Richard 'Dick' B. Delost

Richard “Dick” B. DeLost age 75 of Navarre, passed away at Affinity Medical Center – Massillon Campus following an extended illness. Dick was born on January 26, 1931 in Moravia, PA to the late Frank and Jessie (Bergels) DeLost and lived in Navarre for 30 years. He was taken out of school when he was thirteen to drive truck with his mother for his parents dry cleaning business, La France Dry Cleaning in Struthers, Ohio. Dick bought the business and built it up to 465 customers. He even did cleaning for former Pittsburgh Steelers Player, Nick Bolkovac. Dick retired from Massillon State Hospital in 1993 following 20 years of service as a dry cleaner. Football and fishing where also part of his life, one burning up his energy and one restoring it. The rhythm of casting a pole led to keeping time learning the bass fiddle. He needed that skill for playing in his father’s band, The Dick DeLost Youngstown Polkateers. Their five-member band had two accordions and a baritone sax, which sounded much like Frankie Yankovich. His dad was the drummer and Dick played the bass fiddle. They performed at Idora Park, at picnics & weddings – 2,000 of them. They went to Pittsburgh, New York, and New Castle. Radio broadcasts kept them on the go. For 20 years on Wednesday nights, he would be at Beaver Falls Club Manor performing, putting over a 1,000 miles a month on his vehicle. Dick threw out call letters: WKBN, WKST, WBBW and WFMJ, where he broadcasted from. He loved the tunes that we knew and loved such as , “I Got a Date with Nellie; “My Happiness”: “Twilight Time”, “Evening Shadows to Make Me Blue”; “Two Timing You”; and “Just Because”. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Bill McHenry of Perry Twp. and grandson Ty McHenry. Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Suzanne C. DeLost on April 27, 2004 and a son Richard DeLost. Memorial services celebrating Dick’s life will be held Monday at 5:00 PM at the Arnold – Lynch Funeral Home in Massillon with Rev. Delaney Young, officiating. Calling hours will be one hour prior to the memorial services on Monday. Arnold – Lynch A Golden Rule Funeral Home 330 – 833 – 4839 www.arnoldlynch.com