Longtime local entrepreneur, retired Crucible Steel supervisor and (Ret.) Air Force Lt. Robert Leo Dietz, most recently of East Liverpool, slipped peacefully into his eternal home late Monday evening, August 11, 2014 at the Hospice House in Poland, Ohio. He was 91.

A son of the late Albin J. and Leola Burlingame Dietz, he was born on April 13, 1923 and grew up in the Glenmoor section of East Liverpool, and was a 1941 graduate of East Liverpool High School. Bob then went on to serve his country during World War II with the U.S. Air Force. During that time, he was a 2nd Lieutenant and a P-47 pilot and a member of the Orange Trail Squadron, and had also been a Prisoner of War in Germany.

Upon his return home, he attended The Ohio State University on the G.I. bill before receiving his degree in Electrical Engineering from Wittenberg University, and was a national member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. In 1957, he and his family moved to Chester, where they made their home for many years. Bob was associated with Crucible Steel Corporation from 1950 until its closing, retiring as a supervisor.

A member of St. John Lutheran Church, Bob had also belonged to the American Legion Posts #374 and #121, as well as the VFW Posts #66 and #6450, and the Elks Lodge #258 of East Liverpool. A proud American, he lived life to the fullest, and loved the Ohio River, especially when it involved boating and fishing.

Surviving are his daughter, Heidi M. Dietz of East Liverpool, and her fiancé, John Sferra of Howland, along with two sons, Dan E. Dietz and his wife, Ann, of East Liverpool, and Christopher R. Dietz, of Glenmoor. Six grandchildren survive as well: Chelsey Dietz, K. Adair Taylor Shu and her husband, Wayne, Kylie Dietz, Eric Dietz, Gretchen Dietz and Andrea Dietz.

Additional survivors include his sister, “Wym” Dietz Nicholson of Illinois. Bob will also be missed by his former wife, Marian Chamberlain Dietz.

Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Jan Ruhe Dietz DeCarlo, and their son, Hans F. Dietz, who passed away on May 6, 1989.

Friends may visit at the Dawson Funeral Home on Thursday, where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Eric M. Edwards of the church officiating.

Burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery, where the Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will provide full military honors. The family will return to the Dawson Family Center for a continued time of fellowship following the burial.

Those wishing to do so may make contributions in Bob’s name to the Hans Dietz Memorial Scholarship, c/o Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 458, East Liverpool, OH 43920 or to Team Mojo Foundation, P.O. Box 44, East Liverpool, OH 43920.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the following for their tender, loving care of Bob: the Fox family of The Orchards at Foxcrest, the Schwartz family of Whispering Pines Village, the Hospice of the Valley and those who surrounded Bob during his final days at the Hospice House, and the Dawson family and associates at the Dawson Funeral Home.

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