Obituaries
Obituaries for The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory
In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones

William P. Schwager
Mar 5, 2013
William Paul Schwager passed away early Tuesday morning, March 5th. Born August 17, 1921 to Anna and Alvin Schwager, Mr. Schwager graduated from Garfield High School in 1940. He attended Whitman College and University of Washington and earned Bachelor's degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry. In 1943, he accepted a position at Tidewater Associated Oil Company in Long Beach, California. Two...
Evalyn I Lauby
Mar 4, 2013
Evalyn I. Lauby, 103, passed away peacefully March 4, 2013 surrounded by her family. Born in Akron, she lived here all of her life. Evalyn retired from Sanders Home as a Real Estate Agent after 25 years of service and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Norton. Preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; granddaughter, Cindy; and son-in-law,...
Mary F. Schweigert
Mar 4, 2013
Mary Frances Schweigert, 88, passed away March 4, 2013. Born in Cuyahoga Falls, she had worked as a buyer for Prinz Office Equipment. She was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls. Mary always had a smile. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and will truly be missed. Preceded in death by her husband,...
Gladys V. Miller
Mar 2, 2013
Gladys Miller went home to be with her Lord and Savior early in the morning on March 2nd after contracting the flu in early December, which led to secondary illnesses, then organ failure. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, friendship and "sunshine" to all she met. Born Lillian Viola Gladys Horstman on March 5th 1916 to Bessie Belle...
Gary L. Taylor
Mar 2, 2013
Gary L. Taylor, founder of Akron-based InfoCision Management Corporation and philanthropist, passed away Saturday, March 2nd, just over three years since he initially fell ill after a heart attack suffered in 2009. He was 59 years old. Gary was born and raised in Akron by mother Betty and father Robert. He and his brother Bob spent countless hours outside with...
Margaret (Heimbuch) Engle
Mar 1, 2013
Margaret (Heimbuch) Engle October 3, 1916 March 1, 2013 Born of immigrant parents, John and Margaret Heimbuch, she lived her entire life in Akron. She leaves to carry on her loving and caring legacy the family she so loved: daughter, Margaret "Tookie" (Herb) Mullen; son, Donard; granddaughters who she adored, Jodi (Dr. Greg) Vrabec, Traci (Chris) Finn; great-grandchildren for whom...
Robert A. Kline
Feb 26, 2013
Robert A. Kline, 87, died February 26, 2013 at his home in Fairlawn. Bob was born in Akron and lived his entire life in the Akron area. After graduating from St. Vincent High School, Bob served in World War II in the Navy on the aircraft carrier, the USS Gilbert Island, in the South Pacific. When he returned home after...
Nancy Barnett Post
Feb 24, 2013
Nancy Barnett Post passed away on February 24, 2013 at the age of 84. She was born to James Barnett and Dorothy Wright in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1928. In 1932, her family moved to Akron, Ohio where she attended public school and in 1946, she graduated from Central High School. She attended Akron University and was affiliated with...
John S Pflueger
Feb 24, 2013
John S. Pflueger, III, 57, of Akron, Ohio, passed away on February 24, 2013 after a courageous battle with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was born on February 17, 1956 and graduated from Firestone High School in 1974. John went on to attend Mount Union and The University of Akron. From there he worked and retired from Ken-Ed Cabinet Company and...
Theodore G Pappas
Feb 22, 2013
Theodore G. Pappas (Ted), born December 23, 1929 in Ravenna, Ohio, the son of Gust and Helen Pappas (deceased), died Friday, February 22, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Mary Cunningham Pappas whom he married May 2, 1965 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Ted is also survived by a son, George G. Pappas; daughters, Marie Pappas and H....

Louis M. Kalman
Feb 21, 2013
Louis M. Kalman, 90, died Feb. 21, 2013. He is now gone from the body and home with the Lord. Preceded in death by sisters, Helen and Lillian Kalman, and Lydia Wenhardt; brothers, Edward, Robert, Alfred and Elmer Kalman; and stepdaughter, Holly Angel; he is survived by brother, Richard; children, Louis, II, Kimberly and Kenneth; stepsons, John and Ron; and...
Michelle "Shelly" Thornton
Feb 20, 2013
Heaven got a little brighter, earth a little dimmer. Shelly Thornton, 8 years old, passed away on February 20, 2013 after a 5 year fight with cancer, Stage 4 of Neuroblastoma. She will join Jesus in Heaven, and be with her Nana, Bonnie Thornton, and her great-grandparents, Alonza and Florence Woods. She leaves behind her mother, Allison Thornton; grandfather, Jim...
Carol Elizabeth Ramey
Feb 20, 2013
Carol Elizabeth (Kuhlman) Ramey, age 84, of Akron, Ohio, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2013, after a courageous three-month battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Carol was born on July 29, 1928, at home in New Knoxville, Ohio, the daughter of Reinhart W. and Dorothy (Kuhlmann) Kuhlman. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John Henry Ramey. When they...
Edna "Eddie" Parker
Feb 20, 2013
Edna "Eddi" Parker, 77, died February 20, 2013. Be there animals in heaven, Eddi will be estatic. She loved them, big, small, wild. She leaves behind several cats and a dog. She was born June 26, 1935 in Akron and was a redhead all her life. Eddi graduated at age 20 from Ohio State University where she had joined Delta...

