Gene T. Hootman

Gene T. Hootman, 80, of Dover passed away on Friday, February 12, 2010 in Union Hospital.

Born on April 20, 1929 in New Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Charles and Winefred Clark Hootman. Gene graduated from Dover High School in 1947. He married Doris Wallick on November 19, 1949. Together they had three children. Gene retired from Hootman Cabinet in 1993 and also worked at Geiser & Kappeler for over 33 years.

He was an active member of St. John�(TM)s United Church of Christ in Bolivar, where he became Deacon, Elder and served as the Chairman of the Building Committee. He coached little league baseball for nine years and was an avid Cleveland Indians fan. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. Gene was also a member of the Bolivar Sportsman Club, Zoar Gun Club and the Carpenters Union #69. He enjoyed spending time with his entire family at picnics, holidays, and sporting events.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Doris; his two daughters, Becky (husband, Greg) DeMattio of Dover, and Gail (husband, Mark) Harshbarger of Akron; his son, Jeff (wife, Jill) Hootman of Dover; seven grandchildren, Dirk (wife, Tracey) Symons II, and Brandon (wife, Stacey) Symons all of Dover, Jeff, Katie and Emily Hootman all of Dover, Hillary and Chase Harshbarger of Akron; and four great-grandchildren, Tatum, Calli, Cole, and Alyssa Symons all of Dover and he was expecting his fifth great grandchild in April.

He is preceded in death by five sisters and a brother.

A celebration of Gene�(TM)s life will take place at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Don N. Nichols officiating. Burial will follow in Dover Burial Park. Following the service of committal, a meal will be served at the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Monday, February 15, 2010 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Gene, please visit the Toland-Herzig Web site and click on “Obituaries.”

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gene�(TM)s memory can be made to St. Johns United Church of Christ, 409 Park Ave, Bolivar, Ohio 44612 or the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, 425 Prospect St, Dover, Ohio 44622.