Richard Dundore Sr.

Richard (Dick) Harry Dundore, Sr. of Bellevue, Ohio passed away on Sunday, July 14 at Heritage Village Nursing Home (Clyde, OH) after an eight month battle with esophageal cancer. He was 86 years old.
Dick is preceded in death by Janet, his wife of 60 years and is survived by his son, Rich Dundore (Heather), his daughter, Ellaura (Mark) Bruno, his grandchildren, Kiana (Adam) Verhoestra, Noah Dundore, Andromeda Dundore, and Mika Dundore and his great granddaughter, Grace Verhoestra. His parents were Harry and Lucille Dundore (deceased) and his siblings are Nancy Shiley (deceased), Betty (John) Park, Dwight Dundore (deceased) and Lucy Dundore (Jean Shonkwiler).
He was born at home on the farm near Tiffin, Ohio on March 21, 1938 and was delivered by a neighbor lady, Ethel King. He graduated from Hopewell Louden High School (Bascom, OH), Heidelberg College with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1960, and Bowling Green State University with a Masters in Education in 1965 where he was a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar. He did post-graduate work at the University of Nebraska, Wittenberg University, University of Michigan, and the State University of New York where he studied with America's leading choral conductors and vocal clinicians.
Dick sang with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus where he sang under Leonard Bernstein. He was also a member of the Sandusky Choral Society where he was a member of the board for many years. He played in the 555th United States Air Force Band 1956-62, playing baritone and tuba.
He served as organist at Second United Church of Christ, Tiffin, from 1958-68 and then became the Choir Director and substitute organist at Seybert United Methodist Church, Bellevue, for the next 42 years. He was the organist at First Presbyterian Church, Sandusky for eight years and then became the organist at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Bellevue, from 2017 until a few months before his passing.
Dick was a Life Member of the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association as well as past president of the Sandusky County Retired Teachers Association. He was a member of the Ohio Music Educators Association where he served as an adjudicator for 54 years, judging choral solo and ensemble competitions at the district and state levels.
He became a member of the Bellevue Kiwanis Club in 1968 and served as secretary from 1970 until earlier this year. He was also a past president of the club. He served as the Division 12 secretary for 32 years as well as a stint as Lieutenant Governor in 1975-76. He was an assistant director of the Ohio Key Club for many years, recipient of the Beacon of Hope Award and was elected to the Kiwanis Hall of Fame in March 2021.
Dick loved to volunteer and was part of eight mission trips to the Caribbean (Montserrat, Nevis, Antigua, Jamaica) through the United Methodist Church where the team took on building construction and repairs. He was also part of three Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) mission teams, one to Java and two to Russia where he worked in an orphanage and a home for children with mental disabilities.
One of his highlights was traveling to Russia in 1991 with Cru where he and his daughter, Ellaura, were part of a 200-voice choir for an Easter service in Red Square in Moscow, Russia. Dick's son, Rich, was the planning director for the trip but was unable to participate due to a case of adult chickenpox.
Dick was a member of the Four County Young at Heart where he loved to play bridge and made his last visit there just five days before his passing.
Dick loved spending time with his family, especially at Cedar Point where he was an annual passholder for nearly four decades and rode every ride in the park until he broke his neck at age 82. He was known for his homemade noodles at family reunions, a recipe passed down from his mother, as well as all types of baking and cooking.
The family would like to share their appreciation for the excellent care provided by Stein Hospice and Heritage Village Nursing Home during his final months.
Dick wanted his family and friends to know how much he valued their love and support and to know, in his words, "I lived a great life! Thanks be to God!"
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 19, 5:00-7:00pm at Auxter Funeral Home, 1105 Castalia St., Bellevue, OH and additional visitation will be held on Saturday, July 20 at St. Paul's United Church of Christ (428 Kilbourne St., Bellevue, OH) 1:00-2:00pm preceding the Celebration of Life at 2:00pm (light snacks and fellowship following).
Memorial gifts can be provided to St. Paul's UCC (428 Kilbourne St., Bellevue, OH, 44811) or the Bellevue Kiwanis Scholarship Fund (checks to "Bellevue Kiwanis," P.O. Box 238, Bellevue, OH, 44811).