Craig M. Rader

Craig Morse Rader, 72, of Dover, Ohio passed away on April 16th, 2021, due to complications from the COVID-19 virus.

Craig was born on December 22nd, 1948, in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Charles Morse and Grace (Garver) Rader.

He was a graduate of Ohio University and Carnegie Mellon University. While at Ohio University, Craig excelled in both athletics and academics. He was a member of the undefeated 1968 football team that went on to win the MAC Championship and an Outstanding Scholar Athlete in 1969.

Following his graduation from Ohio U, Craig was enlisted in the US Army and honorably served in Vietnam from 1971-1972.

He moved to Dover in 1975, and began a 27-year career at Commercial Honing, Inc. He retired as president of the company in 2002.

Craig counted himself blessed in many ways, but he would often acknowledge his greatest blessing was meeting the love of his life, the former Melody Seymour, in 1978. They married in 1983 and raised two devoted and loving sons, Christopher and Scott. Together, those four had an inseparable bond that will never be broken.

Because volunteerism and charity were foundational to his values, Craig served on the board of many businesses and organizations. He was a founding member of the Dover City Schools Education Foundation, devoted many years on the board of Union Country Club, and served over thirty years on the Tuscarawas County YMCA Board of Trustees, earning the board’s Leo Poland Award for outstanding service in 2016.

Craig achieved success in every facet of his life, and he will be remembered for many things. But above all else he was a gentleman and his kindness, humility, passion for life, and sense of humor will never be forgotten.

He will be deeply missed and forever cherished by his wife, Melody; sons, Christopher (Lauren) Rader and their son, Graham, of Cincinnati, and Scott Rader of Columbus; his sister, Evelyn Rader of Edgeworth, Pennsylvania; his brother, Brian Rader of Alachua, Florida; and nephew, Craig Rader and his sons, Garrett and Kyle, of Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

Craig was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, and a Celebration of his life is being planned for early summer.

Memorial contributions in Craig’s memory may be directed to either the Tuscarawas County YMCA, 600 Monroe St., Dover, Ohio 44622, or the Dover City Schools Education Foundation, PO Box 190, Dover, Ohio 44622.