Watson N. Ley

Watson N. Ley, 91, of Van Wert, went to be with his Lord on Friday, January 21, 2011, at the Van Wert Inpatient Hospice Center.

He was born March 24, 1919, in Ridge Township, the son of the late Phillip J. and Clara (Johnson) Ley. On March 22, 1941, he married Esther Mae (Summersett) Ley, his loving wife of 69 years, who survives.

Other survivors include a son, Dr. John C. (Vicki) Ley of Colorado Springs, Colo.; one daughter, Ruth Ann (Jack) Boley of Van Wert; four grandchildren, Dr. Brian C. (Rochelle) Ley of  Burlington, Colo., Michael (Naomi) Ley of Wilcox, Ariz., Amy J. Boley of Lima and Gregory (Arleen) Boley of Convoy. Also seven great-grandchildren, Caden Ley, Jacqueline Ley, London Ley, Bode Ley, Elleanna Ley, Courtney Boley and Andrew Boley. One brother, Dean E. Ley of Syracuse, Ind., also survives.

Two brothers, Eugene F. Ley and Dr. Gordon R. Ley, also preceded him in death.

Mr. Ley was a past member of Middle Point United Methodist Church, where he was choir director, Sunday School teacher and a Boy Scout scoutmaster. More rencently, he was a member of First United Methodist Church in Van Wert, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees and chaired two building renovation efforts. During his lifetime, he served on the boards of the Methodist Theological School, Starr Commonwealth, Van Wert County Hospital, The Van Wert County Foundation, Van Wert National Bank and Wassenberg Art Center. He was also a member of Rotary International and several national farm equipment organizations.

Mr. Ley loved Big Band music and was active in the music department of Middle Point High School, where he graduated in 1937. He was a farmer, a feed salesman and turkey farmer, which led to his interest in designing and manufacturing Harvest Hopper Wagons. He started his own company, Ley Equipment Company, in 1952 in Middle Point and later expanded the business and product lines when he moved the business to Van Wert in 1962. The product lines expanded to feeding and waste removal equipment used in poultry and swine buildings sold in the United States and worldwide.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 25, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory in Van Wert, with the Rev. Dillon Staas and Rev. Paul W. Miller officiating. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery near Middle Point.

Calling hours are from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, January 24, and an hour prior to services Tuesday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: First United Methodist Church in Van Wert or The Van Wert County Foundation.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.alspachgearhart.com.