William Robert Doidge

William Robert Doidge, age 79, of New Philadelphia, died Tuesday, October 27, 2009, in Country Club Retirement Campus at Dover following a period of declining health.A son to the late Edward and Ruth (Berquist) Doidge, Bill was born at Dover, Ohio on August 11, 1930.Bill was a graduate of Dover High School’s class of 1949 and soon entered in the United States Army where he was stationed on the front lines of Korea as a member of the 6th QM Battalion Armed Division. Bill was awarded but never received a number of citations for his efforts. This past May following some research on his behalf was awarded those medals which included the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Army of Occupation medal, the Combat Infantryman badge, as well as the Presidential Unit Citation given by the South Korean Government. Bill also received a Purple Heart which was awarded to him from injuries sustained during a mortar explosion. Following his discharge, Bill returned home to his high school sweetheart, the former Marian Richter. Following a period of courtship the couple wed on January 4, 1953. Together they would rear three children.Bill, as a self taught computer programmer, would work for Union Hospital at Dover and ultimately retired from Canton Computer Services where he concluded his career of more than thirty years in the field.Bill enjoyed camping, golfing, and bowling and was especially fond of times spent with those in fellowship as a member of the New Philadelphia Elks Lodge 510. Bill also enjoyed taking trips to Wheeling Island, West Virginia. For more than a decade Bill enjoyed traveling as part of the family’s annual pilgrimage to Daytona Beach, which was usually scheduled during the Father’s Day weekend. Bill looked forward to spending that week each year with his children and grandchildren and being able to build lasting memories on each trip.Bill leaves behind a loving family which includes his three children, Robert (Lori) Doidge of Massillon, Ohio, Catherine (Bill) Rimer of New Philadelphia, and Bradley (Kim) Doidge of Van Wert, Ohio; a sister, Doris (Charles) Hizer of Canton, Ohio, and a brother, Edward (Dorothy) Doidge, Jr., of Sumter, South CarolinaNine grandchildren, Matthew, Sara and Ashley Doidge; Andrew, Adam, and Brady Rimer; and Austin, Blake and Taylor Doidge complete the family.In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Marian who passed away on September 15, 2001. The family will receive friends from 1:00 â?? 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 1, 2009, in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The New Philadelphia Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. will conduct a Lodge of Sorrow in the funeral home at 3:00 PM on Sunday.Pastors Jeffrey Gerber and Jill Lovett will lead a service celebrating Bill’s life on Monday, November 2, 2009, at 11:00 AM in the First United Church of Christ at New Philadelphia. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia where the Carl C. Stoller Post 1445 of the New Philadelphia VFW will render military honors and Bill’s brother-in-law, Charles Hizer will perform Taps in his memory. Following the services the family will hosts guests in the home of Bill’s daughter, Cathy Rimer, where a meal and fellowship will be shared.The family requests that memorial contributions be made to First United Church of Christ, 201 Fair Avenue NW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663, or to Hospice of Tuscarawas County 201 W. Third Street, Dover, Ohio 44622.