my grandpa passed away on sunday. i think he has the best written obituary but when you live to 96 you deserve the best.
Henry H. Schriver, 96
The father of three local men, Henry Haley Schriver, 96, of Grafton, Ohio died on March 27, 2011, following a short illness.
Thousands knew him as the “Farmer Philosopher” who spoke in rhyme about the values of farming and cooperation. His large family knew him as a devoted husband, energetic dad, and delightful grandpa to several generations. Mr. Schriver was admired worldwide for his tireless volunteering, community leadership, sense of humor, Christian faith and quiet generosity.
But first and foremost, he was a farmer. Even this past winter, wearing his familiar bib overalls and helped by family, he continued to visit and feed his beloved cows.
When he was 47, he combined three of his favorite subjects into a poetic presentation called “Cows, Kids and Co-ops”. He gave variations of that speech in rhyme thousands of times to groups all over the country about being leaders in their communities. Mr. Schriver’s creative use of poetry and flip charts launched a second career in public speaking that was filmed in 1965 by the American Institute of Cooperation and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The hugely successful film was later used by the U.S. State Department to help advance agricultural education programs throughout the world.
Mr. Schriver’s passion for educating other farmers about cooperatives led to international trips to Taiwan as a guest of their government, and to Russia as part of a volunteer group. At the state level, he served in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1967-1968, working on committees for agriculture, conservation, pollution, safety and education.
Locally, he was very active in many organizations, including Easter Seals, 4-H, FFA and Farm Bureau. As President of Belden School Board, he was instrumental in the creation of the Midview School District. He was also a driving force in the formation of Lorain County Soil and Water Conservation District, the founding of Lorain County Community College, and the establishment of the Grafton Township Fire Department.
Aside from his many local and national honors, awards and memberships, Mr. Schriver was a practical man who brought out the best in people and constantly and deliberately sought ways to help others improve their own lives. His farm was a demonstration site for soil conservation practices, and lots of kids found their first jobs picking apples or strawberries on the family farm. In 1965, he organized 4-H and FFA members to clean up Grafton Township crop fields in time for planting after the devastating Palm Sunday tornado.
Mr. Schriver was a very active and life-long member of Belden United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent, Lay Leader and Trustee for many years.
Born in Belden in 1914, he lived his whole life in that area. Mr. Schriver graduated from Belden High School, and then earned his B.Sc. in Agriculture from The Ohio State University in 1937. A year later, he married his college sweetheart, Dorothy Ellen Langshaw. Together, they raised eleven children on their dairy and fruit farm. They had been married 63 years when she died in 2001.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Sarah Schriver; sisters Elsie Schriver, Mary Frances Mills and Sarah Bernice Diedrick; grandson Steve Schriver and daughter-in-law Pat Schriver.
Survivors include his sister Martha Jane Williams; sons Jim (Jayne) of Montpelier, Bill (Dee), Don (Jane), Hiro (who joined the family in 1964 as an exchange student from Japan, wife Marisha), Paul (Kelli) of Montpelier, Larry (Kathy), Randy (Kathy) of Bluffton, Ted (Tracy), Ken (Mary); daughters Carol (Rodger) Carpenter, Sally (Jim) Kocher, Ellen (Mark) Stephenson; 40 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
His body was donated to Case Western Reserve University for use in medical education.
Friends may call at Belden United Methodist Church commencing at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2011. The memorial service will begin at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Belden United Methodist Church, 36130 State Route 303, Grafton, Ohio 44044; or to Easter Seals Northern Ohio, 41641 North Ridge Road, Suite D, Elyria, Ohio 44035; or to Lorain County 4-H Endowment Fund, payable to “The Ohio State University/Fund #604280”, OSU Extension/ Lorain County, 42110 Russia Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035; or to New Life Hospice, 5255 North Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035.