Brother of Kay ’66, Jean ’67, Susan ’70 and Cynthia Floyd ’83 passed away

It breaks our hearts to inform you that Edward J. Floyd DPM, 68, of Waite Hill, passed on February 6, 2019, but not without a valiant fight.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lois Floyd; nephew, Nicolas Iorio; and father in-law, Thomas Phillips.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan; son, Byron (Amy) Floyd; daughter, Ashley (Eric Olson) Floyd; grandchildren, Byron Edward Floyd and Brennen Mansell; siblings, Kay (Charles) Gifford, Jeane Swemba, Susan (Timothy) Iorio, Michael Floyd, Laura (David) Rahanian, Amy (Rob Brown) Goins, Lisa Armstrong, Patrick (Clare) Floyd, and Cindy (Charles) Skeens; aunt, Mary Corese Floyd, S.N.D.; mother-in-law, Patricia Phillips; and sister-in-law, Diana (Harry Gianakis) Phillips. His soul is now in the company of those we have lost before him.
He peacefully went surrounded by his beloved family. Ed has touched the lives of so many, from Toledo St. Johns High School ‘69 to John Carroll University ‘73, in his private practice as a Board Certified Podiatric Surgeon, and on the softball fields as a player, coach, and backer. Ed is also a member of the Toledo St. John’s Hall of Fame, John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as The Greater Cleveland Slo-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame. He truly was a titan among men. His passion was contagious and his motivation was helping others. Ed fiercely loved his family. He had a knack for making you feel like the most important person in the room, and to him, you were. He will be sorely missed. Thank you to all who knew him, as you all know, he loved everyone.
Dr. Edward J. Floyd Celebration of Life, Friday, March 22 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Landerhaven Event Center, 6111 Landerhaven Dr., Cleveland, OH.
Please come and celebrate our father, friend, teammate, mentor, teacher, colleague, coach, and doctor. If you knew Ed in any way, we hope to see you there! Let’s make this a night to remember! All who knew him are welcome.

Funeral Home

Blessing Cremation Center
9340 Pinecone Drive Mentor, OH 44060
(440) 352-8100

Published in The News-Herald on Feb. 17, 2019

Mother of Laura ’72, Lynette ’78 & Lisabeth Swantack ’85 passed away:

Ethel Barbara Swantack, 90, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2019 under the loving care of The Manor at Perrysburg. She was born on January 19, 1929 in Toledo, Ohio to Andrew and Barbara (Adams) Vigyo. Ethel worked as a sales clerk for Lasalle’s or Tiedtke’s (please let us know) department store and later at the Bridal Aisle. She also enjoyed her jobs at Toledo Candy Co. and at Ohio Bell as a switchboard operator connecting people the old-fashioned way.

Reading, teaching, singing, and coloring with her children and grandchildren were priorities. She loved volunteering as a Lunch Mom at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, and providing pies for the funeral luncheon committee at church. When Mom had a moment to herself, she would needlepoint, feed the birds, and make salmon patties. Some of Mom’s fondest memories came from Penn Mutual conventions in Florida where she would dance with “Buddy” every evening. When there was a party, you could always count on Aunt Ethel to bring the Heavenly Hash!

Ethel is survived by her children Laura (Bob) Herroon, Lynette Swantack, Joseph Jr. “JJ” (Christine) Swantack, and Lizabeth Swantack (Mike Wilson). She leaves behind her grandchildren Anna (Kendall) Jones, Robert Herroon, Sarah (Brian Tagg), Joseph III (Alexis), and Robert Swantack, Juney, Samantha, Sabrina and Tara Wilson (Thomas Teknipp); and her great grandchildren Sophia and Ava Swantack, Zoey Tagg, and Mirabel and Camille Jones. Ethel is also survived by her sister Violet Campbell and brother Louis Maynhart. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joseph “Buddy” Swantack (whom she met at St. Stephen’s when they were children), and her siblings Julius, Bobby, Dickie, Barbara and Eddie.

Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd. on Tuesday, February 19, from 2-8 p.m., with a Prayer Service and a Sharing of Memories at 7. The funeral will begin in the mortuary on Wednesday, February 20 at 9:30 a.m. followed by Mass at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns at 10. Burial will be at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park.

