to be easy, you can get your scrawny little ass out of your seat and go back to where you came. If you think you’re not going to do math, I’ve got news for you, you’re going to be doing Algebra, trigonometry and calculous. You’re not going to be using those fancy calculators either. You’re going to do it on paper.”
Those words shook me to the bone because I all but failed Algebra I back in good ol’ NBHS. The only reason Mrs. Reed passed me was that she made me promise not to take Algebra II. Additionally, I was under the impression that I’d be able to fuck off and skate through a vocational class. Even though my friend Floyd, told me to take Radio and T.V. because it was easier. I remember sitting there thinking maybe I better rethink this…
By the end of the week a few of the students, heeded his advice and DOR’d. Not me and my friend Gary. We stuck it out and are better men for it. Between the two of us we managed to earn the nickname “North Baltimorons”. I tell myself it was a term of endearment because I developed a strong bond with this man and have stayed in touch all these years.
His influence on me didn’t stop during HS. When I hit the ground running in the U.S. Navy in the Electronics Technician pipeline I was more than ready for the riggers of the curriculum that purposefully had one of the highest dropout rates at the time. Schooling in total that took the better part of two years. Even though I bombed the pre-test in BEE school, primarily because it was more like the ACT/SAT so I was assigned a class in the “C” group. You all remember back in those days, all the smart kids were in the “A” class and all the dummies like me were in the “C” class. However, when I cracked the books I found that Mr. Koontz had basically taught the BEE curriculum and much much more.
After about two modules, I approached the Lab instructor and asked him to “challenge the course”. He looked at my pre-test and said something to the effect of, “you’re out of your &@* %$() mind”. I told him about ETC Koontz and my industrial electronics training then he looked at the time it took me to ace the first two modules and gave me the pre-test which I only missed a couple questions. We struck a deal that I wouldn’t challenge the class so I could help boost group “C’s” class average so he’d quit loosing the weekly bet and continue to buy rounds for the other instructors in the lab.
I strived to make Chief 1) because my dad always said the Chiefs in the Navy were the backbone of the ship and 2) Mr. Koontz’ influences. Everything I did was to prove to him that I was something more than a North Baltimoron. When I finally made Chief and was standing before the Judge with my Defense Counsel Mr. Anthony Cunning, Mr. Koontz although not there in person had charges filed against me. At that point I knew I had made it.
I owe all my success in life to so many people to numerous to count but THIS man was the one who gave me a rudder check and put me back on course. For that I will always be indebted to him.
Until we meet again in the Halls of Valhalla where the brave shall live forever. Love you brother R.D., I salute you.
We saw Richard most mornings even in the winter when he could walk the reservoir with his friends. Will miss seeing him and know our daughter and son-in-law miss him as their neighbor. He was a nice person.
It is with a heavy heart that I have heard of RD’s passing. He had an incredible influence on my life and the direction it took. The world was a better place because he was a part of it and he will be greatly missed by many. I was truly blessed and honored to have him as my teacher and friend. Fair winds and following seas my dear friend.
Dear RD,
Please forgive us for just now writing our condolences. We are very sad to say that we just found out about your passing on Saturday December 30. Ron,Keith,Lucia and I were together when we had found out. We all were so heart broken and devestated to have read such sorrow. We will never forget you my friend nor will we ever forget all of our visits together along with the many chuckles we all had with you. Let’s not forget about all the battles of where we were going to eat, and you always wanting your Chinese buffet and us girls argued the case.and of course we would win!!
Another memory we can not forget about is that anytime we mentioned we were looking for something you would excuse yourself and go down to your basement and magically the item would appear. And if you didn’t have it you would be at our doorstep a week later with the item that you would find at one of your garage sales,or we would come home to a box sitting on our porch. These are only a few of the things we will miss about you!
My personal favorite, when you signed my high school year book from Penta county and said I was the prettiest in your electronics class and I wasn’t even a student in your class. Just hung out there a lot. And I loved it.
You Rest In Peace my friend and you WILL FOREVER BE MISSED!!!
Love,
Robin