Garrett Delano Coey, age 100, passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2018.
He was born in Glouster, Ohio on January 24, 1918. His family moved to Akron when he was eight years old, and he spent the rest of his life in the Akron area. He graduated from Akron South High School in 1936.
Garrett retired from BF Goodrich in 1983 after 44 years of service, primarily in production management in its Industrial Products Division.
An excellent baseball player, he was in the Boston Red Sox minor league system until an arm injury ended his professional career. He then played semi-pro ball in the Akron area until he was well into his 40’s. He then took up golf and played that until he was well into his 90’s. When the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame (GABHOF) was founded in 1982, Garrett was inducted as one of its charter members.
Garrett served in the United States Navy for three years during World War II. He was a member of Oak Hill Presbyterian Church in Ellet, and served as a deacon for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard D. and Anna G. Coey; wife, Ruth Annabelle (Chevalier) Coey; and brother, Russell (Angeline) Coey. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela (Gary) Rine of Norton; grandchildren, Tracey (Brian) Muir of Wadsworth, Kelley (Rob) Martin of Franklin, Mich., and Kevin (Melissa) Rine of Smyrna, Ga.; great-grandchildren, Meganne Muir, Lauren Muir, Andrew Martin and Lindsay Martin; nieces, Lynne Pizer, Sandra (James) Troxell, Carol (Paul) Archer; nephews, Wayne (Laura) Chevalier and William (Jan) Coey; and many other relatives and friends.
The family would like to thank the staffs of The Inn at Coal Ridge in Wadsworth, and Medina County Hospice of Western Reserve for their loving care.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church, 2406 Ardwell Avenue, Akron, OH 44312 with Rev. Brian Nutt officiating. Private burial will be held at a later date at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville. Friends and family will be received at the church prior to the service on Saturday, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. If family and friends so desire, memorials may be made to the Oak Hill Presbyterian Church or to Hospice of Western Reserve, 5075 Windfall Road, Medina, OH 44256.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss
(Hopkins Lawver, AKRON, 330-733-6271)
www.hopkinslawver.com