Richard W. Toth, 94, Loved Instrumental and Vocal Music

He was born in Duquesne, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County) on May 10, 1930 and had lived in both Pennsylvania and New York City prior to moving to Lorain in 1947.

Dick was a 1948 graduate of Lorain High School. In 1949 he joined the United States Steel Corporation and embarked on a career at the company’s Lorain-Cuyahoga Works that spanned thirty-seven years. At the time of his retirement in 1986, he was working as a roller in the company’s rolling mill. Dick was a long-time member of United Steelworker’s Local 1104.

He was a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elyria Township; previously, he had been a member of St. Michael’s Byzantine Rite Catholic Church in Lorain.

Dick possessed a love of both instrumental and vocal music. He was a self-taught player of the trumpet, trombone, accordion, and organ. In addition, he displayed a passion for barbershop music. He was an active member and former chapter president of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. Also referred to as The Barbershop Harmony Society, it is one of several organizations whose mission is to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form throughout America. Dick supported that cause by singing barber shop chorus and quartet with a variety of local groups.

In his free time he enjoyed the challenge of golf as well as repairing small electronic devices. Without a doubt, his favorite past time was being involved and remaining relevant in the lives of his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his son Michael W. Toth (Mary Beth) of Sheffield Lake and daughter Laura Lynn Petro (Joseph) of Parma. He also leaves grandsons Jared J. Petro of Lakewood and Samuel M. Toth of Sheffield Lake.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife Agnes E. “Beth” Toth (nee Wayda), father William Toth, mother Anna Toth (nee Sopko), and brother Robert Toth.

Visitation will be Monday August 12th from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11:00 a.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel – 3224 Broadway, Lorain. Reverend Neil G. Walters, Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church will officiate. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township.

To share your condolences with the Toth Family, please visit Richard’s tribute page at www.gluvnashimohromada.com.