Tulsa World: Engineer who helped restore pipe organ dies

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Engineer who helped restore pipe organ dies

MUSIC LOVER
Richard "Dick" Deaver: He played the piano and organ for programs and silent movies. As a member of the American Theatre Organ Society's Sooner State Chapter, he spent hundreds of hours working on Central High School's 45-rank, 4,000-pipe instrument.

By Staff Reports
Published: 10/27/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 10/27/2009 2:27 AM

Richard A. "Dick" Deaver, who spent hundreds of hours helping to rebuild and maintain Central High School's pipe organ, died Saturday. He was 72.

A visitation is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Freeman Harris Funeral Home, and a service is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church.

Deaver was born Feb. 11, 1937, in Wichita. He graduated from Wichita State University with a degree in physics.

He was an electrical and automation engineer for Boeing Co. and NCR Corp., both in Wichita. He retired from McElroy Manufacturing in Tulsa in 2002.

An accomplished pianist and organist, Deaver played for programs and silent movie accompaniment.

He was a member of the Tulsa Organ Club and the American Theatre Organ Society's Sooner State Chapter.

Deaver and other members of the chapter restored Central High School's 45-rank, 4,000-pipe organ, which had fallen into disrepair by the late 1980s after being played for generations of Tulsans at the city's first high school.

Deaver also volunteered for Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Murphy Deaver; two sons, Paul Deaver of Bethany and Brook Deaver of Overland Park, Kan.; one brother, Tom Deaver of Japan; one stepbrother; two stepsisters; and four grandchildren.

Friends are making memorial contributions to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Volunteer Services Program, 10109 E. 79th St., Tulsa, OK 74133. By Staff Reports

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	Report Comment grizz, tulsa (10/27/2009 7:27:28 AM) RIP, Dick. You helped to warm a lot of people's hearts, including one of my parents.
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (10/27/2009 10:42:57 AM) Rest in peace.
	Report Comment hardball, (10/27/2009 8:49:13 AM) a sad loss. RIP Dick.
	Report Comment Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (10/27/2009 8:16:31 AM) As a supporter of The Wanamaker and Midmer-Losh I salute you! Especially for bringing the sounds of yesterday to today's kids. I've also joined the American Organ Institute in Norman who just opened up a pipe manufacturing and console shop at Techumseh Road and I-35 in Norman. Central High is extremely blessed to have such an instrument. Something you almost never see west of the Mississippi in a public school. But it is a testament to the "cost does not matter" mentality of city fathers and mothers who put faith and money into the school system back in the days.
	Report Comment uklynbereg, (10/27/2009 2:28:42 PM) What an interesting array of talents. Too bad he's gone.

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