Russell Edward "Russ" Gratz, 86, died at 2:30 a.m., May 28, 2011, at Baton Rouge Senior Health Facility, Lima, Ohio.

He was born Oct. 3, 1924, in Allen County to Homer S. and Edna Badertscher Gratz. On Dec. 16, 1961, he married Violet Hardesty Gratz, who survives in Lima.

Mr. Gratz was a member of First Mennonite Church, Bluffton and was an employee of Ford Motor Co., Lima Engine Plant, from where he retired in 1988. He was also a teacher and varsity baseball coach and basketball coacher at Edgerton, Vaughnsville and Grand Rapids high schools.

He was a World War II Army veteran, a paratrooper, and assigned to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

He was a graduate of Bluffton High School in 1942 and graduated from Bluffton College in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in education.

Mr. Gratz was a member of the Bluffton High School 1941-42 basketball team that advanced to the Class B state basketball tournament. He was named to the all-tournament first team. He received all-Ohio honorable mention in 1950 as a member of the Bluffton College basketball team.

Survivors include two stepsons, Roger (Joan) Hardesty and E. Frank Hardesty, Lima; a brother, Donavin S. (Gayle) Gratz of Lancaster, Pa.; two sisters, Margaret Detwiler of Toledo, and Joan (Arden) Slotter, of Castle Road, Colo. Also surviving are five grandchildren.

A brother, Homer Gratz, Jr.; a sister, Kathleen Gratz; and a brother-in-law, Paul Detwiler, preceded him in death.

Graveside services will begin at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.