Youngstown postmaster was dedicated to community

Stephen Huba | Friday, November 15, 2019 6:41 p.m.

Dean Musick was a small-town postmaster whose mettle was tested in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

“He was totally dedicated to his work, and he wouldn’t take a day off,” said his son, Craig Musick.

“Work was always really important to him,” said his daughter, Debbie Musick.

Mr. Musick was postmaster for the Youngstown post office for 32 years, until his retirement in 1981. To be close to his job, he built a home in Youngstown. He was a lifetime member of the National Association of Postmasters.

Dean L. Musick, of Youngstown, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital. He was 94.

Born in Unity Township on Feb. 3, 1925, he was a son of the late Ben F. and Mabel E. (Shirey) Musick. He graduated from high school and enlisted in the Navy.

Mr. Musick was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Bataan, where he served as a firefighter in 1944 and 1945 in the Pacific. The ship participated in five major engagement, including operations around New Guinea, the invasion of the Mariana Islands, the battle of the Philippine Sea, the battle of Okinawa and attacks on the Japanese home islands.

Mr. Musick also was driver for the ship’s commanding officer for a time, his son said. He was awarded the Bronze Star, among other military decorations.

“He told me that being on the ship was the most exciting part of being in the Navy,” said his granddaughter, Colby Musick-Breegle.

After the war, Mr. Musick worked at his father’s grocery store and Kennametal before taking the job at the post office.

It was at Musick’s Grocery that he met his wife, Garnet (Harr) Musick. “He was a clerk there. I thought he was pretty nice,” she said.

They started dating on Jan. 2, 1947, and got married on May 23 that same year, she said. They raised two children while living in Youngstown.

Debbie Musick said her father was so dedicated to his work that he even went in on Christmas morning to get the mail.

“We would have to wait until he came home before we could open our gifts,” she said.

Upon retirement, he did construction work with his brother Ray Musick and built homes in the area.

Mr. Musick also served on the Youngstown Water Authority, was a life member of the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Department and was a life member of American Legion Post 982, where he was finance officer.

“If anyone needed anything done, he’d be there at the drop of a hat,” Craig Musick said.

In his later years, he enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing and playing bingo with his wife.

Mr. Musick is survived by his wife of 72 years, Garnet (Harr) Musick; his daughter, Debra Musick; his son, Craig Musick, and his wife, Mary Ann; a granddaughter; two stepgrandsons; six stepgreat-grandchildren; and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel of Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home, 1500 Ligonier St., Latrobe, followed by military services accorded by the Latrobe-Derry Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be at Unity Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 356, Youngstown, PA 15696, or to the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 283, Youngstown, PA 15696.