By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Lawrence Richard Daily, former treasurer for the village of Newtown and owner of Swisher's Department Store there, died Aug. 6 from complications of Parkinson's disease at his Mount Washington home.

The longtime Newtown resident was 90.

Born in Newtown in 1912 to Tom and Clara Schreiber Daily, Mr. Daily grew up delivering the Times-Star and the Enquirer.

A gifted musician, he played the piano, trumpet, French horn, ukulele, violin and organ. For years he gave organ lessons and played piano with a band called the Ohioans.

Many may remember him as the fiddler at local square dances.

Mr. Daily graduated from Terrace Park High School in 1930 and from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in commercial engineering in 1935.

The following year he married Elizabeth Swisher and they built their first house on Edith Street in Newtown in 1937.

Mr. Daily worked for Wright's Aeronautical, where he met Orville Wright, during World War II.

"I never saw him when I was a little child because it was during the war and he was working round-the-clock," said his daughter, Shirley Swisher of Mount Washington.

"I don't know how long after the war he worked for Wright's. That's when he took over my grandparents' store - Swisher's Department Store."

In addition to serving as treasurer of the village, Mr. Daily was active with the Chamber of Commerce. Meetings were held in the basement of the family's home.

"When the postman was ill, they used to call my dad," Swisher said. "Well, the postman retired, so my dad worked for them. He was a quiet man and easygoing, yet he was always doing something."

Mr. Daily closed the store around 1964 and worked for the U.S. Postal Service until 1977.

He was a member of the Newtown Volunteer Fire Department, the Cincinnati Observatory's Astronomical Society and Gerard Lodge No. 428 of Free & Accepted Masons.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 1989.

In addition to his daughter, Shirley, survivors include another daughter, Sharon Ludwig of Anderson Township; a son, Lawrence Daily Jr. of Reading; a brother, Charles Daily of Fort Myers, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

Services have been held. Burial was at Batavia Cemetery.

Memorials: Parkinson's Foundation, Southwest Region, 325 Third St., Fairborn, OH 45324-4959.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com