Neal Joseph Lawless

Neal Joseph Lawless, age 79, of Dover, died early Friday morning, October 26, 2007, in Union Hospital at Dover following an extended illness. Born March 16, 1929, Neal was a son of the late John and Margaret Lab Lawless. A graduate of St. Joseph High School, Neal played baseball as a young man in a traveling league that originated from the former Parral Baseball Park. Neal served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge December 13, 1952, Neal returned to the Tuscarawas Valley to marry the former LaVon “Bonnie” Maughan, on February 28, 1953. An Ironworker by trade, Neal was a member of the International Ironworkers Local #550 based at Canton from which he retired in 1984 following decades of service that included fifteen years at Alliance City Construction and previously at Dover Tank & Plate where he worked as a Boilermaker.Mr. Lawless was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church at New Philadelphia, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3463 at Dover. In his retirement, Neal became a talented woodworker from his home work shop. In recent years, he blessed his family and friends with an abundance of home-made Christmas candy made by Neal from a recipe passed down through his family. Most of all, Neal enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. The Lawless family includes three daughters, Germaine (Dr. Jeff) Bory of Carrollton, Kathi (Jeff) Rothacher and Patti Moore, both of Dover; four grandchildren, Jeffrey (Hallie) Rothacher, Jamie (Carla) Rothacher, Samantha Jo Moore, and Brendan M. Allman all of Dover; four great-grandchildren, Dalton, Colton, Dillon and Derron Rothacher; a sister, Mary Lou (Tom) Hutras of Dover; a brother, Tom Lawless of New Philadelphia, and a sister, Marie Scalambrino of New Philadelphia, complete the family. In addition to his parents, Neal was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-one years, Bonnie Lawless, an infant grandson, Cody James Moore, and two sisters, Joan Martin and Germaine Lawless. Monsignor George J. Schlegel will Celebrate Mass of Christian Burial Monday afternoon at 1:30 PM in Sacred Heart Catholic Church at New Philadelphia. The funeral procession to the cemetery will form at the church. Inurnment will follow, at Calvary Cemetery, in Dover Township where members of VFW Post 3463 will render military honors. There are no public calling hours. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, 425 Prospect Street, Dover, Ohio 44622. Geib Funeral Center at Dover(330) 343-5506www.geibfuneral.com