William R Tufford

William R Tufford, 69, of New Philadelphia, died peacefully surrounded by his family, Friday evening, February 20, 2015, in the Community Hospice House at New Philadelphia after a brief illness.

The son of the late William E. and Barbara E. (Moffett) Tufford, Bill was born June 15, 1945 at Cambridge, Ohio.

A 1963 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, Bill attended The Ohio State University before following the dream of the 60’s culture to California. He returned to Columbus where he was a stained glass artist for the Franklin Art Glass Company. After the death of his father in 1975, Bill returned to New Philadelphia to reside with his mother and began his tenure as the well-known bartender at Bud and Tooties for the past 35 years. Bill was well known to those who were his frequent customers and he always knew what they were going to drink.

Bill was a true lover of music and that was evident by his collection of the many genres that he would collect and listen to. He loved to share that love of music with family and friends. His loved ones always received copies of his new favorite CDs every Christmas. His sense of humor was well known to everyone he met and he was not afraid to share his liberal views of politics. He enjoyed golfing with his friends, white water rafting, and was an avid Browns and The Ohio State Buckeyes fan.

Bill is survived by his sisters, Maureen (Jim) Herman and Brenda (Steve) Jenkins, both of New Philadelphia; his nieces, Stephanie (companion, Harry Hopson) Jenkins of New Philadelphia and Elizabeth Herman Kelley of Massillon; two nephews, Ryan Herman of New Philadelphia and Aaron Jenkins of Miamisburg Ohio; and his great-nieces and nephew, Frankie Fry, LaVarion and Tatiana Moore, and Olivia Herman.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his nephew, Sean Herman.

Visitation will be held in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia Tuesday from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. A service celebrating Bill’s life will be held in the funeral home’s chapel on Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m. Immediately following the service, a meal will be shared in the Geib Family Center, located adjacent to the funeral home. Burial will follow the meal in West Lawn Cemetery at Newcomerstown

Memorial donations can be made to either Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Ave SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 or to the Herman-Dalpiaz Memorial Fund, C/O The Quaker Foundation, PO Box 627, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.