Clarence E. "Red" Ankney

Clarence E. "Red" Ankney, age 84, of Dover, died Monday, Mar. 4, 2013, in his home after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Born Mar. 10, 1928, in New Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Clyde and Delphia Metzger Ankney. Red attended school in both New Philadelphia and Dover, and went on to serve honorably with the U.S. Army Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of the Military Police, and was presented the World War II Victory Medal, Korean War Service Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal. Upon his discharge, he returned home and was employed by the Union Camp Chemical Co. (later Arizona Chemical) from which he retired after for some thirty-seven years of service.

Red was a life member of both the Dover and New Philadelphia posts of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; a charter member of the Army-Navy Club; a member of the Dover Eagles, as well as Local 20 of the Chemical Workers Union, and the Union Camp Retirees.

He was passionate about the game of golf, participating in several local leagues, and playing every chance he could get. As a young man, when his son was a boy, Red coached Little League Baseball in both Dover and Stone Creek. Later in life, he greatly enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting and band events rarely missing any.

Survivors include three daughters, Cindy (Joseph) Alsept of Dover, Brenda (Terry) Schweitzer of New Philadelphia, and Bonnie Pearson of Windermere, FL; two step-daughters, Christine (Larry) Ladrach of Dover, and Patricia (Richard) Benetau of Cleveland, TN; daughter-in-law, Debbie Ankney of New Philadelphia; eighteen grandchildren, Chastity (Jim) Austin, Heather (Andy) Conkey, Richard (Jaci) Harding, Ashlee and Haylee Alsept, Terra (D.J.) VanWinkle, Tiffany (Sean) Costello, Adam Pearson, Zachary, Matthew and Emily Ankney, Tammy (Randy) Weirich, Tyler and Summer Schweitzer, Blake, Olivia and Hannah Ladrach and Tiffany Parker; eight great-grandchildren, Jacob, Cameron, Cael, Cole, Amyah, Avayah, Dakota and Maddie; a sister, Elsie Hepner of Saratoga, WY; a brother, Russell Earl Ankney; many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Red was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley M. "Dolly" Pringle Ankney; his second wife, Dorothy F. "Dot" VanMeter Ankney; his son, Donald Ankney; a granddaughter, Erin Pearson; a great-granddaughter, Jordan Herman; seven sisters and a brother.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Thursday, Mar. 7, 5 8 p.m., and on Friday, Mar. 8, 10 - 11 a.m. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Brian Flood officiating. Burial will be in Dover Burial Park where military rites will be conducted. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Red, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions in Red's memory be made to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663, or the American Cancer Society, 525 N. Broad St., Canfield, OH 44406.