Dick Lewellen died August 12, 2024, at Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare in Wooster after a brief illness.
Richard Roycroft Lewellen was born May 12, 1936, in Uniontown, Pa., to C. William and Helene Roycroft Lewellen. He grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Langley High School in 1954. That fall, he took a Greyhound bus to Los Angeles to enroll in Art Center College of Design, where he received his training as an industrial designer.
In 1964 he married Mimi Jackson of Bath, Ohio. His career took him to jobs in Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, Herkimer, N.Y., and finally Wooster, where he ran his own industrial design consulting business, Lewellen Design, for more than 40 years. He felt privileged to have made a career doing what he loved, without the interference of “idiot bosses.” In 1981 he designed his dream house and acted as general contractor for its construction on 10 acres of wooded land. He felt so fortunate to enjoy nature from his porch.
In Wooster, he was active in First Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis, the Wayne County Historical Society, and Wooster High School Music Parents. He was an enthusiastic supporter of The College of Wooster and Ohio Light Opera. Dick enjoyed singing in the church choir and played last-chair second violin in the Wooster Symphony for many years. He has passed his love of music to his three children.
He held several patents, and for many years he built and sold ballistics pendulums of his own design for school science classes. He had a lifelong curiosity about building and tinkering, and leaves behind a basement full of materials for future projects. He was rarely without a pencil in his pocket, whether for sketching product designs or for drawing diagrams on napkins to explain physics. He enjoyed traveling, especially to Great Britain and European riverboat cruises.
He was predeceased by his brother, James Lewellen.
Missing him are his wife, Mimi; children David (Darcy Hamlin) of Glendale, Wis.; Andrew (Pamela) of Wooster; and Anne (Charles Closmann) of Hancock, Mich; and grandchildren Sara, Ben, Sophie, and William, all of whom he greatly loved and cherished. Also surviving are nephew Bill Lewellen and niece Sherri Prisaznik.
A celebration of Dick’s life will be held Saturday, August 31, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 621 College Ave. in Wooster, with lunch and greetings to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The College of Wooster’s Lewellen Family Scholarship, 1189 Beall Ave., Wooster, OH 44691 or other charities.
The family wishes to thank Wooster Community Hospital, Hospice, McIntire Funeral Home, and many, many friends for their support.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
Mimi and family,
We are saddened to hear about the passing of Richard. May you find peace and comfort in the memories you have. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
The Beckler Family
My heart is with you – Dick was a “rock” of the family. He will be missed.
Andrew, Pamela, Sara, William, and the Lewellen family,
Sending love and condolences at this difficult time.
Love, Noreen & the McBride family
Mimi and Family:
We were surprised and saddened to hear of Dick’s passing. We hope you can find comfort in the many memories you have. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow and grief.
Jim and Kim Hartman
Dick and Mimi became friends through their and my membership at First Presbyterian Church. Dick was a fellow choir member and fellow Viola Startzman Clinic “custodian”. His quiet demeanor and welcoming smile and greeting will be missed. We can be reminded of his creativity by using the benches that he designed for the gathering area at the church. May the Lewellen family find comfort by remembering all that they’ve experienced over Dick’s life. One of those experiences was the recent family and friends memorable get together at Quail Crest.
Dick’s quiet demeanor and welcoming smile and greeting will be missed. We can be reminded of his creativity by using the benches that he designed for the gathering area at the church. May the Lewellen family find comfort by remembering all that they’ve experienced over Dick’s life. One of those experiences was the recent family and friends memorable get together at Quail Crest.
Dick’s quiet demeanor and welcoming smile and greeting will be missed. We can be reminded of his creativity by using the benches that he designed for the gathering area at the church. May the Lewellen family find comfort by remembering all that they’ve experienced over Dick’s life. One of those experiences was the recent family and friends memorable get together at Quail Crest.
