Wilbur BOOTH Obituary

We miss you, Bill. This world is not the same without you.

The Toledo Association of Administative Personnel (TAAP), of which Bill was a member, wishes to thank Bill for his years of exceptional service to the kids of TPS and to express condolences to family and friends at his passing. Every year TAAP donates to the Toledo Public Schools Foundation in memory of members who have passed away. This year's donation will honor Bill in memory of his dedication to Toledo Schools. The $1000 donation will go toward funding a scholarship to a deserving TPS student. (Don Yates, President, TAAP)

Hello I am Orlando Ivey Rogers class of 1975. I had the honor of knowing Mr Booth personally. I was a self-described history freak and I once asked Mr. Booth if he was distantly related to John Wilkes booth. We both had a good laugh. My sincerest condolences to the Booth family. I remember Ms. carol Keener, who taught english at McTigue.

Sorry and saddened to hear of Mr. Booth's (Bill's) passing. I was priviledged to work with Bill. He was a man who set high standards as principal, coach, and official. I was sorry to see him moved to Florida. The youth, coaches,and officials of Toledo lost a good friend and mentor in Bill.

Hearing of Coach Booth's death was a shock to me as I had only recently corresponded with him on LinkedIn. Coach Booth coached me in football and track and I will always remember his words of encouragement, teaching, and kindness. Bill Booth epitomizes the principles of fairness, hard work, and being a contributing member of a team. I thank Coach Booth for all that he taught me and extend my sincere condolences to his family.

Jim Rutledge (DeVilbiss 63)

I am sorry to hear of Coach Booth's passing. He was both my football and track coach at Devilbiss. He played a big part of my life. I want on to play football and wrestle at BGSU. Coach Booth helped get me ready to play at that level.
Some years latter Coach Booth was an official at my son and daughter's track meet. He went out of his way to meet my kids, he was first class. Much of what I learned from him, I used when I was coaching football and track.
My prayers go out to his family.

Steve Hardy (Devilbiss 68)

Mr. Booth was my phys. ed. teacher in the early 1950s at Genoa High school in Genoa, OH. It was his initial assignment as a girls' gym teacher. He was not sure it was his cup of tea, but he was great. Also, he and Rosie were friends of my sister and brother-in-law when they both lived on Billman Road. My condolences to the family. May Will rest in peace.
Barbara (Miller) Meder, GHS Class of '53

I was one of the gals in Will's first girls gym class at Genoa Hgh School. Boy as Seniors did we ever give him a rough time, but he took it. Later Gene & I became real good friends with Will and his family. It seemed like Gene and Will were always coming up with different interesting parties for our group. In our younger days we partied, traveled and shared many times together. Who ever thought we would both end up in Florida. My prayers to out to his family and my memories of Will will never be forgotten.

To the Wilbur Booth family - Sorry to hear about the loss of your husband, father, and grandfather. I was a 1954 graduate of Clay-Genoa High School and a student in one of the first driver training courses that Mr. Booth taught. The hill in Elmore always scared me with the standard shift automobile!!! Mr. Booth persevered and held me over for another semester of driving "behind the wheel". I will be eternally grateful to Mr. Booth - I have not had an accident in 50+ years and recently I was told by a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law that I was a "good driver". A belated thanks.

Carol L. Dunham Engel Warne
Class of 1954
Guelph, ON

Carolyn and I are sorry to hear of Will's passing. While a student at Genoa High I had Will as a teacher, as well as football and track coach. All football players remember "Hot Alley" and numerous pranks he would pull on us. Carolyn baby sat the girls when they were little. I worked with him 2 summers paving road for Bergman's while I was in college. He helped get me an assistant football coaching job with him at DeVilbiss HS in 1964. We did a lot of family outings together. He was always interested in what former students were doing with their lives. A great jokester and disciplinarian. I always appreciated his willingness to help and be a mentor. We road together from Genoa to Toledo each day which gave us time for very meaningful conversations. Other than my dad, he has had probably the most influence on my outlook on life. I remeber the first road game with St Francis it was my assignment after the game to "pick up the wives" and get them back for a party after the game. I forgot, left them stranded at the game! Will was not too happy nor were the wives. There are many other stories that come to mind, all of which bring a smile to me. I am glad he was a teacher at Genoa HS while I was there. Gene and Carolyn Hodulik

I remember Coach Booth starting from from my first day at freshman football practice at DeVilbiss on August 15, 1960. He impressed all of us with his knowledge and love of the game and always encouraged us to do our best. He was particularly demanding of me and others who played on the line in those days, but we always knew that his knowledge of the full game and his imagination would pay dividends in the future.

His later success as a varsity assistant, head coach, and much more are absolutely not a surprise!

Coach, you were a class act. You'll be missed - and probably a lot more than you know...

Go Tigers!

---- John Gilbert DHS '64 ----

Bill and I go back to 1961 when we coached against each other and later officiated side by side in Ohio and more recently here in Florida. He was great for kids and loyal to his friends. We will all greatly miss him. God be with his family.

In 1961, I played on Coach Booth's first freshman football team at DeVilbiss and three years later, when he was elevated to head coach, played on his first varsity team. During practice, when things were going well and he was pleased with our effort and execution, he always had a twinkle in his eyes. However, the twinkle could disappear in a hurry when he would utter the phrase “gentlemen, right over the ball”. When these words were heard, everyone knew that someone was going to be emphatically “coached up”.

