1924
Russell
2011
Russell "Russ" Gratz
October 3, 1924 — May 28, 2011
Russell Edward "Russ" Gratz, 86, died at 2:30 a.m. May 28, 2011, at Baton Rouge Senior Health Facility, Lima.
He was born Oct. 3, 1924, in Allen County to Homer S. and Edna R. Badertscher Gratz, who preceded him in death. On Dec. 16, 1961, he married Violet Hardesty Gratz, who survives in Lima.
Mr. Gratz was a member of First Mennonite Church of Bluffton and was an employee of Ford Motor Co. Lima Engine Plant, from where he retired in 1988. He was also a teacher and varsity baseball and basketball coach at Edgerton, Vaughnsville and Grand Rapids High schools. The 1950 Edgerton basketball team was the Williams County . He was a World War II Army veteran, a paratrooper, making 10 parachute jumps in paratroop training school, and was assigned to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division champions. He was a graduate of Bluffton High School in 1942, and graduated from Bluffton College in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in education. He was a member of Bluffton's 1941-42 State Class "B" basketball team, named All Tournament First Team, and also received All-Ohio Honorable Mention in 1950 for the Bluffton College basketball team. He was a sports enthusiast, enjoyed family life, traveling and reading.
Survivors also include two stepsons, Roger (Joan) Hardesty and E. Frank Hardesty, both of Lima; a brother, Donavin S. (Gayle) Gratz, of Lancaster, Pa.; two sisters, Margaret Detwiler, of Toledo, and Joan (Arden) Slotter, of Castle Rock, Colo.; and five grandchildren, Cindy Hardesty, Tracy Hardesty, Rodger Hardesty Jr. Mike Hardesty and Brad Hardesty.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Homer Gratz, Jr.; a sister, Kathleen Gratz; and a brother-in-law, Paul Detwiler.
Graveside services will begin at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.
He was born Oct. 3, 1924, in Allen County to Homer S. and Edna R. Badertscher Gratz, who preceded him in death. On Dec. 16, 1961, he married Violet Hardesty Gratz, who survives in Lima.
Mr. Gratz was a member of First Mennonite Church of Bluffton and was an employee of Ford Motor Co. Lima Engine Plant, from where he retired in 1988. He was also a teacher and varsity baseball and basketball coach at Edgerton, Vaughnsville and Grand Rapids High schools. The 1950 Edgerton basketball team was the Williams County . He was a World War II Army veteran, a paratrooper, making 10 parachute jumps in paratroop training school, and was assigned to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division champions. He was a graduate of Bluffton High School in 1942, and graduated from Bluffton College in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in education. He was a member of Bluffton's 1941-42 State Class "B" basketball team, named All Tournament First Team, and also received All-Ohio Honorable Mention in 1950 for the Bluffton College basketball team. He was a sports enthusiast, enjoyed family life, traveling and reading.
Survivors also include two stepsons, Roger (Joan) Hardesty and E. Frank Hardesty, both of Lima; a brother, Donavin S. (Gayle) Gratz, of Lancaster, Pa.; two sisters, Margaret Detwiler, of Toledo, and Joan (Arden) Slotter, of Castle Rock, Colo.; and five grandchildren, Cindy Hardesty, Tracy Hardesty, Rodger Hardesty Jr. Mike Hardesty and Brad Hardesty.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Homer Gratz, Jr.; a sister, Kathleen Gratz; and a brother-in-law, Paul Detwiler.
Graveside services will begin at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.
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