Max Dale Waddington

Max Dale Waddington, Sr., 93, of Dover, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 05, 2015 at Community Hospice House at New Philadelphia. He was born September 13, 1921 to Carl David and Muriel Waddington at their home on 256 West High Avenue in New Philadelphia.

Max Sr. is survived by his wife of 72 years, Alicia “Lee” (Nichols) Waddington; a sister, Joanne Borror of Columbus, Ohio; a son, Max D. (Shirley) Jr. of Opelika, Alabama; a granddaughter, Michelle (Jeff) Steiner of Fayetteville, Arkansas; grandsons, Max D. (Alisha) Waddington III of Alpharetta, Georgia and Thomas M. (Jordan) Waddington of Canton, Georgia; great granddaughters, Blaire Waddington and Ashley and Megan Steiner; a great grandson Otis Samuel Waddington and many loving nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jon Lee and his brother, Carl David Jr.

Max lived his fist 15 years on West High Avenue until the family moved to Pleasant Valley farm, a valley settled by his Great Grandfather in the late 1830’s. Max was a 1939 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and attended Akron University after returning from his service in WWII. Prior to entering the Naval Service, he was inducted into the BPOE 510 Elks Lodge by his father, Carl, the exalted ruler, and was a lifelong member of the Elks. At the time of his death he was the oldest surviving member of the New Philadelphia Elks. Max served in the Navy on the USS Custer during World War II and acquired the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Upon his return, his father gave him three adjacent acres and they built the home that is now 2081 Pleasant Valley Road with money saved by his wife, Lee, while she had lived with his parents in Pleasant Valley. They tore down two homes in Goshen to get the majority of the structural lumber for the new home. One of the homes had belonged to the family of Leo Benjamin, a former high school classmate of his. Max worked in the purchasing department of Ladel Industries which later became Joy Manufacturing. He enjoyed an active social life with his wife and friends as he played golf at Sugarcreek Golf Course and fished on Tappan Lake.

In 1960, he had the opportunity to move to Opelika, Alabama to assist in the expansion of Orr Industries, later to become a division of Ampex Corporation as Manager of Purchasing. While in that position, he initiated the Alabama Purchasing Association and served as the first President. He also past president of the Opelika Exchange Club. Along with his wife, Lee, they were very active in the social life of the area. Max had a great passion for fishing and in the early 1960’s he leased property from Alabama Power Company and built his own cabin with the help of his son and friends. The cabin, now purchased and owned by his son, still sits on Lake Martin at the end of Waddington Lane. Many of his fishing trophies and memorabilia are still on display in that cabin today. He hosted many fishing outings, fish fry’s and the annual Waddington Bass Invitational. Max was also an active member of the Auburn Bassmaster Club.

Max and his wife, Lee, then returned to Dover, Ohio in 1985 to be near family and friends. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church at Dover. He was an avid golfer at the Sugarcreek Golf Course into his late 70’s and enjoyed the companionship of his friends and family until his passing.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 8, 2015 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Max’s life will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home’s chapel with Pastor Dave Kowaleski officiating. Military honors will be rendered at the funeral home with private burial taking place in East Avenue Cemetery at New Philadelphia.

Contributions may be made in Max’s memory to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.