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Bonyak, Richard D. “Dick”, 79 years old, died February 5, 2016. Dick was born February 27, 1936 in Butler, Pennsylvania, the son of Andrew and Catherine Bonyak. Dick graduated from Butler High School in 1954 and from Geneva College of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 1967. After graduation, Dick and his wife Pat moved with their family to New Martinsville, WV where he accepted a job in the Purchasing Department of Mobay Chemical Company. Dick retired in 1998 with 31 years of service as a supervisor in the Purchasing Department with Mobay/Miles/Bayer of New Martinsville. In 1955, Dick attended the United States Coast Guard in New London CT. Dick then served with the United States Army during the Cold War from 1955 through 1960. Dick had been very active in the Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster, Unit Commissioner, District Chairman and Merit Badge Instructor and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award and 30 year participation pin. He loved and was involved for many years with the martial art, Taekwondo in Tyler and Wetzel counties and awarded an honorary black belt. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of New Martinsville WV was an Adult Sunday School teacher for several years and was ordained as an Elder. He served on the Board of Directors of the Wetzel-Tyler Volunteers for Better Reading for many years. Dick loved to sing and was a member of the singing groups “Bayertones” and “Meistersingers” for 15 years. He also sang with the “Riverside Barbershop Chorus”. After he retired, Dick and different members of his family traveled to different parts of this country and world. He and members of his family made several trips to Disney World, the Coast Guard Academy ’59 Reunion in New London CT, Cruises to the Caribbean (4), (3) Tours in Italy and Sicily , Spain, China, Tibet and Israel. In addition to his parents, Dick was also preceded in death by his sister and in 2008 by the love of his life, Pat whom he married on January 28, 1961. Surviving is one daughter, Diane, of New Martinsville, two sons, Richard “Andy” (Katherine) of New Martinsville and Michael John (Faith) of Huntington, WV. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Robin, Joshua and Timothy Bonyak of Huntington, WV, Michael A., Jonathan and Katherine Bonyak of New Castle, PA and their mother Carrie. Family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8pm at Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory, 751 Third Street, New Martinsville, where funeral services will be held Thursday at 11am with Pastor Donald Rush officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys Scouts of America or Wetzel-Tyler Volunteers for Better Reading, P.O. Box 45 Proctor, WV 26055. Interment will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

Tributes

Richard D. "Dick" Bonyak

February 27, 1936 - February 5, 2016