Kenneth Lawrence "Larry" Stover, 68, of New Philadelphia died Monday, June 7, 2010, in The Cleveland Clinic following a two-year battle with Leukemia.

A son of the late Rev. Kenneth and Susan (Shearer) Stover, he was born in Dayton, on March 14, 1942.

Mr. Stover was a 1960 graduate of Libbey High School at Toledo, arnd earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Bluffton University in 1964.

While at Bluffton, he played the positions of left and right guard on the school's football team. The 1962 football team went on to capture the Mid-Ohio Conference Championship, and was was selected to the All-State team among Ohio small colleges. This team was later inducted into the Bluffton University Hall of Fame. While at Bluffton, he was also a member of the a cappella choir.

He married Janis Lantz, Aug. 1, 1964. They had three children.,

Mr. Stover's career in the chemistry field spanned nearly four decades as he spent 15 years as a Glass Research Scientist in the Research and Development Department at Libbey-Owens Ford at Toledo. Upon relocating to the Tuscarawas Valley, he was employed by Zedmark, now Minteq, at Parral for more than 20 years. At Minteq, he oversaw the Quality Assurance and Research and Development Departments. Upon retiring in 2004, he joined Fuse Tech Inc. to serve as a ceramics consultant for the firm.

Mr. Stover was a member of the American Ceramic Society, the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Choir, the First United Church of Christ Choir at New Philadelphia, and the Tuscarawas County YMCA.

In addition to his involvement with the First United Church of Christ Choir, Mr/ Stover served for a number of years as a deacon within the church, the activities director of Vacation Church School and most recently had served as president of the church consistory.

Survivors include his wife, Janis; their three children, Michael (Nicole) Stover of Rossford, Matthew (Jody) Stover of La Porte, Ind., and Melissa (Timothy) O'Boyle of Carrollton, Va.; two sisters, Jane Groff and Mary (John) Herzog, all of Springfield, and two brothers, Rev. Samuel (Dottie) Stover of Cincinnati and John (Donna) Stover of Northwood, and seven grandchildren.

Visitation is at Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Friday, June 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. Rev. Jeff Gerber will lead a memorial service in the First United Church of Christ at New Philadelphia on Saturday, June 12, at 11 a.m.

Those unable to attend may send the family personal condolences by signing the online guest registry located on the funeral home's Web site.
The family requests that memorial contributions in Mr. Stover's name be directed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, PO Box 9026, Pittsfield, Mass. 01202, the Caring Bridge, PO Box 131447, Houston, Texas 77219, or to the Tuscarawas County YMCA, 600 Monroe St., Dover, O. 44622.
Linn-Hert-Geib
(330) 343-5506
www.geibcares.com