Neil Valois Obituary

VALOIS Neil W. Valois, 69, of New California, Ohio, formerly Mentor, Ohio, died peacefully Sunday, August 22, 2010 at his home following a valiant battle with lung cancer. He was a 23-year associate for Parker Hannifin in Cleveland, Ohio where he was a manufacturing manager. He was a former project coordinator in Information Services at Rockwell International in Newark, Ohio and also worked for Symix/Frontstep/Infor in Westerville, Ohio and Quest in Dublin, Ohio. Additionally, he was an Adjunct Instructor in Computer Science at Ohio Dominican University. A 1959 graduate of Mynderse Academy in Seneca Falls, NY., he received a BA in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University in Alfred, NY and was a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. He received a master's degree in business administration from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. In retirement, he was a favorite teacher at BRAG (Buckeye Region Agility Group) and guided dozens of students to participate and enjoy canine agility as he did with his two Welsh Corgis, Daisy and Bear. A voracious reader, he enjoyed mysteries, novels, history and historical fiction. A traveler, he liked journey to historical locations, especially forts and appreciated trips to Saengerfests with the Columbus Damenchor/Mannechor. A loving husband, devoted dad and brother and dedicated grandpa, he valued his family and loved them unconditionally. Following the death of his son-in-law in 1996, he helped raise his grandsons. He was born March 30, 1941 in Syracuse, New York to the late William A. and Ellen Wood Valois and was also predeceased by his son-in-law Robert MacDowell, a sister Janette Valois Newton and a nephew William Newton. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Marilyn Bolzendahl Valois, whom he married October 12, 1983 in Mentor, Ohio; two daughters, Ruthann "Annie" (Glenn) Gnagy of Madison, Ohio and Elizabeth MacDowell of Plain City; two grandsons, Jack and Robert MacDowell; a granddaughter, Isabel Gnagy; two brothers, William A. Valois III of Seneca Falls, NY and Phillip (Nancie) Valois of Sapulpa, OK; two sisters, Kathleen (Robert) McGinnis of Waterloo, NY and Sue Ellen Charles of Waterloo, NY; two brothers-in-law, James Bolzendahl of Seattle, WA and Fred Newton of Seneca Falls, NY; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends, including Matt Twombly and Charlie and Nancy Lyndon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Plain City. Rev. Fr. Patrick Toner and Rev. Fr. Kevin Lutz will officiate. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held later in Seneca Falls, NY, where burial will take place at Spring Brook Cemetery. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at UNDERWOOD FUNERAL HOME in Marysville, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church building fund, 670 West Main Street, Plain City, Ohio 43064 or Union County Humane Society, 16540 County Home Road, Marysville, Ohio 43040 or HomeReach Hospice, 3595 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43214. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.underwoodfuneralhome.com. The family would like to offer their gratitude for the tender care given by the oncology staff at Riverside Methodist Hospital.