John E. Gates

John E. Gates of Perrysburg,OH died on September 8th at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. He was born on March 14, 1928 in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, the son of Joseph L and Ethel M (Fritchey) Gates. He graduated from Huntingdon High School as class president and honor student. He then joined the Navy. Following his discharge he attended Juniata College and graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. While at Juniata he met his beloved Martha Metz whom he married in 1954. John joined the Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation in 1952 as a general management trainee at the Newark, Ohio plant. He began at the Newark plant as a Shift Supervisor prior to being named Personnel Director in 1959. After moving to the Toledo area in 1970 he became the Manager of Industrial Relations and after a highly successful career he retired in 1990 as Vice President, Industrial Relations. John was always active in the communities in which he lived. He served as the Chairman of PASA, President of the Perrysburg Exchange Club, President of the Portage Valley Men and Pastor’s Association, eight years on the advisory Board for RSVP of NW Ohio, and a lifetime member of American Legion Post 28. Despite these demands, John found time for youth – organizing and coaching a girls softball team, coaching little league, and working with various area swim teams. He was a servant to St. Paul’s (Newark) and Zoar Lutheran in Perrysburg including; teaching, lector, serving on several committees, and being elected as Council President in both churches. Notably, he was on the committee that secured finances to construct 50 new assisted living units in Zoar’s Abundant Life and subsequently served several years on it’s Board of Trustees. John is survived by his loving wife, Martha Kathryn of 57 years, daughter Joyce E. (Michael) DeVito, son John J. (Heather) Gates, two grandchildren Jocelyn E. Gates and John David DeVito, three sisters Mary Jane (William) McCaferty, Dorothy Brouse, and Helen (George) Lightner, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by infant son John E. Gates, Jr., brothers Joseph Carl Gates, Thomas Gates, brother-in-law Roy Brouse, sister-in-law Jean Morgan, and parents Joseph and Ethel Gates. Friends will be received from 4-8 P.M. on Monday, September 12, 2011 in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home 222 E. South Boundary St. Perrysburg, OH (419-874-3133). Memorial services will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Ave. in Perrysburg. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to either Hospice of Northwest Ohio or Zoar Lutheran Church in Perrysburg.