Richard Waite

Richard Earl "Rick" Waite, 79, of Mansfield, died Thursday, February 28, 2008. Rick was born at home to Howard E. and Sophia Kusic Waite in Lansing, Ohio on April 17, 1928. He graduated from Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1946. Rick served three years in the U.S. Army. Two of those years he spent in Korea with the 6th Infantry Division, and 11 months with the 10th Mountain Division in Ft. Carson, Colorado. He attended Ohio University and graduated from Ohio Northern University with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. He came to Mansfield in 1954 to work for Shaw and Ott Drug and eventually owned and operated the Medical Center Pharmacy at 120 Sturges Ave., and Rick's Pharmacy at 943 Springmill St., Mansfield. He was a member of the American Pharmacists Association. Rick was the pharmacist's coordinator for the Sabin Oral Sundays sponsored by the Richland County Health Department. He was a member of the First English Lutheran Church, Mansfield Lodge #35 F& AM, and the Baku Grotto. Rick had been an active, sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous since December 11, 1989.

He is survived by his daughter, Peggy A. Steve Chitwood; grandson, Benjamin D. Morgan; brother, Dennis Kris Waite of Castle Rock, Colorado; sister-in-law, Nancy L. Waite; niece, Jill A. Waite of Mansfield; nephew, Mike Waite; niece, Nancy Elizabeth Waite; and good friends, Becky Shriver and Gary Prinz. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Glenna Baumburger Waite; son, Richard Dennis Waite; and brother, Bruce A. Waite.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, February 29, 2008 at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home conducted by Pastor Richard Beal and Rick's niece, Jill Waite. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.