Richard Dyar Obituary
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Mr. Dyar was an educator having taught 31 years at Spencer High School and Owen Valley High School. His specialties were the health sciences especially Human Anatomy and Biology. He also coached Jr-High basketball, Freshman basketball, Jr. Varsity Basketball and was the varsity assistant coach from 1961-1964. He is the only Spencer High School graduate to have played on two winning sectional basketball teams, 1945 & 1946 and then help coach the Spencer Cops to sectional championships in 1962 & 1964. After his retirement the lure of teaching persisted as he substituted on a regular basis for Owen Valley and Edgewood school districts as well as teaching GED classes in Spencer. Many of his former students, to include his son Rick, became educators and credit Mr. Dyar as being their inspiration for selecting that vocation. The Owen Valley Alumni Association selected Mr. Dyar as their inaugural recipient of their "Distinguished Faculty & Staff Award" in 2012. Lastly he worked on the entrance gate at McCormicks Creek State Park for 12 years, retiring at the end of 2019 season.
He had an entrepreneurial spirit as he opened Spencer's first laundromat in the late 1950's. He sold this successful business in 1996. He additionally operated a Frostop root beer facility for three summers in the late 50's as he felt local students needed an opportunity for employment during the summer months. He and his wife Sue built a new home on top of the hill off "Old State Road 46" in 1975 and later started an apple orchard on property across the road from their home. The orchard evolved to a business venture that included operating a market specializing in apple products as well as other country knickknacks. The orchard allowed him to do "outdoor work" such as pruning of apple trees, clearing of brush as well as picking the apples that he thoroughly enjoyed. The orchard was very supportive of the "Apple Butter Festive" held in Spencer in the fall of the year. His business acumen culminated with him serving as a director of the Owen County State Bank for 18 years.
As an outdoors type of person he enjoyed hunting as a young man and fishing as he grew older. He took his sons on fishing trips to Canada along with Dr. Jean Creek and his sons. He was also the chaperon on fishing trips to Iron River, Michigan with his neighbor Jack Newsom and Jack's friends.
He was a lifelong active member of the Spencer United Methodist Church. He taught Sunday School for young adults as well as adults for more than 20 years. Emmaus Walks and Chrysalis Flights were also religious activities that he gave of his time and efforts. He served as a Lay Director as well as performing other duties to support these activities. He was active in the Hoosier Hills and El Shaddi Emmaus communities and their reunion groups. He and his wife celebrated their 25 wedding anniversary working as part of a Mexico Family Camp sponsored by the Sherman Oakes Church in Bloomington. The couple enjoyed an inspirational trip to Israel in 1995 and he was baptized in the Jordan River which he considered one of the highlights of his life.
He served with the Army Air Corp after graduating from high school for a brief period and then with the Indiana National Guard with Spencer's Battery, "B", 524 Field Artillery Battalion.
He is survived by his son Rick (Kathy), grandchildren Eric, Dylan, Tatum and Dayna Sue, Bonnie, grandchildren Nick and Stephen, brother-in-law Larry Huffman (Susie). Several nieces and nephews also survive.
He is preceded in death by his wife Sue, a son Daniel Joseph and siblings Harold Emma, Pauline and Robert.
Services will be held at the United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 12:00 PM. Private burial will take place in Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.
Visitation will be on Friday at the church from 4-8 PM and again on Saturday from 10 AM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations in his memory may be made the Dick (Mr. Dyar) and Sue Dyar Scholarship in care of the Owen County Community Foundation, P.O. Box #503, Spencer, IN. 47460, Spencer United Methodist Church, 65 N. Montgomery St., Spencer, IN. 47460 or a charity of the donor's choice
Arrangements have been entrusted to West & Parrish & Pedigo Funeral Home in Spencer.
Online condolences may be shared with Mr. Dicks family at www.westparrishpedigo.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Mike Stanley
February 26, 2022
Dick was one of the hardest working individuals I have ever known. He was also one of the nicest persons I have ever known. He was a tremendous educator and an asset to the Teaching Profession. I had the honor of being one of his students at SHS and also one of his colleagues at OVHS.
Dick had a full and rewarding life. I know he will be missed by Rick, Larry and their families but I also know that Dick is having a glorious reunion with his beloved wife Sue and his son Dan.
Godspeed Mr. Dyar, you were loved by many including the entire Stanley Family.
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Judy Morran
February 25, 2022
Mr. Dyar meant so much to me as a student and later as an adult. As a student I loved his biology class. He introduced me to a world I have come to love...the world of science. His class and his manner inspired me to inject tons of science lessons to my students K-6. When he introduced dissection of frogs to us, he chose me as the first student to come up and select a frog, all of which were crammed into a five gallon bucket. He looked at me as if to say, "Hmmm, I wonder how this girl is going to react to these frog specimens?" I grinned up at him and thrust my arm through all those frogs all the way to the bottom of the bucket to find the thinnest one I could. He had warned us that "fat" frogs might be females with lots of eggs to remove. When I brought up my frog, he grinned as if I had met his challenge and found a good specimen. When I was a junior class officer I worked with him a lot as he was our class sponsor. He was great to work with, putting in extra time and encouraging us to go for "big stuff". Later as an adult, I loved talking to him at the gate as I would bring my granddaughters to McCormick's Creek pool. When I retired from teaching, I was given a limited number of people I wanted to attend my retirement party. Of course, I sent an invitation to my science mentor, Mr. Dyar. The day before the party, I was called to the school office with the message that a man with a DNR uniform wanted to talk to me. I had been working with the Indiana DNR with my students on an outdoor lab. So, I was expecting to see one of them. I was so pleasantly surprised to see Mr. Dyar. He told me he could not come to my party, but he wanted to come congratulate me. Of course, I introduced him to my class and shared with them he was the reason for all their science lessons, and experiments. They applauded. I just cried. It meant so much to see him in my classroom. In working with the Dept. of Education of Indiana, I have had to write some articles involving learning and education. In preparing for those articles, I realized that learning is much more than the day to day interactions in the classroom, learning is like a legacy often handed down through generations of educators, dedicated and passionate about teaching. Mr. Dyar was a huge part of that learning legacy in Indiana. He taught so many, so much. I feel humbled, grateful and happy that I was part of his chain, and proud that I have kept his legacy going. As long as students enjoy learning through science, Mr. Dyar will always be a part of us.
Melinda Hofer Emmert
February 19, 2022
I offer my condolences to the family of Mr Dyar. Dick was a great influence in the Owen County area. He will always be remembered as a plliar of society.
My personal connection was through Mr Dyar as my Human Anatomy teacher, I believe that was the 1st year this class was taught at OVHS in 1976. He was a no nonsense instructor and a pleasure to have as a teacher. He encouraged his students and challenged them to do their best. He created a level of respect that promoted you to do your best.
Again I am sorry for your loss. You were blessed to have him in your life. He made a difference in society for the better. May Mr Dyar be fully rewarded for his life well lived and reflected Christ in his daily walk.
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105 N Montgomery, Spencer, IN 47460
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