Richard A. Zappa

Richard A. Zappa, 69, of Amherst, formerly of Lorain and Wellington, died Thursday, July 31, at Community Regional Medical Center in Lorain following a brief illness.

Born July 5, 1939 in Lorain, he graduated from Lorain High School. He joined the American Ship Building Company where he was employed as a crane operator.

He was subsequently inducted in to the United States Army in 1958 and served at Fort Knox, Ky, Fort Jackson, S.C., and Korea. He was discharged in 1960.

Upon his return from the military, he joined the Columbia Gas Company of Ohio where he served as a corrosion engineer. He was also employed as a Deputy with the Lorain County Sheriff's Department for 11 years. He then began a career with the Lorain Music and Vending Company, eventually becoming its owner and president.

He was a life long member of Saint Peter's Catholic Church in Lorain and had also attended Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Amherst.

He was a member of the Italian-American Veterans Post #1 of Lorain, as well as the Amherst Eagles Club, and the Knights of Columbus Council #637. He was also a member and past director of the Ohio Coin Machine Association.

In his free time, he enjoyed golf and fishing, as well as spending time at his family's seasonal residence at The Villages in Lady Lakes, Fla.

Mr. Zappa is survived by his wife of 48 years Mary A. (nee Sobiech); his brother Dominic Zappa of Huron; sons Michael A. and his wife Darlene Zappa of Shelby, Ohio, and Marc A. and his wife Michelle Zappa of Amherst; daughters Renee A. and her husband John Schartman of Westerville, Ohio, and Melissa A. and her husband Dave Newsome of Lorain; grandchildren Brittany, Maria, Michael, Monique, Marcus and Dominic Zappa, Courtney and Carli Schartman, Liz, Hayly and Vincent Newsome. He was preceded in death by his parents Premo J. and Angeline E. (nee DeTillio) Zappa.

Visitation was held over the weekend .

Funeral services were Monday, Aug. 4 at Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel in Lorain, followed by a mass at Saint Peter's Catholic Church in Lorain, the Rev. Kenneth Wolnowski celebrant. Burial, with full military honors by the officers and members of the Italian-American Veterans Post #1 of Lorain, was at Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

The family encourages memorial contributions to the Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. On-line condolences may be left at http://www.gluvna.net.