Ralph F. "Fred" Dietz Jr.

Ralph F. “Fred” Dietz Jr., age 77, of Beach City, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 7, 2024. Fred was at home at the time of his passing surrounded by his loving family.

Born December 19, 1946, in Wadsworth, he was a son of the late Ralph F. Sr. and Genevieve Schnurrenberger Dietz. Ralph graduated from Wadsworth High School in 1964, and went on to study at Kent State University earning a bachelor’s degree in music. He had a lifelong love for music and taught the subject in the Streetsboro and Horicon, Wisconsin schools, and provided music lessons to individual students. Ralph was later employed for many years at Canton Orthotic Laboratory, becoming a certified orthotist; he later worked for Yankee Bionics in Akron, from which he retired.

Ralph married the former Louise D. Regula, who survives, on March 29, 1970. In addition to raising a family and work, the couple performed in their own variety and medicine show called The Musical Sojourners. Ralph was a faithful longtime member of Dover Alliance Church, where he served as Sunday school teacher, elder and was very much involved in the music ministry - serving as song leader. 

Ralph shared his talents playing with the Jericho and Dominic Greco Bands, as well as the Wadsworth Community and Canton Concert Bands. Additionally, he liked working with wood, and some of his favorite creations were hammer and lap dulcimers, banjommers (banjo dulcimers) and bowed psalteries (a type of zither).

Besides his wife, Louise, Ralph is survived by his children, Aaron (Marjorie) Dietz of Beaufort, South Carolina, Carolyn Eshelman of Perry Township in Stark County, Sarah Dietz of New Philadelphia, and William Dietz of Akron; his grandchildren, David (Abigail) Dietz, Heather (Cameron) Sharrow, Kaitlyn Dietz, Austin Eshelman and Emily (Gavin) Turner; his four great-grandchildren; and his sisters, Kay Lieb and Elaine Fisher.

In addition to his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Susan Dietz; his grandsons, Kyle Dietz and Matthew Eshelman; and his brother, Gilbert Dietz.

Friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Friday, July 12, 6 - 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held Saturday, July 13, at 10:30 a.m., in the Dover Alliance Church; Pastors Bruce A. Sexton and Richard G. Rose will officiate. Burial will be in Dover Burial Park. Following the committal, there will be a lunch in the church gym.

The family suggests that contributions in Ralph’s memory be made to Dover Alliance Church, 228 E. Third St., Dover, Ohio 44622, or The Aultman Foundation, Patient CancerCare Fund, 2600 Sixth St. S.W., Canton, Ohio 44710.