Earl E. Drews
Feb 16, 2013
Earl E. Drews, 89, passed away February 16, 2013. Service will be held 2 p.m., Tuesday at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Akron with Pastor Steve Bucy officiating. Interment at Rose Hill Burial Park. Friends may call one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of...
Lea Ann (Ward) Banner
Feb 16, 2013
Lea Ann (Ward) Banner, age 61, passed away from her 9-year battle with colon cancer on February 16. However, cancer was never a death sentence for Lea, but rather, a call to live in the present and to visit Barcelona, Venice, Istanbul, Alaska, Panama, Costa Rica, and more, while spending the last five winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. Even before her...
James M. Hooper
Feb 15, 2013
James M. Hooper, 93, died February 15, 2013. Born in Oakman, Alabama, he had lived in Akron since the early 1940's. A member of Fairlawn West United Church of Christ, James was a Mason and avid Golfer. He loved to play Good Park and had enjoyed several hole-in-ones over the years. James came to Akron to work for B.F. Goodrich...
Marcye Armington Bitler (Houston)
Feb 12, 2013
Marcye Armington Bitler (Huston) was born March 16th, 1926 in Cuyahoga Falls, where she grew up and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School and Kent State University. She passed away February 12th at her home in Stow after a long battle with emphysema. She was married to Jim Armington in 1946 for 25 years and was remarried to LC Duke...
John P. "Jack" Bracht
Feb 10, 2013
John P. "Jack" Bracht, Sr. John P. "Jack" Bracht, 98, passed away at home February 10, 2013 after a brief illness. Born in Seneca Falls, NY November 22, 1914. He has been a resident of the Akron area since 1936. Jack retired from B.F. Goodrich Company after 43 years as a Tire Development Engineer and was a member of Grace...
Ronald L. Rongone
Feb 8, 2013
Ronald L. Rongone, 92, died February 8, 2013. Born in Cuyahoga Falls, he was a life resident. A member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and Alpha Chi Sigma professional fraternity, he was a polymer physicist retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company with over 30 years service. Preceded in death by his parents, Guido and Jennie Rongone; brothers, Francis...

William P. Schwager
Mar 5, 2013
William Paul Schwager passed away early Tuesday morning, March 5th. Born August 17, 1921 to Anna and Alvin Schwager, Mr. Schwager graduated from Garfield High School in 1940. He attended Whitman College and University of Washington and earned Bachelor's degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry. In 1943, he accepted a position at Tidewater Associated Oil Company in Long Beach, California. Two...
Evalyn I Lauby
Mar 4, 2013
Evalyn I. Lauby, 103, passed away peacefully March 4, 2013 surrounded by her family. Born in Akron, she lived here all of her life. Evalyn retired from Sanders Home as a Real Estate Agent after 25 years of service and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Norton. Preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; granddaughter, Cindy; and son-in-law,...
Mary F. Schweigert
Mar 4, 2013
Mary Frances Schweigert, 88, passed away March 4, 2013. Born in Cuyahoga Falls, she had worked as a buyer for Prinz Office Equipment. She was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls. Mary always had a smile. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and will truly be missed. Preceded in death by her husband,...
Gladys V. Miller
Mar 2, 2013
Gladys Miller went home to be with her Lord and Savior early in the morning on March 2nd after contracting the flu in early December, which led to secondary illnesses, then organ failure. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, friendship and "sunshine" to all she met. Born Lillian Viola Gladys Horstman on March 5th 1916 to Bessie Belle...
Gary L. Taylor
Mar 2, 2013
Gary L. Taylor, founder of Akron-based InfoCision Management Corporation and philanthropist, passed away Saturday, March 2nd, just over three years since he initially fell ill after a heart attack suffered in 2009. He was 59 years old. Gary was born and raised in Akron by mother Betty and father Robert. He and his brother Bob spent countless hours outside with...
Margaret (Heimbuch) Engle
Mar 1, 2013
Margaret (Heimbuch) Engle October 3, 1916 March 1, 2013 Born of immigrant parents, John and Margaret Heimbuch, she lived her entire life in Akron. She leaves to carry on her loving and caring legacy the family she so loved: daughter, Margaret "Tookie" (Herb) Mullen; son, Donard; granddaughters who she adored, Jodi (Dr. Greg) Vrabec, Traci (Chris) Finn; great-grandchildren for whom...
Robert A. Kline
Feb 26, 2013
Robert A. Kline, 87, died February 26, 2013 at his home in Fairlawn. Bob was born in Akron and lived his entire life in the Akron area. After graduating from St. Vincent High School, Bob served in World War II in the Navy on the aircraft carrier, the USS Gilbert Island, in the South Pacific. When he returned home after...
Nancy Barnett Post
Feb 24, 2013
Nancy Barnett Post passed away on February 24, 2013 at the age of 84. She was born to James Barnett and Dorothy Wright in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1928. In 1932, her family moved to Akron, Ohio where she attended public school and in 1946, she graduated from Central High School. She attended Akron University and was affiliated with...
John S Pflueger
Feb 24, 2013
John S. Pflueger, III, 57, of Akron, Ohio, passed away on February 24, 2013 after a courageous battle with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was born on February 17, 1956 and graduated from Firestone High School in 1974. John went on to attend Mount Union and The University of Akron. From there he worked and retired from Ken-Ed Cabinet Company and...
Theodore G Pappas
Feb 22, 2013
Theodore G. Pappas (Ted), born December 23, 1929 in Ravenna, Ohio, the son of Gust and Helen Pappas (deceased), died Friday, February 22, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Mary Cunningham Pappas whom he married May 2, 1965 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Ted is also survived by a son, George G. Pappas; daughters, Marie Pappas and H....

