Richard F. “Dick” Baumgarten

Richard F. “Dick” Baumgarten, 92, of Richland Township passed away peacefully on Tuesday at the VNA Hospice of Butler.

He was preceded in death by Jeanne Smith Baumgarten, his beloved wife of 56 years, and in his final days, looked forward to their coming reunion.

Dick was born in Bruin, to Emma Louise Helfrich and Frederick Anthony Baumgarten. The family moved to Butler with their five children, Eunice, Ruth, William, Eva and Dick, who was the youngest.

After graduating from Butler High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served as crew chief of the B-24 Bomber, the “Misbehavin” in the Pacific Theater and received numerous medals and commendations, which included the Army Air Force Flight Medal. Following the defeat of Japan, Dick was made section chief of the motor pool and was in charge of equipment and infrastructure removal.

Upon returning home, he studied electrical engineering and soon became employed by Westinghouse Electric, eventually becoming a test floor engineer, specializing in turbogenerators built for U.S Navy submarines. Dick spent his whole professional career at Westinghouse and received the company's meritorious award for employee excellence.

He was the greatest Dad ever. There was nothing that he couldn't fix or grow and no game animal that he couldn't track down — at least his four kids thought so.

His children, in order, are Gretchen (Joseph) Brafford, Kristine (Art) Broge, Katrina (Rodger) Moore and Mark (Melanie) Baumgarten.

He also was the proud grandfather of nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who thought he was the greatest true-life (maybe!) storyteller ever.

He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, wonderful neighbors and many lifelong friends.

He was truly a well-loved man!

Spiritually, Dick was a longtime parishioner at St. Catherine's in Wildwood and a founding member of St. Richard in Gibsonia.

BAUMGARTEN — The family of Richard F. “Dick” Baumgarten, who died Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, will welcome guests from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at King Funeral Home, 2841 Woodland Circle, Allison Park.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Richard Roman Catholic Church, 3841 Dickey Road, Gibsonia.He will be laid to rest at St Mary's Cemetery in Herman.Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kingfuneralhome.com.