Ralph E. Byard

GUSTAVUS - Ralph Edward Byard, 77, entered peacefully into eternal life at 4:21 am on Saturday, June 16 from his residence, with family at his side, following a short-term illness. Ralph was born May 1, 1935, in Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio, the son of the late Lee Garrison and Martha Belle (Ryan) Byard. Ralph first worked carrying the Bellaire Times Leader newspaper by bicycle, followed by being a "shake-out boy" at Bellaire Stove Company by emptying and cleaning molds for coal and wood-burning stove parts at the end of the day for about a year, then at G.C. Murphy in Wheeling, West Virginia over Christmas 1952. His family moved to Farmington, Ohio in March 1953. He then worked at Deemer's Service in Bristolville as a gas station attendant until 1955. He was finally employed by the Copperweld Steel Company in Warren from July 8, 1955, first on the labor gang, then running the scrap baler, followed by burning scrap. He finished out the last 30 years of his career as a craneman on August 8, 1999 with a total of 44 years. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church in Wayne, where he served as a trustee. In 1956, he moved his growing family to a small farm in West Mecca. He enjoyed the country life and raised his family to enjoy and respect it also. He was an active leader/advisor in the local Cub and Boy Scouts and the Silver Spurs 4-H horsemanship club, with all his children. He moved to his Gustavus home in December of 1979. He was the type of father who would drop whatever he was doing at the time to help any of his children with any problem. His interests included family activities and attending shows featuring antique engines and tractors. He is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy "Dottie" Marie Holko, whom he met and subsequently married in Bristolville, on June 11, 1955; four children, Edward (Kathryn) of East Palestine, David (Wendy) of Gustavus, Melinda (Christopher) Olszak of Orwell, and Kerry (Marian) of Sherman, New York; 15 grandchildren, Christian (Marya), Philip, Aaron, Samuel, Racheal, Lydia, Isaac, Seth, and Hannah Byard, Maxwell and Chloe Olszak, Laurie (Kevin) Norris of McKinney, Texas, John (Kimberly) Battaglini of Salem, Kimberly (Lance) Huffman of Rogers, Arkansas, and Rebecca (Jason) Trebus, of East Palestine; 7 great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Jackson, and Sophia Battaglini, Jacob Norris, Emma Huffman, Libby Trebus, and Owen Trocheck; one brother, Lee Glenn (Elaine) of Southington; three sisters, Ruth (Richard) Cassandra of Bellaire, Jane (Frank) Magyar of Tallmadge, and Martha Kay (Michael) of Troy. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service, 8569 Main Street, Kinsman, Ohio. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, June 20th at 10:00am at West Mecca Cemetery, with Rev. Robert Coleman officiating. An online guestbook is available at www.baumgardnerfuneralhomes.com

Service Information

Cemetery

West Mecca Cemetery

OH

Visitation

Tuesday, June 19 2012
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service of Kinsman
8569 Main St. P.O. Box 285
Kinsman OH 44428

Service

Wednesday, June 20 2012
10:00 AM

West Mecca Cemetery

OH