Paul H. Berkshire

Paul Howard Berkshire, age 80, of Strasburg, died Tuesday, August 2, 2011, in Aultman Hospital at Canton following a five month battle with Myasthenia Gravis Disease.A son of the late William and Agnes Cordwell Berkshire, Paul was born at Weston, West Virginia on July 15, 1931. He graduated from Morgantown High School and entered in to the United States Air Force where he served his country during the Korean War and was called to serve tours of duty in Guam and California.Following his discharge, Paul attended West Virginia University. He began a career with the Dover Chemical Corporation at Dover, Ohio in 1965. Paul faithfully served the company and in 2007, following 42 years of service, he retired as Vice President of Manufacturing.Paul was a lifelong fan and supporter of WVU athletics and followed Mountaineer football religiously. He was a longtime season ticket holder and a member of the WVU Athletic Club. Additionally, he was a familiar face at the Tuscarawas County Y.M.C.A. where he had held a membership for the past 35 years and attended the facility almost daily.He leaves behind his beloved family, the former Karen L. Pedlar, whom he married on September 2, 1967; a son, John M. (Lynn) Hooks of Cheyenne, Wyoming; a daughter, Tammy (Jack) Blackledge of Bakersville, North Carolina; a brother, William (Thelma) Berkshire of Morgantown, West Virginia; and a sister, Erma Massey of Painesville, Ohio. Three grandchildren, Amy (Carl) Sommers of Bolivar, Ohio, MSgt. Jodi (Shasta) Hooks of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Leah Blackledge of Bakersville, North Carolina; two great-grandchildren, Jamie and Amber Hooks of Cheyenne, Wyoming; numerous nieces and nephews and his beloved cat, Miss Marsha complete the family. In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by a sister and brother in-law, Phyllis and Charles Skinner; a brother-in-law, Willis “Red” Massey; his mother-in-law, Mildred Zimmerman; a son, Keith McIntosh, and a great-granddaughter, Breanna. The family will receive friends on Friday, August 5, 2011, from 4-7 p.m. in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. Captain George Bates will lead a celebration of Paul’s life in the Dover Funeral Center on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in the Dover Burial Park. Following services the family wishes to invite guests to join them for a meal and fellowship in the Hospitality Room of the Dover Geib Center. The family requests memorial contributions in Paul’s name be directed to the Salvation Army, 809 Emmet Avenue NW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 or to the Cats-N-Us Shelter, PO BOX 832, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.