Dick Seelinger

DICK SEELINGER

Founder, Dick's Gun Room

Come celebrate with us the life and times of Richard "Dick" Seelinger, who passed away on Sunday, June 17th, 2012. Rather than mourning his loss, Dick would rather have us share a laugh or two, recalling his fine sense of humor and his dry "aged to perfection" wit!

Dick was a consummate outdoorsman and an excellent marksman who lived in the Akron area all of his adult life. He was born in Olean, New York January 23rd, 1926 to Richard and Dorothy Seelinger. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during WWII in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. Dick met the love of his life (that's his wife Rita!) where she worked at the Lyn Theater in Akron, capturing her attention by giving her his watch and then striding off to watch the movie when she asked if he had the time! On June 26th of this year, they would have been married for 59 years.

After the service, he worked at Firestone Tire while starting the Falls Gun Exchange in 1954, went on to work at Buckeye Sports Center for his special friend the late Jim Armington in 1963, and finally in 1971 he and his beloved wife Rita opened his iconic Dick's Gun Room in Cuyahoga Falls. Just to name a few of his many life-long affiliations, Dick was an Endowment Member of the NRA; Senior Member of the ASA and the Kentucky Rifle Association; Lifetime Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited; Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International; and Life Member of the FOPA, OGCA, and ATA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Dorothy, his sister Virginia Schaffer, his loyal friend Red Crum, as well as his beloved four-legged companions: Boots, Laddie, Pat, Dink, Tammy, Pistol, Penny, Megan, Nikki, and Jessie. He is survived by his wife, Marita (Rita); sons, Tom and Mike (daughter-in-law Terri); grandson, Shane; sisters-in-law, Laurell Kuck and Marcia Juengel; the best friend and business associate a man could have - Chuck Allaman; many nephews and nieces; the entire Gun Room family; and many, many close friends. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, though his caring soul, kindness and compassion for man and beast will sustain us in his absence.

Dick was an honest, trustworthy, and impeccable All-American businessman who treated everyone with kindness, his word in a handshake, and a fair deal. He had a memorable sense of humor and a sometimes ornery nature that was quite contagious. He enjoyed having coffee and conversation, topped off with a splash of good humor, with his customers. Dick, as evidenced in his own words, considered his customers his friends: "My heartfelt gratitude to all my loyal customers, whom most were my friends, for almost 60 years of companionship."

Per Dick's wishes, cremation has taken place and a private memorial service for the family has already been held. Please stop by to share your memories, Dick's humor, and the love that Dick felt for all, at his calling hours on THURSDAY June 21st, 2012 from 5 to 8 pm. at the Billow FALLS Chapel, 1907 23rd Street, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Dick would want y'all to dress CASUALLY and wear a grin! And as always, he'll have the coffee on for ya.

In lieu of flowers, Dick's family gratefully requests that memorials may be made to: The Summit County Humane Society, the National Rifle Association (NRA), or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Please be sure to leave any special memories on Dick's Legacy Guestbook page on Ohio.com. (Billow FALLS Chapel)