Byam, Ronald 'Dick'

Ronald "Dick" Byam, 82, died Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at Virginia Gay Nursing & Rehab in Vinton following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Ronald Sumption officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., Vinton, from 3 to 6 p.m. today.

A memorial fund has been established.

Dick was born Dec. 21, 1926, near Independence to Leon and Ruth (Avery) Byam. On Jan. 30, 1945, he was united in marriage to Charlotte Ann Noeller in Missouri. She preceded him in death on July 11, 1976. He married Donna Klotzbach on Dec. 11, 1980, at Independence, and she preceded him in death in 1997.

Dick was a self-employed painter who enjoyed fishing, reading and taking long walks with his dog. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a member and past president of the former Eagles Club in Vinton.

He is survived by his three daughters, Jill Petersen of Cedar Rapids, Kathy (Steve) Walters of Humboldt and LuAnn Horak of Vinton; his stepson, Kevin (Deb) Klotzbach of Independence; his grandchildren, Michelle (Craig) Medberry, Zach Walters, Tyler (Heather) Walters, Matt Horak and Lisa Horak; his stepgrandchildren, Cameron Klotzbach, Catlin (Kaity) Klotzbach and Kaycee (Matt) Barth; six great-grandchildren; his sister, Marge Smalley of Waterloo; two sisters-in-law, Cleo Henderson of Cedar Rapids and Jayne Byam of Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and two wives, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Allan Horak; five brothers, Lloyd, LeRoy, Earl, Harold and Ralph; and his sister, Helen Pollock.

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