Floyd Beryl Sears

Floyd Beryl "Papaw" Sears, 73, of Bolivar, and a former resident of Dover, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, in his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Born, Sept. 10, 1935, in Hallsberg, WV, he was a son of the late Walter and Locie Miller Sears. Beryl, as he was often called, attended school in Gassaway, WV, and served honorably in the U. S. Army during the Korean War. Following his service time, he was employed as a truck driver for Venezia Trucking Co. He retired from Venezia with several safe-driving awards to his credit.

Beryl was a member of the Dover Eagles and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of both Dover and New Philadelphia. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, camping and mushroom-hunting.

Survivors include four daughters, Tammy (Richard) Seward, Patty Foster and Beverly Young, all of Bolivar, and Wanda (James) Meryo of Dover; a son, Randy Sears of Dover; thirteen grandchildren, Joshua Foster and Michael Hardy, both of New Philadelphia, Cole Young of Newcomerstown, Benjamin Seward of Mineral City, Curtis Seward of Bolivar, Lance Cpl. Matthew Seward, serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq, Nicholas and Jesse Meryo, both of Dover, Maranda, Randy Jr. and Brenda Sears, all of Uhrichsville, Andrew and Jonathan Sears, both of Dover; six great-granddaughters, Ariaya Hardy, Bella Kandle, Brooke Young, Shaylee and Twyla Foster, and Marley Meryo; a sister, Lenore (Bill) Herron of Elyria; two brothers, Dillon (Darlene) Sears of Somerdale, and Larry (Beverly) Sears of New Philadelphia; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Beryl was preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Sears; a great-grandson, Leander Seward; two sisters; and three brothers.

A funeral service will be held Monday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, with Pastor Brian Flood of Faith Christian Church in New Philadelphia officiating. Burial will be in New Cumberland Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by the Dover post of the V.F.W. Following the committal, there will be a meal at the Bolivar Volunteer Fire Dept. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Sunday, Jan. 25, 4 7 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Beryl, please visit the Toland-Herzig Web site and click on Obituaries.

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330-343-6132
www.tolandherzig.com