Kenneth Lawrence Stover

Kenneth Lawrence “Larry” Stover, age 68, of New Philadelphia died Monday, June 7, 2010, in The Cleveland Clinic following a two year battle with Leukemia.A son of the late Reverend Kenneth and Susan (Shearer) Stover, Larry, as he was known by his family and friends, was born in Dayton, Ohio on March 14, 1942.Larry was a 1960 graduate of Libbey High School at Toledo, Ohio and earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Bluffton University at Bluffton, Ohio in 1964.While at Bluffton, Larry played the positions of left and right guard on the school’s football team. The 1962 team went on to capture the Mid-Ohio Conference Championship, and Larry was selected to the All-State team among Ohio small colleges. This team was later inducted into the Bluffton University Hall of Fame. While at Bluffton, Larry was also a member of the a cappella choir.It was from the a cappella choir that Larry set his sights on a young lady named Janis Lantz. Following a period of courtship, the couple married on August 1, 1964, in the First Mennonite Church at Berne, Indiana. Together, they reared three children.Larry’s professional career in the chemistry field spanned nearly four decades as he spent fifteen years as a Glass Research Scientist in the Research and Development Department at Libbey-Owens Ford at Toledo. Upon relocating to the Tuscarawas Valley, he was employed by Zedmark, now Minteq, at Parrall for more than twenty years. At Minteq, Larry oversaw the Quality Assurance and Research and Development Departments. Upon retiring in 2004, Larry was called upon by Fuse Tech, Inc. to serve as a ceramics consultant for the firm.Larry enjoyed his involvement as a member of the American Ceramic Society, the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Choir, the First United Church of Christ Choir at New Philadelphia, and the Tuscarawas County YMCA, where he was often found playing racquetball and exercising. Larry was an avid reader all of his life. Some of his other passions included golfing, taking long walks with his wife, working on Sudoku puzzles, driving his Supersport and Crossfire sports cars, flying kites, bowling, traveling and most importantly, following the sporting events of his children and later his grandchildren. He was also an avid fan of The Ohio State University sports programs and all Cleveland sports teams.In addition to his involvement with the First United Church of Christ Choir, Larry served for a number of years as a deacon within the church, the activities director of Vacation Church School and had most recently served as president of the church consistory.Larry will be deeply missed by his wife of forty-five years, Janis; their three children, Michael (Nicole) Stover of Rossford, Ohio, Matthew (Jody) Stover of La Porte, Indiana, and Melissa (Timothy) O’Boyle of Carrollton, Virginia; two sisters, Jane Groff and Mary (John) Herzog all of Springfield, Ohio and two brothers, Reverend Samuel (Dottie) Stover of Cincinnati and John (Donna) Stover of Northwood, Ohio.Seven grandchildren, Cassi & Aaron Stover, Miranda, Devin and Jenae Stover, and Brendan and Liam O’Boyle; two expected grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews complete the family.The family will receive guests in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Friday, June 11, 2010, from 4:00 â?? 7:00 PM. Pastor Jeff Gerber will lead a memorial service celebrating Larry’s life in the First United Church of Christ at New Philadelphia on Saturday, June 12, 2010, at 11:00 AM.Following the service, the family would like to invite guests to join them in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the New Philadelphia Funeral Home, where a meal and fellowship will be shared.Those unable to attend may send the family personal condolences by signing the online guest registry located on the funeral home’s website.The family requests that memorial contributions in Larry’s name be directed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.O. BOX 9026, Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01202, the Caring Bridge, P.O. BOX 131447, Houston, Texas 77219, or to the Tuscarawas County YMCA, 600 Monroe Street, Dover, Ohio 44622.