Obituaries, June 10, 2008

Wilbur Silas

Buchs

Wilbur Silas Buchs of Oberlin died Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Community Health Partners in Lorain following a short illness. He was 84.

Born March 22, 1924, in Oberlin, he owned and operated Wilbur Buchs & Sons Spray Painting for 45 years. He retired in 2003.

He enjoyed bowling and sponsored a bowling league. He also enjoyed playing pool and poker, and was an avid sports fan.

He attended Pittsfield Community Church.

Mr. Buchs is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Bonnie M. Brooks of Tarpon Springs, Fla.; son, Randy N. Buchs of Newport Richey, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Diana L. Buchs of Oberlin; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; brother, Allen Buchs of Oberlin; and sister, Wilma Anderson of Oberlin. He was preceded in death by his son, Danny W. Buchs; and parents, Silas Peter and Margaret (nee Moehl) Buchs.

Services were Thursday at Cowling Funeral Home, the Rev. Kenneth Gerhardt, pastor of Pittsfield Community Church, officiating. Burial was at Camden Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-day 60-mile walk, c/o Sonja Locke in Michigan, P.O. Box 650543, Dallas, Texas 75265-0543. Online condolences may be made to www.cowlingfuneralhome.com.

Charles Harry

Startup

Charles Harry Startup of Oberlin died May 26, 2008. He was 94.

Mr. Startup was born Feb. 24, 1914 in Middletown, N.Y. As a young man he was active in the Boy Scouts as a camp counselor and assistant scout master. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout and was president of this high school class.

Mr. Startup received a bachelor of arts from Middlebury College and completed two years of graduate work in political science at the University of Cincinnati. He had a 40-year career with American Airlines in which he held many positions that included vice president of sales and director of consumer affairs. After his retirement in 1979, he worked as administrator for the Light Opera Company of Manhattan in New York City. In 1986 he and his wife Jane moved to Oberlin.

His many civic activities included president of the Sales Executive Club of Cincinnati, president of the Airlines Manager Association in New York City and member of Skal an international airlines organization. He was an avid sports fan and coached his youngest son's baseball team. He loved literature and was famous for his peerless recitation of "Dan McGrew."

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Jane and three children, Thomas of Westport, Conn., Ann of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Charles of Oberlin. He was the ever good-humored "Pop" to his three surviving grandchildren John Diliberto, Matthew Diliberto and Joshua Skyler Startup .

A memorial service was held on May 31, 2008, at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan, Conn., where the family lived for many years.

Contributions may be made in his memory to New Life Hospice, 5255 North Abbe Road, Elyria, 44035.