Richard Steward Deitch

Richard Steward Deitch
Richard Steward Deitch of Carlisle, 80, joined the Church Triumphant Friday, July 4, 2014 at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, with family by his side.
Born February 3, 1934, in Carlisle, he was the son of Steward Henry and Viola (Stum) Deitch.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Annie Rebecca (Sollenberger) Deitch; daughter, Susan Elaine Dye (and husband, Stanley) of Carlisle; son, Scott Edward Deitch (and wife, Diana) of Greenwood, Ind.; four grandchildren, Stephanie Dye Nericcio (and husband, Michael), Rebecca Dye Stets (and husband, Jonathan), Emily Deitch and Zachary Deitch; and two great-grandchildren, Evelyn Nericcio and Leo Stets.
He was a 1951 graduate of Carlisle High School, where he was elected to several offices in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter and also served on the Student Council. He also participated in 4-H Baby Beef Club activities at fairs and shows throughout the Cumberland Valley and the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
He owned and operated a farm with his father for decades, and they also founded Deitch Buses, which continues to provide school bus transportation to the Big Spring School District, in 1958.
He was a lifelong member of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, Plainfield; Plainfield Lions Club, for which he served terms as president; Big Spring Masonic Lodge, No. 361, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; and West Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Company, serving for several years as captain of the fire police.
Professionally, he was a member of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, spending several terms on its board of directors, receiving the Golden Bus Award in 2009; and was a certified commercial driver's license examiner and school bus driver instructor.
Richard's accomplishments also included receiving the FFA American Farmer Degree in 1954 and the Sentinel's Carlisle Area's Finest Business Person award in 1995. He was named a Lions Club International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian services in 2000 and was commended by the Cumberland County Commissioners for voting in every election from the time he was eligible through 2013.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2070 Newville Road, Plainfield with the Rev. Jerri Morton Carlin officiating. Interment will follow at Westminster Cemetery, 1159 Newville Road, Carlisle. Viewing will be Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home, 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle, and from 10:00 until the time of the services on Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 177, Plainfield, PA., 17081, or Plainfield Lions Club, 1 Garland Court, Carlisle, PA 17013-4443.
To sign the guest book visit www.hoffmanroth.com