Floyd Burkholder

Floyd Burkholder, 87, of New Philadelphia, died Monday, March 21, 2005, at Union Hospital in Dover.One of eleven children born to the late William J. and Hattie Burkholder, Floyd was born March 6, 1918 in Ravenna, Ohio.He served in the Hawaiian Islands with the United States Army Air Corps during the Second World War. Following an honorable discharge, he was a heat treat operator at Gradall in New Philadelphia until his retirement in l982.Floyd was well-known to family and friends as “Mr. Fixit,” a handyman who loved to tinker and create. He was regularly seen sitting on his front porch or with a neighbor, lending a helping hand. He enjoyed time spent with his family and was a loving caregiver for his wife, the former June Wassem, who now resides at Amberwood Residence in New Philadelphia.Floyd was a long-time member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia and the New Philadelphia post of the American Legion.He is survived by his wife, his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Brad Smith of Dover; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Nancy Burkholder of Dover and Ted and Shirley Burkholder of Canton; grandchildren, William (Connie) Burkholder, Mark (Jessica) Burkholder, Steve (Natalie) Burkholder, Tricia (Brad) Henderson, and Brad Smith; great grandchildren, Corinna Burkholder, Libby and Tate Burkholder, Hannah and Caleb Burkholder; step-granddaughter, Megan Vermeire-Burkholder; and brother, Walter (Dorothy) Burkholder of New Philadelphia.He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, and four sisters.Friends may call on the family at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory in New Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. Church Council services will be held at the beginning of visitation. Services to celebrate Floyd’s life will be conducted by Pastor Mike Walters on Thursday, March 24, 2005, in the Geib Funeral Home Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Evergreen Burial Park. Following the committal, a reception for family and friends will be given in the fellowship hall of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Memorial Contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.