Richard Leroy Beery

Richard Leroy Beery

July 11, 1947 - November 2, 2026

Richard “Dick” Beery took his last breath in his home on November 2, 2026, with his family beside him. He peacefully ended his fight with formidable medical challenges that began March 2, 2026, in Titusville, Florida. Dick left a legacy in touching people’s lives through his kind and generous nature, his creativity and problem-solving, his story-telling and laughter, his fierce determination (aka stubbornness), and his passion for social justice.

Born on July 11, 1947, Dick lived his formative years on his father’s dairy farms, first in Medina County and then in Wayne County, Ohio. His parents fostered his skills in engineering, creativity, and problem solving from an early age. In 7th grade Dick designed a milking parlor his father used for their farm. Fixing farm equipment and tractor driving was Dick’s niche on the family farm since he never could wake up at the crack of dawn to milk cows. Moving to the Norwayne School District in 1962 was fortuitous because there he met fellow trombone player Barry Romich, who later became a business partner, and Sandy Yarnell, who became his lifelong partner. On August 29, 1969, Dick and Sandy were married.

After graduating from The Ohio State University in 1970, he worked as an electrical engineer at Rubbermaid, Inc. in Wooster, Ohio, before forming an electronics company of Romich, Beery and Bayer, Inc. in 1972. As each electrical engineer developed their own company, Dick became CEO and founder of RBB Systems, Inc. that focused on manufacturing and electronic design, located in Shreve, Ohio. His business model was based on transparency, communication, high ethical standards, quality and reliability of product, and long-term satisfaction for all employees. On the same property, he designed and built a home where he and Sandy welcomed and entertained his children’s friends (who referred to him as Pa Beery), a myriad of other friends, family, business associates, college students, and survivors of domestic violence (before there were shelters).

Active in the community, he served on the boards of Pomerene Hospital, the Holmes County Training Center, and Goodwill Industries and was active at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located on the College of Wooster campus. He was always energized by youth and fresh perspectives. Friendships with college students, particularly international students, have remained to this day because of his questioning and inquisitive mind, his compassion, and love to barbecue for them. He was a voracious reader and loved a good discussion or (usually) friendly argument on any topic.

With friends from Westminster, he traveled to Mexico, England, Europe and Africa. He enjoyed canoeing in the Everglades and had great stories of his solo drive from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Windhoek, Namibia. His love of exploration continued when he and Sandy traveled throughout the United States in their retro-looking Winnebago motor home. He passed along his love of travel to his daughter’s family and their “pod of five” adventures included annual summer camping vacations in addition to trips to California, Louisiana, Arizona, Maine, and Oregon. His love of music took him frequently to New Orleans. Relationships formed there began the start of House Concerts with NOLA jazz aficionados and, later, with talented local musicians from Rochester, NY. His favorite destination for total relaxation was Walt Disney World, particularly his annual trips with son Brian who became an expert in all things Disney. After Brian’s death in 2010, Dick continued that tradition by showing his granddaughter all the places Brian explored.

In 2013, Dick and Sandy moved to Rochester, NY, to be with their beloved daughter Laura, his best friend and birder companion son-in-law John, and precious granddaughter Lyla, his favorite subject for photographs and fun. He left behind in Ohio his hobby of restoring player pianos, but in Rochester he honed his photography talents. His photographs frequently were on display at Image City Photography Gallery as well as venues like The State of the Art Gallery (Ithaca), Eden Cafe (Batavia), and Central Creatives (East Rochester). In 2025, he was one of five photographers selected to capture images of City of Rochester sponsored events, and he volunteered for years as a photographer at the Fairport Music Festival.

For five years, he embraced seasonal work as tractor and train driver at Wickham Farms. He enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere and relished driving for all the school field study groups in the fall.

Dick is survived by his wife of 57 years Sandy, daughter Laura (John) Ballou, granddaughter Lyla Ballou, brother Bruce (Carolyn) Beery, brothers -in-law Stanley Yarnell (Victor Rowley) and Scott Yarnell (Shelly), sister-in-law Sharon Yarnell, Brazilian daughter Nara Cano and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents, Galen and Thelma Beery, son Brian and brother-in-law John Liston.

In Rochester, New York, on Saturday, November 14, at the Rochester Academy of Medicine at the Lyon Mansion (1441 East Ave), there will be a reception from 4:00-6:00pm with a Celebration of Life at 6:15pm. In Wooster, Ohio, on Sunday, November 22, at Westminster Presbyterian Church (353 E. Pine St), there will be a reception from 2:00-4:00pm with a Celebration of Life at 4:15pm. Memorial gifts may be made to the Threadhead Cultural Foundation, PO Box 19611, New Orleans, LA 70179 or to a Hospice of your choice.