Richard Armbrust

Richard “Dick” Armbrust, 91, of Norwalk, passed away early Thursday morning, August 4, 2022 at Providence Care Center in Sandusky.

Dick was born on November 19, 1930 in Piqua, OH to the late Daniel Leopold and Lavona Pauline (Counts) Armbrust.

Dick received his bachelor’s degree from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, where he met his wife, Helen (Resh) and they married June 29, 1954. He continued his education and received his master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University. Dick was an Army Veteran who proudly served his country during the Korean War in the 424th Heavy Artillery Battery. Dick was a life member of the American Legion, the past 32 years with Post 547 in Monroeville. He began his educational career as a guidance counselor at Starr Commonwealth for Boys in Albion, MI, before becoming a high school principal and superintendent at various school systems, including, Harris-Elmore, Woodmore, James A. Garfield High School and Monroeville. Dick retired in 1985. Following his retirement, he served as the business manager for St. Paul’s in Norwalk, and was also the unofficial scribe of the Cheap Coffee Club, whose presumably fictitious thoughts and comments were captured in a weekly column in the Norwalk Reflector. He became a member of the Warren Masonic Lodge #24 in Piqua before joining the Tiffin Masonic Lodge and the Zenobia Shrine and its Hornets & Corvair Clubs. Dick also pioneered free children’s medical screenings at Fisher Titus Medical Center through Shriners Hospitals for Children. Dick had a fantastic voice and enjoyed singing in various capacities, including his barbershop quartet, The Portage Pipers of Elmore, OH.

Dick is survived by his daughter, Carol (Tom Aldrich) Armbrust of Cleveland Heights, OH; son, David (Lynn Vadini) Armbrust of Charlotte, NC and grandchildren, Lauren (Adam Schmacher) Armbrust of Cambridge, UK, Daniel Armbrust of Atlanta, GA, Charlotte (Jack Swanson) Aldrich of Boston, MA and Alec Aldrich of Los Angeles, CA.

In addition to his parents, Dick is preceded in death by his wife, Helen (Resh) Armbrust on February 24, 2015.

A committal service will be held on Friday, September 30, 2022 at 10:45 am at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Rd, Seville, OH 44273. Please arrive promptly at 10:30 am at the cemetery’s Welcome Center. Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

Those wishing to contribute to Dick’s memory may do so to Alzheimer’s Association, 23215 Commerce Park, STE 300, Beachwood, OH 44122.