Ethel loved all flowers, especially yellow, and they are welcomed by the family. Please view Ethel’s Memorial Video Tribute and leave a condolence message for the family at CoyleFuneralHome.com.

www.coylefuneralhome.com

Funeral Home

Coyle Funeral Home
1770 S Reynolds Rd Toledo, OH 43614
(419) 865-1295

Published in The Blade from Feb. 16 to Feb. 17, 2019

Jeanne Taylor Prater ’75 passed away. Sister to Kathy ’62 and Mary Ellen ’67

Jeanne M. Prater(1957 – 2019)

(News story) Jeanne M. Prater, a persuasive and likable Blade advertising sales representative who secured new business for the newspaper and, as a supervisor, paired sales staff with compatible customers, died Sunday in her Maumee home. She was 61.

She had breast cancer, first discovered in 2007. Treatment and then remission followed. She and her husband, Ron Prater, moved to South Carolina after she retired in 2014. Cancer was found again in January, 2017. She returned to the Toledo area to be near her sisters and her friends from The Blade, her son Danny said.

“She was a continual beacon of positivity,” her son said. “She was brave. She was courageous. She didn’t want anybody to worry about her. She didn’t complain about her problems.”

Mrs. Prater was a marketing major at the University of Toledo, from which she received a bachelor of business administration degree in 1980. She took some finance courses, her husband said, but “Sales was her natural niche. She was so outgoing and personable,” he said. “She was good at it from the get-go. She was a likable individual. She presented herself well. She was engaging.”

During a summer, 1980, advertising internship at The Blade, Mrs. Prater filled in for sales representatives on vacation. The Blade hired her that fall. To start, her duties were split between local display sales and advertising services, where she was a copy clerk.

“She fell in love with the romance of the newspaper business, and she knew it was going to be a great opportunity,” her husband said.

She became a full-time sales representative in 1985, Blade records show. She was named an outside classified supervisor in 1993, and in 1996 a retail advertising supervisor. She returned to the sales force in 2005 as an outside retail sales representative.

“Jeanne developed the entire east side of Toledo into Blade customers and expanded it out,” said Ron Shnider, a Blade advertising consultant. “She developed accounts in Perrysburg, Rossford. There was a new source of revenue for us.

“She was conscientious and aggressive. She was concerned about their business and concerned about the people as people, not just a customer,” said Mr. Shnider, who retired as Blade new business development manager. He added that those customers referred to her by name, not by the generic, “my Blade rep, my Blade person.”

As a supervisor of sales staff, she also made sure “the right people were calling on the right places,” Mr. Shnider said. “If I had to pick a most-valuable person in the advertising department, it would be Jeanne Prater.”

She served on union subcommittees working to develop an equitable commission plan, and she advised news union members, said Jeff Hojnacki, a former treasurer of the Toledo Newspaper Guild.

“She believed in union principles,” said Mr. Hojnacki, a retired Blade district manager. “People looked up to her.”

For about two years in retirement, she was a sales assistant at the Myrtle Beach Sun News. She liked to play golf, and she liked to watch NASCAR events.

She was born May 8, 1957, to Veronica and John Taylor. She grew up in South Toledo and was a graduate of the former McAuley High School.

Surviving are her husband, Ron, whom she married Oct. 16, 1982; sons, Russell “Rusty” and Danny Prater; brothers, Michael, Jim, and Tom Taylor, and sisters, Kathy Taylor and Mary Ellen Taylor.

A gathering to celebrate her life will be from 3-7 p.m. Thursday at the Elks Lodge in Maumee.

“She didn’t want people to enter into it with a mindset of sadness. No mourning,” son Danny said. “She wanted it to be happy and for old friends to reconnect.”

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Joseph Church, Maumee.

The family suggests tributes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the American Diabetes Association.

This is a news story by Mark Zaborney. Contact him at mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.

