Raymond C. Low

Raymond C. “Sucker” Low, 93, of 1893 Saltwell Rd. NW, Dover, died Friday, Dec. 26, at Union Hospital following a brief illness. Born in Dover on Dec. 22, 1910, he was the son of the late George and Minnie Coulson Low.

An avid sports enthusiast, Raymond began winning tournaments and games when he was in the 6th grade. He became the “City Marble Champ.” Playing basketball for Dover High School, Raymond was a member of the team that captured the Ohio AA title.

In 1927, as state champs, the team was entered in the high school national tournament at Chicago. After winning the first game, they were defeated by the state title team from Kansas.

In 1929, Dover again made it to the state finals and finished as runners-up to Dayton Stivers. Raymond, the team captain, was chosen as All-Ohio forward and ended a high school career in 1930 with total of 932 points, a record that still lists Low as the eighth-leading scorer in Dover High School basketball history.

He earned the nickname “Sucker” because of his ability for “sucker” shots under the basket, today known as layups. In an article by Hal Jenkins as a tribute to Low, he noted: “Yes, players may come and players may go, but there�(TM)s only one and that�(TM)s Sucker Low!”

In later life, Raymond spent many hours on the local tennis courts and won area tennis tournaments.

He volunteered as an assistant boys�(TM) tennis coach at Dover High School and was always ready to give any youngster a “tennis lesson.”

After high school, Raymond attended Wittenberg College and Ohio State University. He was a member of the Ohio State basketball team that won “The Big Ten Championship.”

After graduation from Ohio State with a degree in education, Raymond began teaching history and coaching sports, particularly basketball. His coaching career included Raymond High School, Conesville, Barnesville, Greenwich, Bolivar and ending his coaching career at Tusky Valley. In 1972, he retired from Tuscarawas Valley after 36 years of teaching.

He was a member of St. John�(TM)s United Church of Christ in Dover, the Alpha Omega Chapter of Phi Sigma Chi Inc., the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the Ohio and Tuscarawas County Retired Teachers organizations.

In addition to his parents, preceding him in death was his wife of 65 years, Elenore Weinsz Low; sisters Anna Low Kilchenman and Wilma and Adeline Low; and brother Henry and Robert Low.

He is survived by two daughters, Margery (Jim) Grimm of Gainesville, Fla., and Betty (Jim) Wherley of Dover; five grandchildren, Karel (Joe) Reed and Deborah (Alan) Houtzer, both of South Carolina, Brenda Wherley of Dover, J. Michael (Dana) Wherley of Green, O., and Elizabeth Wherley (Shane) Sexton of New Philadelphia; and 11 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Helen and Kevin Reed, Sophia, James and Michael Houtzer, Joshua and Jacob Wherley, and Drew, Ian and Blake Sexton.

A celebration of life for Raymond will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home at Dover with Rev. Steve Daniels officiating. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Raymond may sign the online register book by visiting the online obituaries link of the funeral home�(TM)s Web site.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John�(TM)s United Church of Christ, 409 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, O. 44622.