Walter "Dickie" Richard Lerch

Dickie began attending the Orange Grove School in 1961, and became a resident of Orange Grove in 1982. He resided at the Orange Grove residence on Vance Road in East Brainerd during latter years.

His parents, the late, Walter and Virginia Lerch, were active members of the Orange Grove community, serving tenures as members and officers on behalf of Orange Grove, as President of Orange Grove Board of Directors, and Chattanooga Association for Retarded Children, respectively.

Dickie and his family, are forever grateful to the Orange Grove Center of Chattanooga, to the dedicated staff and volunteers who, true to the Orange Grove mission, build a community of support, providing hope and possibilities for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).

Dickie was preceded in death by his parents, Walter A. Lerch, Jr. and Virginia Guth Lerch; his grandparents, Walter A. Lerch, Sr. and Elizabeth Thomas Lerch; and James Robert and Evelyn McDonald Guth.

He is survived by his sister, Jane Ann (Robert) Laub, Nashville, TN; his brother, Robert Reid Lerch, Breckenridge, CO; nephews, Joseph (Rachel) Laub, Brookline, MA; Michael Laub, Chattanooga; his aunt, Shirley Guth Evans, Hixson, TN; and cousins Lee Thomas, Chattanooga; Dee (Greg) Menefee and Christine (Chris) Gardner, Southern Shores NC.

A Celebration of Dickie’s Life will be held graveside in the Hamilton Memorial Gardens on Wednesday February 7, 2024 at 11:00 am with Pastor Mark Butler officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Orange Grove Center at orangegrovecenter.org or 615 Derby Street, Chattanooga, TN 37404.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com