Louis M. Kalman
Feb 21, 2013
Louis M. Kalman, 90, died Feb. 21, 2013. He is now gone from the body and home with the Lord. Preceded in death by sisters, Helen and Lillian Kalman, and Lydia Wenhardt; brothers, Edward, Robert, Alfred and Elmer Kalman; and stepdaughter, Holly Angel; he is survived by brother, Richard; children, Louis, II, Kimberly and Kenneth; stepsons, John and Ron; and...
Michelle "Shelly" Thornton
Feb 20, 2013
Heaven got a little brighter, earth a little dimmer. Shelly Thornton, 8 years old, passed away on February 20, 2013 after a 5 year fight with cancer, Stage 4 of Neuroblastoma. She will join Jesus in Heaven, and be with her Nana, Bonnie Thornton, and her great-grandparents, Alonza and Florence Woods. She leaves behind her mother, Allison Thornton; grandfather, Jim...
Carol Elizabeth Ramey
Feb 20, 2013
Carol Elizabeth (Kuhlman) Ramey, age 84, of Akron, Ohio, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2013, after a courageous three-month battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Carol was born on July 29, 1928, at home in New Knoxville, Ohio, the daughter of Reinhart W. and Dorothy (Kuhlmann) Kuhlman. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John Henry Ramey. When they...
Edna "Eddie" Parker
Feb 20, 2013
Edna "Eddi" Parker, 77, died February 20, 2013. Be there animals in heaven, Eddi will be estatic. She loved them, big, small, wild. She leaves behind several cats and a dog. She was born June 26, 1935 in Akron and was a redhead all her life. Eddi graduated at age 20 from Ohio State University where she had joined Delta...

Earl E. Drews
Feb 16, 2013
Earl E. Drews, 89, passed away February 16, 2013. Service will be held 2 p.m., Tuesday at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Akron with Pastor Steve Bucy officiating. Interment at Rose Hill Burial Park. Friends may call one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of...
Lea Ann (Ward) Banner
Feb 16, 2013
Lea Ann (Ward) Banner, age 61, passed away from her 9-year battle with colon cancer on February 16. However, cancer was never a death sentence for Lea, but rather, a call to live in the present and to visit Barcelona, Venice, Istanbul, Alaska, Panama, Costa Rica, and more, while spending the last five winters in Scottsdale, Arizona. Even before her...
James M. Hooper
Feb 15, 2013
James M. Hooper, 93, died February 15, 2013. Born in Oakman, Alabama, he had lived in Akron since the early 1940's. A member of Fairlawn West United Church of Christ, James was a Mason and avid Golfer. He loved to play Good Park and had enjoyed several hole-in-ones over the years. James came to Akron to work for B.F. Goodrich...
Marcye Armington Bitler (Houston)
Feb 12, 2013
Marcye Armington Bitler (Huston) was born March 16th, 1926 in Cuyahoga Falls, where she grew up and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School and Kent State University. She passed away February 12th at her home in Stow after a long battle with emphysema. She was married to Jim Armington in 1946 for 25 years and was remarried to LC Duke...
John P. "Jack" Bracht
Feb 10, 2013
John P. "Jack" Bracht, Sr. John P. "Jack" Bracht, 98, passed away at home February 10, 2013 after a brief illness. Born in Seneca Falls, NY November 22, 1914. He has been a resident of the Akron area since 1936. Jack retired from B.F. Goodrich Company after 43 years as a Tire Development Engineer and was a member of Grace...
Ronald L. Rongone
Feb 8, 2013
Ronald L. Rongone, 92, died February 8, 2013. Born in Cuyahoga Falls, he was a life resident. A member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and Alpha Chi Sigma professional fraternity, he was a polymer physicist retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company with over 30 years service. Preceded in death by his parents, Guido and Jennie Rongone; brothers, Francis...