obit art 8Samuel Earl Heath, Jr., age 86, of 26199 Cutlip Road, Tippecanoe, Ohio died at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, surrounded by family at Community Hospice House in New Philadelphia.

Born July 29, 1928 in Weegee Creek, Belmont County, Ohio, he was a son of the late Samuel Earl Heath, Sr. and Jessie Irene Stombaugh Heath.

He graduated from Bellaire High School in 1947. He worked for Republic Steel in Canton, and then went to work for and retired from General Telephone of Cadiz after 37 years. He was also the captain of the reserve unit at the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office for several years.

Earl was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons #415 of Freeport, the American Kennel Club, National Rifle Association, former member of the American Quarter Horse Association. He loved fishing, hunting, and building cookers he used to host many parties. Earl never met a stranger and had lots of family and friends who will miss him dearly.

His wife of 64 years, Anna Mae Fry Heath survives. They were married March 26, 1950 in Mt. Zion Church in Key Ridge, Ohio.

Also surviving are eight children: Samuel (Kenna) Heath of Rayland, Dick (Regina) Heath of Stillwater, Joyce (Rick) Swaldo of Uhrichsville, Randy Heath of Tippecanoe, Chuck (Sherry) Heath of Cambridge, Mike (Roberta) Heath of St. Clairsville, Judy Heath of Cadiz, Lori (Mitch) Bumpus of Mt. Vernon; a brother, Dave (Martha) Heath of Centerville, a sister, Ethel Winzenreid of North Dakota, a sister-in-law, Lee Ellen Heath of New Philadelphia, and a brother-in-law, Glen Brownsword of Brewster; forty-four grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Amanda Irene Heath, who died in 1956; three brothers Bob Heath, Marvin Heath, and Tom Heath; two sisters Lucinda Bartlett and Carol Brownsword; and a very special brother-in-law, Harold Winzenreid.

Masonic Service was held Monday, Dec. 1 in Koch Funeral Home, 216 S High Street, Freeport. Visitation followed in the funeral home with a funeral service conducted by the Rev. Henry Mooney. Cremation will follow and burial will be at the convenience of the family.

The family asks that contributions be made in his memory to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 or the Freeport or Washington Township Volunteer Fire Departments.

Friends are invited to a social time at the Freeport Fire Station following the service. Online condolences may be made on the funeral home’s website,  www.kochfuneralhome.net