Terry Richard “Dick” Guss Sr. was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on October 6, 1942. Dick was the son of the late Marlyn M. Guss and Ruth A. Terry Guss Allbritain. Dick passed away December 15, 2013, at the age of 71.
Dick graduated from Zanesville High School in 1960. He was a member of Sons of the American Legion Post 29 in Zanesville.
Dick was employed at Owens-Brockway Glass Company. He was a very hard worker and was rewarded by being the youngest man in the glass industry in the United States to become a supervisor in the hot end. Dick retired from the plant after 31 years of service. While working at the plant, Dick joined the volunteer fire department in 1988 and served his community for 25 years. Dick loved being a fireman. From the time he was a child, he chased after the fire trucks.
After Dick’s retirement he became bored, and he was offered the job of the Village of South Zanesville administrator. He served in this capacity for ten years, then became a member of the city council. From that position, he moved on to be the mayor of the village for over six years. The first call he made after he became mayor was to his sister, Glenna, who was always proud of Dick and was very shocked by the phone call.
Dick was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his three sons and his grandsons. Dick also enjoyed spending time with his two granddaughters, and he dearly loved his three great-grandchildren.
Dick was the heart and soul of this community. He was straightforward, honest, and very sincere. Dick would do anything for anybody in the village and Muskingum County. His death has left the community dazed and bewildered. In the summer, Dick sat on the bench in front of the firehouse and waved and spoke to everyone who passed by. Dick never met a stranger, and when you met Dick you had an instant friend.
Dick is survived by his wife, Anita, the love of his life.
Dick has left a legacy that will never be matched in our lifetime. He was honored by the county with his name on a monument that stands in front of the courthouse.
Dick is sadly missed by his family and his friends. Dick will live on in our hearts forever.
Dick Guss… a close friend and mentor my father was asst. chief during the Guss Administration along with Dick on the fire department he was really the glue that stuck that place together and will be forever missed by all, he really was the inspiration I needed to become a firefighter. my deepest sympathies go out to his family
– Jordan Alexander James