Howard A. Fruth, 76, of Galion passed away on Monday, June 22, 2015 at Galion Community Hospital after a sudden illness.
Born March 14, 1939, in Carey, he was the son of the late Allen and Thelma (Wolf) Fruth. He married Patricia Ann (Strauch) Fruth on November 6, 1965 and she survives.
Howard was a graduate of Galion High School in 1959 and served in the United States Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He attended Iberia United Methodist Church and Sixteen United Methodist Church where his wife served as pastor and was a member of Blooming Grove United Methodist Church. He was a master woodworker and could build anything out of wood and was very creative. Howard was a farmer who loved the land and hunting. He worked as a mill worker for the former Gledhill Lumber and Components in Galion for 51 years until his retirement.
In addition to his wife he is also survived by his three children, Kathleen “Katie” and Rev. Jeff Stoll of Saybrook, Joseph Howard and MariaLuz Fruth of Cincinnati and Josephine “Josie” and Rob Gosney of Omaha, Nebraska; four grandchildren, Joshua and Josiah Stoll and Marshall and Mitchell Gosney; two brothers, Glenn Fruth of Bucyrus and James and Patricia I. Fruth of Galion; two sisters, Marilyn and Carolyn Fruth of Galion; sister-in-law, Barbara (Strauch) Thompson of Galion and his faithful companion Reese, his chocolate lab.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the Richardson Davis Chapel of Snyder Funeral Homes, 218 South Market St., Galion, Ohio 44833. Additional calling hours will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, June 26, 2015 at the Iberia United Methodist Church, 3664 State Route 309, Iberia, and Ohio 43325 where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday with Rev. Karen Oehl officiating. Burial will follow at Iberia Cemetery.
Full military honors will be conducted by the United States Army and Galion Crestline Veterans Military Funeral Detail.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Richland County in care of the funeral home.
Richardson Davis Chapel of Snyder Funeral Homes in Galion is honored to serve the family of Howard Fruth and condolences may be made to them at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
