Eric August Gudat

Washingtonville - February 25, 2008 - Eric August Gudat, 92, formerly of Union Street, died at 6:40 p.m. Monday in the Salem Community Hospital.

Mr. Gudat was born July 14, 1915 in Berlin, Germany, a son of August and Augusta Winkler Gudat and had lived in the Washingtonville area since 1925.

He had been employed at Youngstown Cabinet Works as a cabinet maker for 25 years and prior to that had worked at Eljer Company in Salem. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Washingtonville, the National Wood Carvers Association, Carpenter's Union, and the Saxon Retirees. Eric was a talented woodworker and wood carver and was known throughout the area for repairing antiques and his handmade spinning wheels.

His wife, the former Catherine Ramsauer whom he married June 20, 1936, preceded him in death February 9, 2008.

He is survived by three sons, Max (Marian) Gudat of Leetonia, Donald (Susan) Gudat and Ronald (Pat) Gudat, both of Salem; two sisters Frieda Onigkeit of Cleveland and Elsie Ziegler of Lynhurst, 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A son, Walter H. Gudat and a brother, Kurt O. Gudat are also deceased.

Private funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the Woods-Rettig Funeral Home, Leetonia with Pastor William Medford officiating. Burial will be in Washingtonville Cemetery.

Memorial tributes may take the form of a donation to the Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.