Richard Beltz Obituary

Richard Roland Beltz, 85, of Quakake, passed away peacefully Saturday evening at his home.

He was the husband of Loretta née Price, married for 56 years.

Born in Lofty to Earl and Hannah (Jones) Beltz, he resided most of his life in Quakake.

Rich graduated from Mahanoy Township High School in 1956.

After graduating, he worked at Slatington Lamp Factory until he was drafted into the Army in 1961. He served in Taegue, South Korea, in the Aviation Detachment 7th Logististical Command as an air traffic controller until his discharge in 1967.

Following his discharge, he was employed by Parrish Steel, Dana Corporation of Reading, as a MIG welder for 32 years.

Rich was a fan of the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State football. A fan of the outdoors, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and lawn mowing. He was known to the neighbors as "The Lawn Ranger." For many years, Rich owned horses and liked to ride his horse, Ace. He relaxed by smoking his pipe or a good cigar. He was an avid jokester with a dry sense of humor. He enjoyed telling humorous anecdotes that he would tell over and over but were always still funny. Rich loved his dog, Sammy, who he affectionately called "Weasel." He enjoyed taking her for walks on the mountain and making her and himself grilled cheese sandwiches.

He was a lifetime social member of Ryan Township Fire Company in Barnesville. He was a member of Quakake American Legion Post 973 for 35 years.

Protestant by faith, he was also a member of Christ UCC Church of Barnesville.

In his later years, Rich enjoyed watching Westerns and cowboy movies with some takeout food and vanilla milkshakes. During his last five years, he struggled with Alzheimer's disease and other health issues. He looked forward to spending time with his friends, John Shoup, Dana Jones and Georgine Clemens.

Rich was preceded in death by a sister, Sara Lorah Baum, and brothers, Melvin, Lowell and Edward. He was the last of his immediate family.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are son, Richard (wife, Jennifer); daughters, Sandra Stefansky (husband, Thomas) and Elizabeth (companion, Adam Weaver); grandchildren, Hannah, Alivia and Cassandra Stefansky and Emily Beltz; cousins, nieces and nephews.

His grandchildren fondly remember their pappy raking the coal stove, picking raspberries, eating his blueberries, baking bread, walking with them to the post office to get the mail and when he went to their school's annual Veterans Day program.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Lamar Christ Funeral Home in Hometown. Funeral service with military honors will be at 11 a.m., followed by interment in Sky-View Memorial Park. Contributions can be made to Grier City Sunday School, Christ UCC Scholarship Fund or Pawsitively Purrfect Animal Rescue.