Wilbert J. Shear

Wilbert J. Shear, 87, a lifetime resident of New Philadelphia, died Friday, January 7, 2005, at Union Hospital in Dover from complications following surgery.Born in New Philadelphia on April 11, 1917, he was the son of the late Jacob and Kathryn Haney Shear. He and his deceased brothers, Clyde Shear and Roland Knisel, were raised by their grandparents, the late John and Anna Haney. He was also preceded in death by brother, Robert Shear, and sisters, Mrs. Moxie (Alice) Miller, Mrs. Donald (Laverne) Zimmerman, and Mrs. Steven (Marge) Trucinksi.He was married to the late Verna Mae Ruszin who died in March, 1977.A proud Navy Veteran of World War II, Wilbert served in the South Pacific for 19 months and participated in five invasions. Following his honorable discharge, he enjoyed attending Navy reunions. He retired in 1976 from the former Hercules Motor Corporation of Canton after 34 years as a fork lift operator. He had been a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in New Philadelphia, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Dover VFW, Gold Wing Road Riders Association of Dover, and AARP.He is survived by a son, James W. Shear of Bolivar; granddaughter, Mrs. Anissa M. (Richard Nelson) Shear and great-grandson, Richie Nelson, all of Navarre; granddaughter, Mrs. Dawn N. Vaughan, great-grandson, Dylan Vaughan and great-granddaughter, Daliss Vaughan, all of Bolivar; sister, Mrs. Raymond (Velma) Gibbs of New Philadelphia; nephew, Gerald Shear of New Philadelphia; and half-brother, Carl Long of Kent. Visitation will be at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory on Monday, January 10, 2005, from 5 to 8 p.m. Services will be conducted by Pastor Richard Harvey on Tuesday, January 11, at 11 a.m. in the Geib Chapel. Burial will be at Ridgecrest Memory Gardens in Dover where military services will be conducted by New Philadelphia VFW Post #1445. A reception in the Geib Family Center will follow the committal.Memorial contributions may be made to T-4-C, 1458 Fifth Street NW, New Philadelphia, OH, 44663.