Richard A. Schroth

Richard “Dick” Alan Schroth, age 79, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2026, surrounded by the great love of his family.

Born on July 23, 1946, in Dayton, Ohio, to Clara and William Schroth, Dick was one of five children. He shared a close bond with his siblings Bill (Linda), Jerry, Bob (Shirley), and Pat (Ron). He attended Belmont High School and participated in the Co-Op program, where he learned the skilled trade of tool making that would become his lifelong career. He worked more than 50 years to ensure his family lived a comfortable life. Dick was a lifelong resident of the Dayton area and took great pride in the community he called home.

Dick was a devoted husband, father, pawpaw, brother, uncle, godfather and friend. He shared 43 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife and best girl, Nancy. Dick and Nancy met through the Catholic Alumni Club of Dayton, where they found a shared community of faith, friendship and fun, bowling together in a couples league, square dancing, camping etc. Their love for one another was evident to all those they loved. Dick and Nancy were married in November of 1982 at Emmanuel Catholic Church. They built a beautiful life together, centered around faith, family, friends, and countless cherished memories.

Being a girl dad was one of Dick's greatest joys. He and Nancy had three daughters, Betsy, Rachel, and Melissa. Dick's girls were his whole world and he put them first in everything he did working long hours to give them a wonderful life. He put their needs before his own. He was a constant presence in their lives—coaching their teams, cheering them on from the sidelines of sports and life, and celebrating their every accomplishment.

Dick gained three sons through marriage- Jeremy, Eric and Zach. Dick loved his son in laws greatly. He shared with them his faith, his special interests - bowling, fishing, talking sports, and first and foremost making sure the girls were happy.

Dick was a man of strong faith, he attended weekly Mass with Nancy at St Charles Borromeo in Kettering. He and Nancy found strength and comfort in the power of prayer and the Rosary. He prayed for not only for his marriage and his daughters but his brother Jerry, his brother in law Jerry, his special cousin, Sr Donna, his own health challenges with colon cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease, his daughter Melissa’s (Zach) adoption journey and the many needs of family and friends. His faith was reflected through his compassion, humility, and genuine care for others.

Dick found ways to give back to his community. He raised money for the American Heart Association for many years. He donated blood to those in need over 200 times and was honored for his contribution in the Dayton Daily News.

One of Dick’s greatest blessings was becoming “Pawpaw” to his eight grandchildren: Hayden, Sophia, Hudson, Vinny, Isaac, Nora, Annie, and Kayce. He treasured every opportunity to spend time with them. Watching his grandchildren grow brought him tremendous pride and happiness. His beloved grand dog, Rocky, also held a very special place in his heart.

Dick found great joy in life’s simple pleasures. He enjoyed bowling, playing and coaching softball, and supporting his daughters through the many sports and activities they pursued. He loved spending time with family playing basketball out in the driveway, ping pong, playing cards, cooking out, and camping. He loved the outdoors and spending time hiking local parks, fishing, and “playing in the yard"/gardening. He took great pride in his flowers and garden, carefully tending to them and generously sharing his harvest with neighbors, family, and occasionally a deer or two. He loved watching his Dayton Flyers basketball and Buckeye football.