Submitted by: Dan Rich
June 11, 1928 - May 20, 2008
South Bend Tribune 5/23/2008
SOUTH BEND - Richard J. Ditlinger, 79, of South Bend, IN,
passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, in Memorial Hospital, South
Bend, following an illness. He was born to the late John and
Helen (Kelble) Ditlinger in Payne, OH, and had lived in
South Bend for 60 years, coming from Payne, OH. Along with his
parents; one brother, Morse Ditlinger also preceded him in death.
Mr. Ditlinger retired from Honeywell Corporation as a Project
Engineer, after 47 years. Following retirement, he worked as a
consultant for Honeywell for a couple of years and was also an
English Tutor for the St. Joseph County Public Library.
On April 6, 1954, he married Beatrice A. Nowak
in South Bend, IN. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice of 54
years; a son, Paul J. (wife Lillie) Ditlinger of South Bend, IN;
and his sister, Mary (husband Keith) Williams of Payne,
OH. Mr. Ditlinger was a member of Little Flower Parish and
belonged to the Bendix Management Club. He was a U.S. Army
Veteran of the Korean War. Richard held more than 100 patents
relating to helicopter parts and had worked on the brakes for the
space shuttle and Stealth Bomber. He enjoyed jogging, competing
in running events, and was also an avid bicyclist. Richard
enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas and other places out West where he
explored and hiked down the Grand Canyon several times. He had
also traveled up Longs Peak in Colorado many times.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m.
Friday, May 23, 2008, at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix
Drive, South Bend, IN, where friends may visit two hours prior to
services. Cremation will follow. Memorial contributions may be
made to: Alzheimer's Association, 9135 N. Meridian Street, Ste.
B-4, Indianapolis, IN 46209-7109.