William H. ‘Bill’ Ebling

Lima

William H. "Bill" Ebling, 85, died at 3:47 p.m. May 10, 2008, at Lima Convalescent Home.

He was born June 4, 1922, in Lima to J. Orville and Luella "Peggy" Stump Ebling, who preceded him in death. On June 24, 1945, he married Dorothy "Dottie" Hayden, who died April 29, 1991. He later married Colleen Knowlton, who survives in Columbus.

Mr. Ebling and his brother, Chet, co-owned Lima Cement Products, a company founded by their father. He was a charter member and past president of the Ohio Concrete Masonry Association and was a member of the National Concrete Masonry Association. He was a 1940 graduate of Shawnee High School. He graduated in 1943 from Purdue University, with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, and he attended Officers Candidate School at the University of Michigan, then serving as an ensign in the Navy during World War II. He was a member of Market Street Presbyterian Church, where he was a former elder and served for many years as a trustee. He was a past president of the Woodlawn Cemetery Association and a past chairman and board member of Lima Memorial Hospital and First Federal Bank. He was also a member of the Lima Rotary Club, having served as a past president; a 50-year member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 54, a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge Fort Amanda 706; the Scottish Rite in Dayton, where he was a 32nd degree Mason; the Antioch Shrine; and the Shawnee Commandry. He was a former member of the Shawnee Country Club and the Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton, and he had also been the regional director of the Purdue University Alumni Association.

Survivors also include three daughters, Carol (William) Mack, of Lima, Leslie (Mark) Sand, of Winter Park, Fla., and Lori (Timothy) Purdy, of Lima; a brother, J. Chester (Anita) Ebling, of Lima; two sisters, Marjory (Rex) Croft, of Lima, and Kathleen (Robert) Voss, of Grand Junction, Colo.; and 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Katherine McCormick.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Market Street Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Susan T. Reichenberg and the Rev. Dr. Steven Ebling will officiate. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, with military rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275.

Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Siferd-Orians Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Wednesday in the Williamsburg Room of the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Market Street Presbyterian Church Trust Fund, Lima Convalescent Home or Woodlawn Cemetery Association.