Elmer E. Gatchell's Obituary
Elmer Eugene Gatchell, age 92, of Lorain passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2016. He was born on January 7, 1924 in Uhrichsville, Ohio to Earl and Belle (nee Baker) Gatchell and was a 1942 graduate of Uhrichsville High School.
On May 10, 1943 he enlisted with the United States Army serving his country during World War II. He served at the rank of Private with the 103rd. Division Battery A and the Fighting 69th. He was the recipient of the WW II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Ribbon, and American Theatre Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Sharpshooter badge and Carbine Bar and the Honorable Service button for WW II.
Elmer made his career with the B& O Railroad and CSX Railroad as an Engineer, Brakeman and Conductor, retiring in 1985 after 38 years of service.
He was a member of NAVRE (National Association of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees), the American Legion and a life member of the VFW Post 1079 in Elyria.
Elmer was huge fan of Clearview High School Sports, especially the football and basketball teams. When he would attend the games the other fans didn’t want to sit next him because he would talk too much. He was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and became a Pittsburg Steelers, especially” Big Ben” fan when the Cleveland Browns began to struggle. He loved watching LeBron when he was playing in high school for Akron St. Vincent St. Mary High School, taking rides out to Amish Country, which he referred to as “God’s Country”, watching Old Western movies, Dean Martin and Big Band and Polka music, playing softball for Fabrizio and coaching Little League. He enjoyed spending time outdoors with his hobbies of boating, fishing and hunting. Elmer really loved women and children and he never met a stranger. He always enjoyed meeting new friends and talking and spending time with his friends and family.
Some of his favorite memories are participating in an Honor Flight, in 2008, meeting Bob Dole and meeting Forest Gregg, Jim Brown and Shannon Sharpe at Professional Football Hall of Fame.
Elmer is survived by his daughter and caregiver, Cheryl, of Lorain ; his son, Eric, of Lorain; twin grandsons, Chad Eric (Missy), of Medina and Matthew Dale (Kelly), of Brook Park; great –grandsons, Austin, Chad Jr., Carter “Little Elmer”, and Cayden; sister-in-law, Betty Gatchell Shaw, of Uhrichsville; special cousin, Evelyn Dooley, of Uhrichsville; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Miller) , in 1976; parents, Earl and Belle; sister, Irene ; and his brother, Dean, who passed away 33 years earlier on the same day.
The Gatchell family will receive friends for a memorial gathering on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. following the gathering. Private family inurnment will take place at a later date in his hometown of Uhrichsville at Union Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
The family would like to thank Mercy New Life Hospice for the wonderful care that was provided to Elmer.
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