Warren Eugene Schlafly

Warren Eugene Schlafly, age 88, of New Philadelphia went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, following a lengthy illness. Born at Goshen, Ohio, on June 21, 1919, he was the son of the late William and Bessie Schlafly.Mr. Schlafly was a 1932 graduate of New Philadelphia High School. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corp. at Montana before enlisting in the US Army. As a veteran of World War II, he honorably served his country for 5 years. He obtained the ranking of Staff Sergeant in the Field Artillery and saw combat in both France and Germany.Warren spent his working career as a professional plumber and was employed by Porter Plumbing until his retirement in 1981. Additionally, he was employed by the former New Philadelphia Hardware.A covenant member of the First Baptist Church at New Philadelphia, Mr. Schlafly served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and participated in the Discipleship Ministry of the church.Additionally, he served alongside his wife, the former Wanda Jordan in the senior high ministry for a number of years as well as representing the church on short term missionary trips to Zambia and Kenya.For Warren, plumbing was not only a career but a calling. He used his talent for plumbing to help plumb a hospital in Mukinge, Zambia, and did a large majority of the plumbing as the First Baptist Church at New Philadelphia was being built.Moreover, Warren loved sports. He enjoyed following a number of professional and college teams that include the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, The Ohio State Buckeyes and the West Virginia Mountaineers. He loved to fish and hunt. He especially liked deep sea fishing off the coast of Florida where he and his wife wintered for 19 years. Warren was an excellent photographer. His family pictures as well as photos from all 50 states and 57 foreign countries serve as reminders of a life lived to the fullest. In 2001 Warren was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Youth International at Louisville, KY for his lifetime of dedication to his family, church, country, and vocation. He is survived by his wife of 62 yeas, Wanda Jordan Schlafly; two daughters, Gwyn (Tim) Joy of West Chester, Ohio, and Gale (Frank) Limbacher of Lakeville, Minnesota; two grandsons, Lee Joy of West Chester, Ohio, and Jason Limbacher of Lakeville, Minnesota; and a sister, Le Etta Brown of Mineral City.In addition to his parents, Warren was preceded in death by a sister, Thelma Geltz.The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, from 5:00 â?? 8:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Pastors Joe Schulz, Dr. David Adams, and Dr. Charles Barfield will jointly lead a celebration of Warren’s life on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. in the First Baptist Church of New Philadelphia, 878 Commercial Avenue SW, with burial to follow in the Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia.Following burial, the family will return to First Baptist Church for a memorial luncheon. Those unable to attend are invited to send the family personal condolences by signing the online guest registry located on the funeral home’s website.At the family’s request, memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, Ohio 44622, or Team Prague, c/o the First Baptist Church, 878 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 44663. He was faithful to the end of his life and will be fondly remembered as a man of honor.