George E. Gatts, Sr.

George E. Gatts, Sr., 70, of New Philadelphia, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, in Union Hospital, Dover, following a long illness.

Born Feb. 4, 1932, in Weirton, WV, he was a son of the late Robert Harry and Frances Crow Gatts. George attended school in Weirton, and married Evelyn Z. Lafferty on Jul. 14, 1949. The two worked on a potato farm together near Plainfield, OH. George was employed for a time by Weirton Steel, and went on to work in the brick and clay manufacturing business, retiring from the Belden Brick Co., Uhrichsville. He also owned a small farm.

George enjoyed gardening, fishing and being a “backyard mechanic.” He never met a stranger, and loved to socialize. George was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Army-Navy Garrison, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Elks, all of Dover.

Survivors include seven children, Betty (Phillip) Rogers, Linda (Doyle) Conners, and Ruth Hayes, all of Uhrichsville, Debbie Rennicker of Dover, George Gatts, Jr also of Uhrichsville, Greg (Shelby) Gatts and George (Joyce) Poole, both of New Philadelphia; twenty-four grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret Almack and Ruth (Klines) Mencer, both of Coshocton; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, on Nov. 20 of this year; two brothers, John W. Gatts and Robert H. Gatts; step-mother, Goldie Shanafelt.

A funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 20, 2002, at 2 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home, Dover. The services are being held in Dover because of renovations currently underway at Toland-Herzig�(TM)s New Philadelphia facility. Visitation will be Thursday (today), Dec. 19, 2002, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., in the funeral home. To sign the online register, and share a fond memory of George, please visit the funeral home�(TM)s Web site.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas Co., Inc., 201 W. Third St., Dover, OH 44622.

Toland-Herzig, 330-343-8131
www.tolandherzig.com