Born 3 Aug 1904 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Son of Walter Gray Pietsch and Amy Randolph (Lake) Pietsch

Husband of Virginia Bayless (Knight) Pietsch — married 20 Jun 1936 in Evanston, Cook, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Oct 2001 at age 97 in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Christopher Smart [send private message], Julie Smart [send private message], and Jim Mitchell [send private message]

Biography

Childhood

In 1910, Dick lived with his parents and siblings at 1145 Maple Avenue in Evanston. a house that no longer exists but whose footprint is visible here.

In 1920, Dick lived with his parents and siblings at 1722 Ridge Avenue in Evanston.

Dick was a graduate of the Asheville School, a secondary boarding school in Asheville, North Carolina. A collection of family letters include an acceptance letter from Asheville to his mother, Amy, on his behalf and a long letter from Walter to Amy (his parents) when Walter traveled to Asheville for "Rich's" graduation. Dick was a proud alumni of Asheville School, and in their library is a plaque in Dick's honor, which he wrote at their request. It reads, "Pietsch's Corner: In honor of Richard Francis Pietsch '22, lover of books and eternal student, who strives to remember the new faster than he forgets the old, and who courts the spirit of Peter Pan-- to be forever young. Made possible by Mr. Pietsch, his family, and friends. April 29, 1994." (Family collection for plaque and letters)

College

Dick graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. (obituary)

Marriage, Children

Dick married Virginia "Ginny" Bayless Knight on June 20, 1936, at 8:30 at St. Mark's Church In Evanston, Illinois. See image of wedding invitation.

As of 19 Apr 1940, Dick and Ginny lived with their daughter, Bonnie, at 1946 Greenwood Avenue in Wilmette, Cook County, Illinois.^[2]

In 1942 he moved with Ginny, Bonnie, and Rick to Crozet, Virginia, and began a career in orcharding and sales. (obituary)

Grandchildren

At age 23, Dick and Ginny's daughter, Bonnie, married 23 year-old Charlie Mitchell, 20 Dec 1960 at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Ivy, Albemarle County, Virginia.^[3]

Death

Dick passed away on October 21, 2001, at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville. His daughter, Bonnie, was with him when he passed away after a slow decline in overall health. ^[4]

Dick is buried in Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Ivy, Albemarle County, Virginia,^[5] next to his wife and mother-in-law.

Albums

An album containing photos and other memorabilia of the family created by the marriage of Walter Gray Pietsch and Amy Lake, including, during their childhoods, their children, Walter Randolph "Randy" Pietsch, Richard Francis "Dick" Pietsch and Mary Wells "Polly" Pietsch, is available here.

Personality, Beliefs

Dick's family appreciated his value of hard work, balanced with a tendency to "stop and smell the roses." He was optimistic, frugal, and resourceful. He had a song, poem, trivia fact, or story for friends and strangers alike. A long-time favorite was the song, "If you knew Susie (Like I knew Susie!)," which he sang with joy over the years. He was a lifelong learner, filled with curiosity. He voraciously read books, magazines, and newspapers--- often underlining and making notes for himself and others. He had an incredible breadth of knowledge, and his family fought over being on his team for Trivia Pursuit games, where he was sure to win. He deeply valued education and the arts. He had a love for playing tennis and table tennis (ping pong), where he was known for his ruthless spin on the ball. For his 80th birthday, he received a new tennis racquet, which he put to good use until he was almost 90. His love of animals and desire to help others lead him to be a long time volunteer with the Recording for the Blind, his local rescue squad, and the humane society. (Source - family memories of granddaughter)

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Julie (Mitchell) Smart.
2. ↑ The 1940 Census shows "Richard F. Pietsch" (35, IL-born, unemployed "office manager" for "advertising agency" with four-year college degree) and his wife, "Virginia K. Pietsch" (26, IL-born not employed, with two years of college) living in a $12500 home Wilmette Village, New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, with their daughter, "Barbara S. Pietsch" (2, IL-born), and their "maid," "Eva Pettigrew" (29, GA-born), and confirming that in 1935 the couple lived in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. See 1940 US Census, Population Schedules for Wilmette Village, New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, enumerated 19 Apr 1940. Enumeration District 16-299. National Archives Microcopy 627, Roll 782, Page 16B. Available online without restriction at the National Archives.
3. ↑ Certificate of Marriage. Albemarle Co, Virginia. Doc No. 35202. Clerk's No. 187. Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia. Virginia, Marriages, 1936-2014. Roll 101144422.
4. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Julie (Mitchell) Smart.
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 02 May 2020), memorial page for Richard F Pietsch (3 Aug 1904–21 Oct 2001), Find a Grave Memorial no. 111986175, citing Saint Paul's Cemetery, Ivy, Albemarle County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by LNM (contributor 47438535).

• DNA
• Paternal relationship is confirmed by an autosomal Family Tree DNA test match between Barbara (Pietsch) Mitchell and Theodore Pietsch, her 2nd cousin . Their most-recent common ancestors are Charles Pietsch and Florence Wells, the great grandparents of both Barbara (Pietsch) Mitchell and Theodore Pietsch. Predicted relationship from Family Tree DNA: 2nd Cousin, based on sharing 165 cM across 7 segments.
• Paternal relationship is confirmed by an autosomal Family Tree DNA test match between Barbara (Pietsch) Mitchell and Ernest Knapp, her 3rd cousin . Their most-recent common ancestors are Otto Bitsch and Anna Karmrodt, the great great grandparents of both Barbara (Pietsch) Mitchell and Ernest Knapp. Predicted relationship from Family Tree DNA: 2nd-4th cousin, based on sharing 81 cM across 3 segments.