I’m so sorry for the entire family in your loss of a great man. Especially Mimi who is losing her life partner, companion and friend. Undoubtedly there will be a great hole left with his passing. Prayers and love to all of you!
Very sad news indeed. Dick–accompanied by dear Mimi–was a wonderful supporter of the College and a friend to all. He will be greatly missed.
Dear Mimi – What a wonderful coincidence that I reached out to you to get some Jackson family info just a few daze ago. Thanks to this lovely obit, I figured out how it happened that I missed your wedding sixty years ago.
Hugs, love JWBorn
I’m so sorry to read of Dick’s passing. Your family will always be my “Wooster” home – and I’m so grateful to have had Dick be a part of my life.
Mimi & Family:
Sincerest condolences to you & family on the passing of a most special person. I always looked forward
to working with him in reviewing Kiwanis Academic Achievement each year. He will truly be missed.
I will keep your family in my thoughts & prayers in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
Tom Lavelle, Tamassee S.C.
Mimi, David, Anne, Andy, and family,
Our hearts go out to you all in the passing of Dick. What an amazing life he lived and had with all of you. Please accept our condolences and may God grant you peace and comfort during this time. I have such fond memories of our time together when we were young. Our family will be praying for you all.
Dear Mimi,
My heart dropped with sadness when I read about Dick’s passing. He was a wonderfully kind man who I always enjoyed in passing conversation, as I do with you. For years, we often shared sitting in section 3 in McGaw Chapel for numerous concerts and other functions, and it was always delightful to see you both there as part of “the regulars”.
My thoughts are with you and your family as I extend my deepest condolences with love.
I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Andrew. I can see now where he gets his passion and talents. Dick has left a fantastic legacy to his children and granchildren. May he rest in peace while your family cherishes his memory.
Mimi, David, Anne, and Andy,
I received the call from my dad about the passing of your father. I have such fun memories of us getting together (especially at New Year’s), playing tiddlywinks, Trivial Pursuit, sardines, and kickball as we grew up. I pray God grants you peace and comfort in this difficult time of loss. He was a great man.
Mimi and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Warm regards,
John and Rebecca Schmidt and family
Our prayers to your family. We count our time with your family as a true treasure. What a huge support you both have always been. Now Dick gets to rest and we enjoy all the memories. Jake and Judy
Dear Mimi and Family,
May God keep his loving arms around you during this difficult time.
He was a good man.
Much Love,
Connie Richards Simpson
I’m so very sorry to hear about Dick’s passing. Sending much love and support to you, Mimi, and your family. Thank you all for your enduring support and passion for the arts. Dick will be sorely missed.
The friendship I shared with Dick was SPECIAL! Each year we talked about our gardens, and I always told Dick my garden was flourishing, and my tomatoes were better than his. We were blessed by Mimi and Dick’s friendship, when we were neighbors on Piedmont Rd. God bless the entire Lewellen family.
I will always remember Dick and Mimi as loyal and ardent supporters of Ohio Light Opera in so many ways. Godspeed, Dick. My deepest condolences go out to you, Mimi. Know that you are being surrounded in prayer by your friends. May God bless you during this very difficult time of loss. Much Love to you.
Mimi and Family: Please accept our sincere sympathy.
Mimi, My sincere condolences to you and your family. You are in my thoughts.
I met Dick at the Gault and made a point to say something to him. After a while we would hold a conversation every meeting. We didn’t see eye to eye on politics but that didn’t keep us from having good conversations. He quit coming to the Gault a while back so I stopped by what I thought was his house but no one was home. I left a note with my phone number and he called. We had a good conversation, I didn’t know it would be our last. I was very impressed with the home and I could see the porch he cherished.
We enjoyed getting to know Dick through the Kiwanis Club. Peace be with you and your family, Mimi.
Holding your entire family in my thoughts at this difficult time of mourning the loss of a dear husband, father, grandfather and friend. Over time, may you find some measure of comfort in celebrating his life in the company of family and friends.