Larry V. "Butch" Gearhart

Larry V. "Butch" Gearhart, age 77, of rural Edon, Ohio, died at 10:55 P.M. on Sunday, October 20, 2013, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after a brief illness. Mr. Gearhart was a 1954 graduate of Edon High School and was employed by The Aro Corporation in Bryan for thirty-eight years, retiring in 1997. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee, Ohio, and Knights of Columbus Council #3883. Larry was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hunting, helping on the farm, attending sporting events and spending time with his grandkids. Larry V. Gearhart was born near Edon on August 20, 1936, the son of Edward F. “Fred” and Mabel (Fix) Gearhart. He married Louise A. Wehrle on October 29, 1955, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee and she preceded him in death on April 17, 2009. Survivors include three sons, Ronald Gearhart, of Bryan, Ohio, Gary (Laura) Gearhart and James (Sandra) Gearhart, both of Edon; five grandchildren, Shannon Waller, Ashlee (Kayle Prince) Gearhart, Alison Gearhart, Christopher Gearhart and Kyle Gearhart; four great-grandchildren, Avah, Shayn, Konnor and Karsyn; two brothers, William Gearhart, of Edon, and Daniel (Sue) Gearhart, of Pioneer, Ohio; one sister, Sue (Connie) Dewire, of Hamilton, Indiana; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Gearhart, of Edon; and numerous nieces and nephews. Also preceding him in death were a son, Dr. Mark Gearhart, in 1989, five brothers, Donald, Jacob, W. Gene, and Richard Gearhart and an infant brother, and one sister, Fern Hemenway. Visitation for Larry V. Gearhart will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2013, from 2:00-8:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, Edon, followed by a scripture service at 8:00 P.M. Services will be held on Friday, October 25, 2013, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Blakeslee with Father Fred Duschl officiating. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are requested to the Dr. Mark Gearhart Memorial Scholarship with the Bryan Area Foundation.