More detail on this person: Richard J. Sebastian, a loving father, devoted husband, and loyal friend to many, passed away from complications of an experimental heart procedure at the age of 75 on Sunday, February 14, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. He would have celebrated his 76th birthday on Saturday February 20, 2021. Rich was born in East Chicago, Indiana on February 20, 1944 to the late James Sebestyen and Bess Doctor (Szabo). Richard served his country proudly as a helicopter pilot and Blue Ghost in the Vietnam War. Rich's career in the flooring industry spanned over 45 years until his retirement in 2017. He was a proud and active member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and the VFW. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed bowling. Richard loved to travel, and he made his way to most every place he was interested from the top of the world to the bottom, from safari in South Africa to a road rally across Europe to a cruise around the tip of South America and, most recently, India and Nepal. Richard is survived by his children: Lisa Sebastian (Chicago, IL), Kevin Jones and his wife Olivia Bucher (Denver, CO) and Holly Baldwin (Shelbyville, KY) ; and his grandchildren: Morgen Baldwin, Andrew Jones, Seth Sebastian Lohr, Maxwell Sebastian Hoff, and Craig Bucher; as well as great-grandsons Luca and Carsyn Jones. He was preceded in death by his son, Brian J. Sebastian, in 2000 and his beloved wife of 29 years, Mary (Jones), in 2018. Family services will be held Friday and Saturday (February 26 and 27, 2021), at Waite & Son Funeral Home in Medina. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Scholarship Fund either online or via mail: Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, 1601 E Lamar Blvd, Suite 117, Arlington, TX 76011, 800-505-8472 or www.vhpa.org Online condolences may be left at WaiteFuneralHome.comNo full obituary out at this time. Richard J. Sebastian, co-founder of FCA Network retail floor covering buying group, passed away on February 14, 2021, from complications after an experimental heart procedure, at the age of 75. The loving father, devoted husband, and a loyal friend to many would have celebrated his 76th birthday on February 20, 2021. Sebastian's career in the flooring industry spanned over 45 years until his retirement in 2017. He, like many other young entrepreneurs, owned and operated several Carpetland franchise stores in the North Canton, Ohio, market and he soon became a partner with Robert A. Hill who owns and operates Floor Covering Associates with five locations in the Chicago suburbs. Prior to starting up his own business, Sebastian worked for Rick Meyer as head of franchise operations. In the late '90s Hill saw an opportunity to leverage his buying power and share his expertise in the industry with specialty retailers in secondary markets and formed a buying group with Sebastian called FCA Network, headquartered in Shorewood, Illinois. Rich, who at that time was president of the Northeast Ohio Floor Covering Association (NEOFCA) assembled a group of independent retailers in the Ohio market and FCA Network. Sebastian is survived by his daughters Lisa Sebastian and Holly Jones; sons Brian Sebastian and Kevin Jones; and grandchildren Maxwell Sebastian Hoff, Seth Sebastian Lohr, Morgen Baldwin, Andrew, Luka and Carson Jones. Sebastian will always live on as a loyal, fun loving friend and an American patriot who enlisted in the Army to serve our country during the Vietnam War. He flew dozens of helicopter rescue missions and was shot down several times. Sebastian continued his work with veterans across the country and was a dedicated member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. He will be remembered as a true hero and a great friend. Visitation is on February 26, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Waite & Son in Medina, Ohio. Services will be held on February 27th at 11:00 a.m. at Waite & Son with a luncheon immediately after at Weymouth Country Club in Medina. VHPA Member Death From hughjpreacher@aol.com To sherry@vhpa.org Date Mon 13:28 We lost our bud Richard Sebastian yesterday,,,, he had been in hospital since February 1st. Richard J Sebastian February 20, 1944 - February 14, 2021 Not sure if Rich was a Life Member in VHPA or not but through I would let you know. Rich quietly passed away from complications from his heart procedure at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville around 18:00 on February 14, 2021 after two days with most of his family. His daughter Lisa is organizing arrangements and looks like he will return to his home of many years in Medina Ohio After a year of health challenges Rich can now rest easy. Rich was in my platoon in OCS at Ft Knox (27 67) and we have been even closer since we both ended up in the same town in Florida. Fortunately, four of us from the platoon and ladies had lunch January 21st (peach shirt attached). Regards, Hugh
This information was last updated 02/26/2021
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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