Howard W. Corathers

STOW - Howard W. Corathers, age 87, a long time resident of Stow, entered his heavenly home on Friday, April 7, 2017, after a short illness.

He was born in Akron, Ohio, July 23, 1929, to Howard Wesley Corathers, Sr. and Mabel Foster Corathers. He spent most of his early childhood in Weston, West Virginia where he was raised by foster parents Ralph (deceased) and Elizabeth Jewell. He served in the Army as a corporal in the Korean War. He and his wife moved to Stow in 1954. He spent many years working as a private general contractor and then went to work for the City of Stow and retired from there in 1995 after nearly 20 years of service. Through the years, he served as a trustee at Skyview Baptist Ranch in Millersburg, Ohio. He also was very active in the AWANA Youth Association for the State of Ohio. Most recently he was involved with the Stow Historical Society and the Stow Senior Citizen Commission. He was a member of Graham Road Baptist Church for many years and currently was a member and deacon at First Baptist Church of Tallmadge, Ohio. He is survived by his wife of nearly 68 years, LaVerne (Hawkins) Corathers, a son Michael (Kathy) of Stow, a daughter Joyce Johnson (Mike) of Golden, Mississippi, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, his foster mother and two foster sisters, many nieces and nephews, as well as a host of extended family and close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Joan Kennedy and Judy Connor, as well as great-grandson Macklin Corathers-Smith.

Friends and family may call on Monday, April 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home, 3633 Darrow Road, Stow. The funeral service will be at the Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 11 at 12 Noon, with Pastor Larry Engle and Pastor Richard Bowman officiating. Interment will be at Stow Cemetery with full military honors provided by the U.S. Army. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution may do so to the Macklin Connor Corathers-Smith scholarship fund at Skyview Baptist Ranch, 7241 Township Road 319, Millersburg, OH 44654.