Submitted by: Dan Rich

Richard S. Sayer

Feb. 11, 1931 - May 18, 2008

South Bend Tribune 5/22/2008
SOUTH BEND - Richard S. "Dick" Sayer, 77, passed away Sunday, May 18th, in the Bremen Health Care Center after a long and very courageous battle with dementia. He is survived by his wife, Eileen of South Bend; children Anita Bocock of North Liberty, David Sayer of South Bend, Sheila (Dave) Berkey of Goshen and Denise (Tom) Miller of North Liberty; grandchildren, Jami (Nick) Kovach, Justin Ritter, Brad Miller, Amanda O'Brien, Kailey O'Brien and David Sayer; great-grandchildren, Kaden Miller and Tyler Kovach; a sister, Viola (Bill) Kopanski of South Bend; and an aunt, Julia R. Salay of Mishawaka.

Richard was born February 11, 1931, in South Bend, to Anton Sayer and Helen (Phillips) Sayer, who preceded him in death. He was a 1949 graduate of Riley High School. He continued his education while serving in the U.S. Air Force as a mechanic in the 59th Aircraft Repair Squadron. During his military assignment at Burtonwood Air Force Base in England, he met and married his wife, Eileen T. (Whittingham) Sayer on December 26, 1953, in Liverpool. Richard was co-founder and co-owner of Action Machine, Inc., where he worked for 20 years until his retirement in 1995. He was an excellent machinist and mechanic and loved to build things from the ground up. Dick had a passion for restoring classic cars, he received numerous awards for his work. An avid fan of Notre Dame football, the Chicago Cubs and Bears, he also loved music and played the accordion and keyboard. In his later years he had a growing interest in aviation and was studying for his pilot's license. Most of all he loved to be with his family and friends. He was a loving husband and a wonderful, caring dad and grandpa. He will be greatly missed. Dick was a member of Prairie Gardens Christian Church in New Carlisle where he and Pastor Bob Baird became close friends.

Pastor Baird will officiate a memorial service on Monday, June 2nd, at 11 a.m. in the Palmer Guisinger Chapel at 3718 S. Michigan St. Friends are invited to gather for two hours prior to the service. The family has asked that contributions be made on behalf of Mr. Richard Sayer to the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center Fund, Frontotemporal Dementia Research, Attention Francine Epperson, Department of Pathology, 635 Barnhill Drive, MS A142, Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120. On memo line, please put Account Number 38-MPAT-08-0. Your contributions will benefit families and loved ones with frontotemporal dementia and the doctors working on a cure.