Nicholas E. "Nick" Dunch, formerly a longtime resident of Sharon, passed away peacefully with his family by his side, Sunday, May 28, 2017, at his residence in Muncie, IN. He was 74.

Mr. Dunch was born July 1, 1942, in Sharon, a son of Nicholas A. and Helen (Ruffo) Dunch. He was a 1960 graduate of Sharon High School and attended Youngstown State University.

Nick served in the U.S. Army's National Guard, Hermitage.

He began his career as a draftsman at the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. and continued to work for the company throughout the country in various capacities over the next several decades, including: supervisor of the Westinghouse Repair Facility, Kansas City, Missourri, from 1974 to 1981; returning to the Sharon, PA, facility as the main isle supervisor from 1981 until the plant's closing in 1985;  transferred to the Muncie, IN, facility as a Unit Manager from 1985-1991; then served as a member of the plant start up team in Charleston, SC; from 1991-1998. Nick ultimately retired in 2004 as a main line supervisor at Delta Star West, Lynchburg, VA, where he worked for six years.

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi University Parish and Newman Center, Muncie, IN, and formerly a longtime member of Church of the Sacred Heart, Sharon.

Nick had remarkable musical talent and was a very accomplished accordion player. He played regularly in several local groups up into his early 30's, one of which being, The 92 nd Congress . His passion for music remained throughout his life and he continued to play on occasion until recently.

His family was always his top priority. Nick loved his family dearly and cherished the time he spent with them, particularly his grandchildren whom affectionately called him, "Papa."

He is survived by: his wife of over 52 years, the former Joan M. Ogden, whom he married October 24, 1964, in Church of the Sacred Heart, Sharon; a daughter Natalie Lawrence and her husband Shannon, Muncie, IN; two sons, Nick E. Dunch, Muncie, IN; and Neil Dunch and his wife Alison, Austin, TX; two sisters, Mary Ann Bialko and her husband Vern, Vienna, OH; and Rose Marie Rowe and her husband Terry, Hermitage, PA; a sister-in-law, Cindy Dunch, Hubbard, OH; and seven grandchildren, Kenzie, Wyatt, Marie and Emma Lawrence; and Kayla, Anna and Nicholas J. Dunch.

Nick was preceded in death by his parents and brother, William Dunch.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.donate.cancer.org ; or the Tourette Association of America, www.tourette.org .

Calling hours will be 3 p.m. until the time of service of Tuesday ( 6-6-17 ) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Funeral service will be 6 p.m. Tuesday , in the funeral home, with Rev. Thomas Whitman, pastor of St. Joseph Church, Sharon, officiating.

Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage.