Bobby B. Gantz, 83, of West Liberty, passed away peacefully at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019 at home surrounded by his family. He was born in West Liberty, March 10, 1936, to the late Albert James and Cleo Belle (Headings) Gantz. He was also preceded in death by his two brothers, James Edwin Gantz and William L. Gantz.
On Oct. 21, 1956, Bobby married the former Ruth Ellyn Flora in West Liberty, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 19, 1995. He later married Jean Louise Walborn on Sept. 23, 2004, in West Liberty, and she survives, along with Bobby and Ruth’s four children, Jeffrey (Sharon) Gantz, Kelly (Carollyn) Gantz, Cheryl Gantz, and Benjamin (Kathy) Gantz, all of whom live on the family farm in West Liberty; 11 grandchildren, Donald (Shelby) Ropp Jr., Shannon (Daric) McClintick, Sarah (Dillon) Snapp, Jarrod Deskins, Mary Deskins, Sheena (James) Miller, Dustin (Kelly Marie) Gantz, Ashley Gantz, Bryan (Macey) Gantz, Hannah Gantz, and Lucy Gantz; eight great-grandchildren (Bobby was looking forward to meeting his ninth in December); four sisters, Gathel Krauss, Eileen (Robert) Lee, Jerolynn (Glenn) Ashba, and Marjorie King; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Gantz and LaDonna Gantz; and many nieces and nephews.
A dairy farmer, Bobby graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1954. He was a member of the United Church of Christ in West Liberty and enjoyed making maple syrup.
The family receives friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, 101 Zanesfield Road in West Liberty. Pastors Kay Young and Nate Wilcoxon officiate a funeral service at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15th at the United Church of Christ, 212 Newell Street in West Liberty. Burial follows in Mac-O-Chee Cemetery in Monroe Township, West Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made, in Bobby’s memory, to the United Church of Christ, 212 Newell Street, West Liberty, Ohio 43357 or to Universal Home Health & Hospice, 921 Rush Avenue, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home in West Liberty and online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.edsfh.com.