Richard Showalter Obituary

Richard William Showalter, age 91 of Helen, Georgia, passed away on Saturday the 18th of Oct. after a brief illness.

He was born in Bryan, Ohio, on May 23, 1934, to the late Olin (Marie Dunn) Showalter. Dick has one sister, Nancy (John) Hardy and a brother, Olin J Showalter who preceded him in death.

Dick was a lifelong drummer. He first picked up a pair of drumsticks at the age of 2, and later in life turned professional. Dick attended Indiana University and played in the university's jazz band. He then went on to play with the popular Big Band era bands such as Ray Anthony Band and Jimmy Dorsey, as well as being a member and playing in 101st Airborne Division Band, until he was honorably discharged. He backed up network greats such as Rosemary Clooney, Dean Martin, Frankie Lane and Perry Como. He held drum offs with Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich and was called from the stage during a drumming solo to dance with the famous Marilyn Monroe. He became a private drum instructor for high schools and individuals, as well as the percussion section coach for the University of Notre Dame marching band, where they still play his cadences today. Dick brought several businesses to the town of Bryan. Dick started the original Burger Dairy store, the original KFC, Renee's place and the Trolley's Hot Dogs trolley car to the square in Bryan. Trolleys hot dogs is still running in the town of Nashville, Indiana. Dick loved to travel all over. You wouldn't find him in his vehicle without his drums and huge amounts of candy. When he showed up to visit grandkids, he would give them all candy. He then was named grandpa candy from all his grandchildren. Dick had two motto's in life. "Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!" And, "If it's not fun we ain't doing it." He made his way down to Helen, Georgia, in the early 1990's. He brought some passenger trolley cars to town and ran those for a time. He then opened up the historic gold mines of Helen attraction and ran a small jewelry business.

Dick never met a stranger and could talk your leg off. He could also sell snow to an Eskimo. Ultimately, Dick came back to his love of drumming and performed (with the glee of a hound dog in a butcher shop) as a street performer. He played his drums every weekend until two weeks before his death. He was the ambassador clinician for Ludwig, Slingerland and Premier Drums.

Dick married Barbara Schad Showalter Musser in 1956. They had three children, Rick (Kim) Showalter of Edgerton, Renee Vanderstelt of Cleveland, Georgia, and Michelle (Chris) Grine of Bryan. Dick had 10 grandchildren, Shaun (Jen) Showalter of Edgerton, Andrew (Amanda) Showalter of Hesperia, Michigan, Jesse (Erin) Showalter of Dallas, Texas, Rikkelle (Matt) Oczypok of Tampa, Florida, Dakota(Ashley) Showalter of Toledo, Jasmine Vanderstelt of Cleveland, Georgia, Brit (Chase) Trammell of Cleveland, Georgia, Dalton Vanderstelt of Cleveland, Georgia, Brooks (Emily) Grine of Bryan, Metea Grine of Clear Lake, Indiana; and he also had 14 great-grandchildren.

Richard's visitation will be held at Barrett Funeral Home 118 N. Brooks St., Cleveland, Georgia, on Nov. 8, 2025, from 1-3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider donations to help with the expense of the funeral costs. Donations can be made by calling 419-636-6104 in care of Richard Showalter fund or mail to F&M Bank 1000 S. Main St., Bryan Ohio, 43506.

To share a memory or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.barrettfh.com.