Thirty plus years later, while attending a track meet, my son approached me and said that one of my old coaches was looking for me. Coach had obviously looked over the rooster and noticed a familiar surname. Sure enough, standing on the other side of the fence was Coach Booth, preparing to officiate the meet. As we approached each other, I knew he was pleased and happy – the twinkle was more like a sparkle.

The profession of education has lost one of the best, he will be missed!

Mr. Booth was my first boss. I worked for him under the JOIN program for two summers at the Friendly Center.

He was a great boss and a man

Sorry to hear the loss of Mr. Booth. He was my principal at SHS 86-90. He was a loving and caring man that took me out of study hall to help in the office with him. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Rose, Becky, Julie and family,
I just saw Will's obituary on line. I'm so sorry to hear about his passing. My thoughts, prayers and condolences are with you at this time.
Mary Floro Younker

I have many good memories of Coach Booth at DeVilbiss. He was a good man who cared about his students. He will be missed greatly.

When I first came to DeVilbiss in 1962 Wilbur and I were on the football coaching staff under Dave Hardy. I was just a rookie and Wilbur taught me a lot. When he gave up the head coaching position in 1968 I became the head coach. Many of the ideas and methods I
learned from Wilbur helped me as a head coach.
He was a dear friend a great coach and I am proud to say he meant a lot to me.
I am so sorry for his family
Dale Pittman

Condolences from the Sieler family . I was a freshman in 1962 at DHS and Mr. Booth was my gym teacher. Always had something good to say to us and never critisized. He will be missed..

Don Sieler and family

11-7-11

Mr Booth was my boss when I worked at Start. I enjoyed knowing him. Sympathy to the family
Laura Sweet

Mr. Booth was my teacher at Genoa High School-I was in his history class and also driver's education. He was a perfectionist which made me do my best. He would often put sports questions on a history test! I remember him as a great coach. So sorry to hear of his passing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Family of Wilbur,

I was a soph. at DHS in what I think was Coach Booth's first year as track coach in 1961. He was loved by many of us, a great guy.

Coach Booth was a true pioneer in the early sixties at DeVilbiss High School. He was one of the first to recognize the need to create an environment in which girls could compete in sports. He made it possible for females athletes to participate in track and field and he always offered encouragement and had a very positive attitude that we could excel. He will be missed!

I remember Bill from Ohio Track and Field officiating. He introduced me to the fried bologna sandwich on our way to the State track meet in Columbus. Becky and I were officials together. Bill was a great guy.

Dear Shirley and members of the Booth family - I'm so sorry to hear of Coach Will's passing. I ran track for him my senior year at DeVilbiss in 1960, and I can't begin to describe what a pleasure it was to have him as a coach. Over the passage of time I'd lost track of the coach, until approximately five years ago when I learned of his being inducted into the Ohio High School Official's Hall of Fame. I called to congratulate him on his induction, and to relive some of those terriffic memories from his years at DeVilbiss. He was one of the best; my condolences to you all.

My very first teaching job was at Allen-Central School in Genoa, Ohio. I replaced Wilbur who had taken a job as the Bowling Green High School football coach following the 58-59 school year. Wilbur never coached at the school. A coach told me Wilbur reported to the school ready to prepare his new team for football practice, found the football uniforms had been hung out, were soiled and mud caked and had never been cleaned from the previous season. Wilbur resigned the job before starting and was hired in the Toledo school system to begin his coaching and administrative career. Again, this was shared by a coaching colleague who knew Wilbur. I do recall meeting Wilbur's daughter and getting to know her when she worked the desk at a Perrysburg racquetball club. I was a handball player and this was back in the early 80's. I remember meeting Wilbur and talking briefly on a few occasions. Shirley, we never met yet I recall seeing you several times when you worked the exit four toll booth on the Ohio Turnpike. My wife Jan and I took frequent trips back and forth from exit four to exit six while visiting her parents in Port Clinton. I told my friend Tom Falvey, a Rogers High School teacher, I thought you resembled Tammy Wynette and I do recall how the "Toledo Blade" wrote a feature story about the Ohio Turnpike and interviewed you and other employees. Through the years I always heard good things about Wilbur as a person, track official, coach and administrator. Tom felt Wilbur was one of the best principals ever in the Toledo system. Our condolences to the Booth family.

The only Coach That made a difference in my life .I loved that old guy just sorry I can't be there for his family the way he was there for me and all the guys he coached at DHS Ed Benner

Julie, I am sorry to hear of your father's passing. I think of you often and how much I enjoyed being your 6th grade teacher at Brunner. I have been in Florida since 81 and still have the little card box you painted for me years ago. I recently retired from teaching in Bradenton and would love an update on you. Jan Skinner (nee Kreger)

I was so sorry to hear of Will's passing. It seems like I just saw him. I have had the pleasure of working with Will while officiating the FHSAA state track and field meets, as well as meets that we have hosted at our facility (UNF). He was a very kind man and was very passionate about anything he did. He was a stickler for making sure things were handled in the correct manner. He even brought some delicious brownies that his wife had made to one of our home meets. Thank you for sharing Will with us. He will be greatly missed. I pray that God will continue to comfort each of you during this time of loss

Mr. Booth was my teacher at Genoa High School; he pushed me to be a good athlete and I have often shared my memories of him with my friends and family; he once told me that I was born to soon as he and I would have gone to the Olympics!!! His fist breaking the blackboard regarding the Yalta Conference I will never forget; he was a wonderful teacher and friend.