On October 13, 1905, a baby was born in Massillon, Ohio. He was named Barton Moore. Barton grew up in Massillon and worked in the area steel mills as a teenager. He learned to roller-skate as a young man and participated in many roller derby races. In the late 1920's, Barton left his home in Massillon, supporting himself by skating and performing with various circuses as a tightrope walker and clown. Around this same time period he also changed his name from Barton Moore to Robert George Deal, perhaps because of family problems. His new name was possibly borrowed from a friend.
Barton, now Bob Deal, was passing through the Dayton area looking for work with the ultimate goal of attending a roller derby contest in Milwaukee. He met Samuel Zehrung and consequently applied for a job at Sam’s business, San Rae Gardens in West Carrollton. Sam hired Bob and that was the start of a lifelong friendship. Bob worked for Sam for eight years just before and during the Great Depression. While he was single, he lived in a small apartment on the grounds of San Rae Gardens. That was also where we met his future wife. Anna "Faith" Young was a youthful teacher leading her class on a picnic tour of San Rae Gardens when she met Bob Deal. They were married on August 11, 1934.
As a young couple, Bob and Faith owned a home off Linden Avenue in east Dayton. In the mid to late 1930's they started a small card and gift shop on Salem Avenue in Dayton.
In 1938, Faith and Bob purchased property on Dayton-Xenia Road where the current business is located. The house, which still stands today, was, at that time, about 100 years old and in poor condition. Faith refused to move into the house until they had added a bathroom! On January 20, 1940, they made their final move to Dayton-Xenia Road with their two year old son and six month old daughter. On January 31, 1940, they were granted a Vendor's License for their new flower shop and landscape business. That original license hangs in our landscape barn office today. Their youngest son was born in 1942. The three children grew up on the property. At the same time, Beavercreek was expanding and the business was growing.
In 1969, the youngest son, John, took over management of the landscape portion of the business. He is still the president of the company. Bob and Faith continued running the flower shop into their eighties. Bob passed away in April, 1989, and Faith passed away in March, 1999.