Howard Stouffer

Leetonia - January 4, 2009 - Howard J. "Dutch" Stouffer, 87, of 100 York Street, died at 2:00 a.m. Sunday at the Holander House, Salem.

Mr. Stouffer was born December 31, 1921 in Washingtonville, a son of the late Howard A. and Nellie Esther Shepard Stouffer and had lived in this area all of his life. He had been employed as a field representative for the former Kaiser Refractories for 27 years, retiring in 1982. Prior to that he had drove truck and operated heavy equipment. He was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church and was an avid fisherman, golfer, and bowler.

He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Elizabeth Cook, whom he married August 18, 1984; two sons, Howard Frederick Stouffer of Columbiana and Ronald Lee Stouffer of Leetonia; two step daughters, Mrs. Daryl (Barbara) Fink of Salem and Mrs. David (Roberta) Thompson of Cincinnati; two sisters, Ethel Bricker of Leetonia and Minnie Hall of New Port Richey, FL; five grandchildren, Luke, Jake, Justin, Matthew, and Chad; and his beloved golden retriever, Bear.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Esther Elizabeth Krautner; an infant daughter, Audrey Stouffer; and two sisters, Hazel Heaton and Ruth Deffenbaugh.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Woods-Rettig Funeral Home, Leetonia, with Pastor Kari Lankford officiating. Burial will follow in Washingtonville Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday.

If friends desire, material tributes may take the form of a donation to the Leetonia Fire Department.