Howard B. Whytsell

Howard Brent Whytsell, age 78, of New Philadelphia, died peacefully Tuesday, March 27, 2012 in his home, following a brief illness.

A son of the late Simon and Laura (Kirby) Whytsell, Howard was born at Calhoun County, West Virginia on March 16, 1934.

He attended school at Grantsville, West Virginia and was inducted into the United States Army on December 8, 1955.

While stationed in Connecticut, he met and married the former Anna May Gunner on August 2, 1958. As a couple, they reared five children and shared in nearly 41 years of marriage prior to her death on July 21, 1999.

For more than 18 years Howard worked for Superior Brand Meats at Massillon and later retired from Beaver Valley Woodcraft near Sherrodsville.

Howard enjoyed hunting with his rabbit dogs, coonhounds and fox hounds as well as taking his grandchildren mushroom hunting. One of Howard’s favorite pastimes was sitting in his golf cart at the end of his lane where he watched the traffic pass along State Route 39.

Howard is survived by his five children, Timothy (Dianna) Whytsell, Kevin (Dawna) Whytsell all of New Philadelphia and Jeffrey (Leslie) Whytsell of Port Washington, Marsha Cooper and Michelle (Joel) Flickinger all of Dover; three sisters, Geneva Morgan of Georgia, Jewell (Harvey) Marsh of Pinch, West Virginia and Kathryn (Harold) Ladd of Cutler, Ohio; two brothers, Kose (Joan) Whytsell and Eugene (June) Whytsell all of Parkersburg, West Virginia; and his best friend, Todd Hupp of New Philadelphia.

Thirteen grandchildren, Jami Roth, Haily Duda, Michael Whytsell, Lucas Whytsell, Misty Thomas, Britney Whytsell, Mark Cooper, Mike Cooper, Marissa Winkler, Jeffrey Harmon, Jeanette Flickinger, Matthew Harmon, and Lexi Flickinger, 10 great-grandchildren, an expected great-grandchild due April 4th, as well as numerous nieces and nephews complete the family.

In addition to his parents and wife, Howard was preceded in death by a sister, Louise Nevitt; a brother, Simon Whytsell; six half-sisters and five half-brothers.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia and again an hour prior to services, on Friday, March 30, 2012 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. The Reverend Henry Mooney will lead a service celebrating Howard’s life in the funeral home’s chapel on Friday at 11:00 AM. Burial in the Sherrodsville Memorial Gardens will follow.

Following services, the family wishes to invite guests to join them in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the New Philadelphia funeral home, for a meal and fellowship.

The family requests memorial contributions in Howard’s name may be directed to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.