Robert O. Beaber

Robert O. Beaber, age 97, of New Dawn Rehabilitation Center, and a lifelong resident of New Philadelphia, died peacefully Tuesday morning, November 25, 2008.Born August 7, 1911, at New Philadelphia he was a son of the late George F. and Mary M. Kinsey Beaber. He was a 1929 graduate of New Philadelphia High School and a 1933 graduate of Mount Union College, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.On Christmas Day, 1940, Bob married the former Virginia Rae Williams. Together, they observed fifty-eight anniversaries together until her death on December 30, 1998.In October, 1943, Mr. Beaber entered the United States Army. He served as a medical technician both stateside and in the Pacific Theater at Okinawa and was honorably discharged in April, 1946.Mr. Beaber returned to New Philadelphia and was a partner in the former Beaber Coal Company, and was President and manager of the former Beaber Foods Inc., retiring in 1982.He was an 85 year member of Broadway United Methodist Church, a longtime member of the American Legion Post # 139, and a former member and past president of the New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club.Mr. Beaber leaves behind a family that includes two daughters, Cheryl (husband Terry) Sauser of Stone Creek, and Pamela (husband Terry) Hykes of New Philadelphia.He’ll be sadly missed by his five grandchildren; Todd B. (wife Paula) Sauser of New Philadelphia, Shelly (husband Scott) Ruegsegger of Dover, Heather (husband Brian) Norris of Toledo, Ohio, Jennifer (husband Seth) Kornblum of Medina, Ohio, and Lisa (companion Josh Woods) of Brunswick, Ohio.Nine great-grandchildren; Megan and Logan Sauser, Kyler, Kade and Kasey Ruegsegger, Nathaniel and Andrew Norris and Adam and David Kornblum, a brother; Donald Beaber of Dover, and a sister-in-law, Gladys (husband Dean) Coutts of Sherrodsville, completes the family.In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Beaber is preceded in death by an infant daughter; Brenda Kay Beaber, three sisters; Anna Wyss, Florence and Viola Beaber, and a brother; Virgil Beaber.Mr. Beaber will be remembered by his daughters as the best daddy in the whole world, and as a loving grandfather who enjoyed being together with his entire family.His favorite pastimes included traveling, reading, tending to flowers and solving crossword puzzles. Mr. Beaber was a fan of the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland Browns and the Ohio State Buckeyes.Friends are invited to call Friday from 2-4PM and from 6-8PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia.Pastor Bill Sowers will lead funeral services for Mr. Beaber Saturday morning at 10:30 in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial, with military honors, will follow in East Avenue Cemetery.Following the committal service, a reception will be given in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home.Memorial contributions may be made to Broadway United Methodist Church, 120 Church Avenue SE, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 44663, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4815 Munson Street, NW, Canton, OH 44718.Linn-Hert-Geib(330) 343-5506www.geibfuneral.com