Richard F. Schiewetz

SCHIEWETZ, Richard F., age 97 of Dayton passed away on April 18, 2011 after a long and satisfying life. Dick was a beloved uncle and a founder of one of Ohio's largest companies, WinWholesale Inc.. He was the son of Harry F. and Elizabeth (Moses) Schiewetz, and was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Eleanor (Flory) of Dayton and Betty Anne (Cromer) of Columbus, N.C. He is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and their children. Dick was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Oakwood. He was a master mason 33rd degree and member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton. For more than 60 years, Dick was a member of Kiwanis. Dick graduated from Steele High School in 1931 and then from the University of Cincinnati in 1936, earning a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. He went to work for Servel Corporation (which changed its name to Trane Company) and rose to general manager. While still at Trane, he helped to form Primus Inc. in 1956. In 1962 Dick returned to Dayton to devote the remainder of his working career to Primus and became a nationally-recognized figure in the wholesaling industry. When he retired from the company in 2002 as Chairman of the Board, annual sales exceeded $1 billion. In 2004, Primus changed its name to WinWholesale Inc. While his commitment to his career was unquestionable, Dick found time for many hobbies and foremost among them was travel. Beginning with a six-month trip through Europe after graduation from U.C., Dick eventually traveled to all seven continents. Having surpassed by nearly anyone's measure his personal and professional goals, Dick turned to philanthropy in his later years. He remained a loyal supporter of the University of Cincinnati. He made noteworthy donations to Wittenberg University while serving on that school's board of directors. To honor his father's service with Dayton Kiwanis, Dick underwrote the Dayton Convention Center's wall of fame for the Presidents Club's Citizen Legion of Honor. He gave significant support to Miami University in the names of his sisters, Mary Flory and Betty Cromer, both whom graduated from Miami, first by funding the Schiewetz Fine Arts Plaza and then establishing the Cromer/Flory artist in residence program. In gratitude for his years in the Boy Scouts, he helped fund the Schiewetz Leadership Training Center at Cricket Holler Boy Scout Camp. Similarly, his support to the YMCA resulted in the building of the Schiewetz Assembly Hall at Camp Kern. The family will be receiving friends from 4:00-7:00pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 155 E. Thruston Blvd., Oakwood with Pastor Gary Eichhorn officiating. Burial in Dayton Memorial Park. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dayton Masonic Foundation, 525 West Riverview Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45405 or to the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 155 Thruston Blvd East, Dayton Ohio 45419. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429