Published in The Blade on Feb. 6, 2019

Treva Moore Bowman ’69 passed away in 2005

Treva Ann “Pete” Bowman, age 54, of Toledo, passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2005, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo. She was born to the late Owen and Clara Moore on March 26, 1951. At an early age, Treva was baptized into the Church of God in Christ. In 1995, Treva joined Upton United Methodist Church, where she was a faithful member of the choir and head usher until her health began to deteriorate.
Treva loved to read and discover new adventures. As a young girl, she excelled in academics. This was evident by her ability to obtain her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both from the University of Toledo. She was employed as a teacher and administrator for Toledo Public Schools for over twenty-five years. Her last position was as a curriculum specialist for the Waite High School Learning Community.
Although Treva experienced many victories, she was most proud when Vallie was elected to the position of Toledo Municipal Clerk of Court.
Precious memories will remain with her loving children, daughter, Vallie (Ian) Bowman-English of Toledo; son, Albert Reese (Desirae) Bowman of Columbus; grandchildren, Armon Bowman, Ian English II, Aaron Johnson Jr., Jerrod Hunter, Denise Hunter, and Ja’Lisa Golliday; special son, Wayne (Jeanelle) Golliday of Toledo; four sisters, Johnetta (James) Gant of Toledo, Naomi Hodges of Snellville, GA, Dr. Sheila (Bishop G.F.) Austin of Montgomery, AL, Vicki (Ronald) Trail of Columbia, TN, and one brother, Owen Moore Jr. of Toledo; nieces, Kobi, Clara, and Myriah; nephews, Derrick, Jim, Robbie, Joshua, Justin, Doug, Owen III, Martell, Chaunce, Jonte’, and Luther III, and special great nephew, Jaiden.
The family will receive guests on Saturday, August 13, 2005, at the Upton United Methodist Church, 3611 Upton Ave., Toledo, OH, from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Dr. Pat McKinstry will be officiating.
A special thanks to her pastor and sister, Pastor Dr. Pat McKinstry and Luther McKinstry II, and to Treva’s personal attendant, Ethel Penamon.
The family requests that those wishing to express monetary donations are asked to consider the Upton United Methodist Church.
Expressions of sympathy may be made at http://www.newcomerfamily. com

Published in The Blade from Aug. 11 to Aug. 12, 2005

Kathleen Mustafaga Steinert ’69 passed away in 2016

Kathleen Steinert, age 65 of Monroe, died at 12:41 a.m. Monday, October 24th in her home.
Family and friends may visit from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Rupp Funeral Home. Cremation will follow in accordance with her wishes.
Born October 23, 1951 in Toledo, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late John and Evelyn (Rybka) Mustafaga. She married Richard P. Steinert on July 14, 1982 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He preceded her in death on October 25, 2014.
Kathleen was employed as an X-ray Technologist for over twenty years at Mercy Memorial Hospital before retiring in 2004.
She attended the University of Toledo and enjoyed traveling, scrapbooking, photography, and had a fondness of animals.
Kathleen is survived by a daughter, Sara (Shane) Gorski of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; three brothers, Matt Mustafaga of Aiea, Hawaii, Larry (Amy) Mustafaga of Canton, Ohio, and Mike (Ellen Beauchamp) Mustafaga of Seattle, Washington.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a sister, Lois Celestino.
Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Monroe County.
Online condolences to the family can be sent through www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com.

Published in Monroe News from Oct. 25 to Oct. 26, 2016

Marguerite Gray King ’67 passed away

Marguerite Mary “Margie” King

Marguerite Mary King “Margie” was the daughter of Herman and Rose Gray and sister, to Susan Metzger. She is survived by her daughter, Candice King, grandson Elijah Speller, sister, Susie, nephew, Michael Metzger and cousins, Barbara and Marcia Przybylski.

Margie graduated from McAuley High School in 1967, attended beauty school and was a hair stylist from 1968 to 2013. She was loved by her clients and co-workers, who remember her unforgettable laugh and forever positive attitude.Upon her retirement Margie became a full-time ‘Busia’ to Elijah. Helping her daughter raise Elijah was one of her greatest joys. She loved all her dog family and took great care of Marley the deaf dog that only Margie could care for, she was passionate about the ASPCA and the Lucas County Pit Crew.Margie was an extraordinary sister to Susie and sister-in-law to Daniel.Margie put everyone before herself, was always caring, selfless and compassionate. Our hearts are broken at her sudden departure.

Family and friends may call at the Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania, OH Sunday, February 3, 2019 from 3-7:00 P.M. The Funeral Mass will be conducted at the St. Catherine Catholic Church, 4555 N. Haven Ave., Toledo, Monday, February 4, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. Online condolences to

www.reebfuneralhome.com

Funeral Home

Reeb Funeral Home
5712 North Main Street Sylvania, OH 43560
(419) 882-2033

Published in The Blade on Feb. 2, 2019

Husband of Marie Young Irons ’63, Father of Michelle ’83 and Rebecca Irons ’84 passed away

Charles George Irons, Sr. slipped away from us to join his daughter, Michelle in Heaven on January 23, 2019. He was born on December 20, 1944 in Toledo, Ohio to Roy and Virginia (Wymer) Irons. Charles was a proud graduate of Libbey High School.

