George Greenway Obituary

George Richard "Dick" Greenway

George Richard "Dick" Greenway, 94, joined his wife in Heaven on Monday, July 3, 2023, after a short illness.

He was born Jan. 24, 1929, in Allen County, to George Vernon and Viva Merle (VanMeter) Greenway. Dick married Rosa Lee Alstaetter on Oct. 7, 1951, after meeting him square dancing. They were able to spend 71 years of marriage together.

Dick graduated from Beaverdam High School. He attended Miami University (Business), Ft. Wayne Electronics, and Bowling Green University (Computer). He graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1956, obtaining a degree in Educational Industrial Arts and playing baseball, Indiana University in 1962 with a masters in education, and University of Wisconsin Stout State in 1964 with a masters in industrial technology.

Dick worked as a carpenter, ice cream deliveryman, at B&O Railroad, at Elida High School as a teacher, at Monarch Machine and Tool as a training coordinator, at Ohio Northern University, at Grob in training, at Lima Technical College, and at Bluffton High School, where he retired. He also was a basketball and golf coach, which he loved.

Dick also went into the service shortly after they were married and was part of the Korean War. Dick served in U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany from 1952-1953. He was part of the Platoon Heavy Trucking Unit (37th Division Reserves) and Army Infantry as 1st Sergeant. He continued to serve in Army Reserves for six years after his honorable discharge.

He loved to work with wood, whether it was building their Bluffton house in 1974, to creating carvings, or designing furniture. He loved his shop and missed it very much when they moved to Pandora in 2016. At 94, he was still working on his computers and learning new software (like AutoCAD) and changing his operating systems (he loved Lynyx). He was a teacher all of his life and loved introducing computers into Bluffton High School and teaching others. When he studied for his Masters in Wisconsin, they bought a 19-foot Covered Wagon Trailer and started their love of camping and was a part of the Vagabond Camping Club from Columbus Grove in the 1960s. Later, they purchased an Airstream and were able to travel all over the United States with the Wally Byam Caravan Club International Airstream Unit, Auglaize County. Dick was able to lead caravans, the Computer Rally, and serve as President of the Auglaize Unit. They also were able to spend winters in Florida and south Texas.

Dick attended Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Bluffton. He loved sports and spent many days on the golf course. When he wasn't golfing or wood working, he loved to read. He also enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren's sporting events. Above all, Dick loved his family and all of the gatherings that they shared together.

Dick's survivors include two daughters, Sue (Greg) Luginbill of Pandora and Deb (Chuck) Mach of Centerville; four grandchildren, Kristen (Paul) Camacho of Morgantown, West Virginia, Julie (Mark) Rieman of Pandora, Alex (Lauren) Mach of Dublin, and Jenna (Alex) Beltran of Centerville; 10 great-grandchildren, Kenley, Corbin, Trace, and Morgan Rieman, Gabriel and Adrian Camacho, Kaley and Madelynn Mach, and Ryan and Ethan Beltran; great-great-grandchild, Jersey Nofziger; sister, Donna Jean Greenway of Mason; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rosa Lee (Alstaetter) Greenway; in-laws, Emil and Lula Alstaetter; and two brothers-in-law, Jack (Leah) Alstaetter and Charles (Louise) Alstaetter.

Dick's funeral ceremony will be 12 p.m. Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Ebenezer Mennonite Church of Bluffton. Pastors Dick Potter and Nick Ringger will officiate. Burial will be at Alstaetter Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ebenezer Mennonite Church or Bluffton Public Library.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.