Charles spent his pre-retirement years with the railroad. From the Nickel Plate through New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail and Norfolk Southern, first as a Fireman and finishing as an Engineer, primarily in the Yard, retiring in 1998.

He leaves behind, his wife of nearly 55 years, Marie, his children Rebecca Hussing (Sean LaPlante,) April Flynn, Christine (David) Chambers, Charles “Chip” (Amy) Irons, and Virginia (Charles) Hindbaugh; Grandchildren, Jessica (Michael ) Gregory, Samantha Atkin, Brandon (Jeanette )Beaverson, Zachary (Whitney) Flynn, Kaitlin and Hannah Flynn, Brittany Chambers, Courtney (Stephen) Youngs, Anthony (Amanda) Chambers, Jacob Chambers, Chase and Emma Irons, Celia (Joseph) Malagon, Chali (Carlos) Munoz, Acea (Jasmine ) Hindbaugh, and Charles, Elijah and Levi Hindbaugh. His Great-Grandchildren are Maraya, Camren, Mia, Samson, Isaac, Abner, Carlos, Jr., and Benjamin. Also surviving are his siblings, Judy Turner, James Irons, Lee (Barbara) Irons, Philip (Patti) Irons, David (Wanda) Irons and Vicki Hall, along with numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. Charles was predeceased by his parents, his first born daughter, Michelle and brothers, John and William Irons.

Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd. on Tuesday, January 29 from 12:00 -4:00. The funeral service and sharing of memories will begin at 4.

In lieu of flowers, you are asked to consider a donation to Double ARC, 885 Commerce Blvd., Perrysburg, OH 43551, www.doublearc.org, or The Victory Center of Toledo. Please view Charles’ memorial video tribute and leave a condolence message for the family at CoyleFuneralHome.com.

www.coylefuneralhome.com

Funeral Home

Coyle Funeral Home
1770 S Reynolds Rd Toledo, OH 43614
(419) 865-1295

Published in The Blade on Jan. 27, 2019

Christine Villhauer Ashbacher ’67 passed away June 3, 2004

Tracy Currier Ochmanek ’77 – passed away

Father of Maureen Gavin-Kohlman ’75, Thaleen Gavin Mikulak ’77 and Colleen Gavin Schade ’80 passed away:

Harvey J. “Mike” Gavin, Jr., 86, of Maumee passed away Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 . He was born Feb.27,1932 in Toledo to Harvey J. and Wilma (Liebich) Gavin. After graduating from Macomber, he began his career as a carpenter with the City of Toledo and served in the Naval Reserve. He then founded his general contracting firm, Gavin and Associates. Two noteworthy projects were St. Joseph Community Center in Maumee and The Parkcrest Medical Center in Toledo. He was also a partner in Knight Realty Property Mgt. He was a lifelong golfer and in retirement , loved his position as GM at Heatherdowns Country Club. Mike enjoyed his cottage on Sand Lake, and loved to travel, especially to Florida. He also enjoyed antiquing and cooking, collecting a vast array of cookbooks. His greatest joy was spending time with his large family and was always proud of their accomplishments.

He is survived by his children Michael, Patrick (Letti), Maureen Kohlman, Timothy, Kathleen Mikulak, Colleen (Ralph) Schade and Daniel (Beth); grandchildren Michael (Lisa) Sean, Kelli, Colleen, Ryane (Michael), Chelsea (Dalton), John, Jacob, Kristen, Kelsey, Kevin, Karah, Jessica, Meghan (Flynn), Erin, Gavin, Brenden, Madison, Elise, Christopher, Joey (Shelby), Ellie and Annie (Jordan); great-grandchildren Zoe, Elliott, Asher, Jack, Flynn, Macy and Bryce; and sister Helene Cramer. He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Gregg, former wife Helen and his niece, Sarah.

Visitation will take place on Fri, Nov.30, at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St. Maumee from 5-8 pm where funeral services will begin Saturday, December 1, at 10 am followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 am in St. Joseph Church, Maumee. Interment to follow at Riverside Cemetery, Maumee. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans (dav.org) or the charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com

walkerfuneralhomes.com

Funeral Home

Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home
501 Conant St Maumee, OH 43537
(419) 893-7686

Published in Toledo Blade on Nov. 29, 2018