Brian R. Koch
Brian Richard Koch passed away suddenly Wednesday, April 15, 2026. He was the son of Richard and Virginia (DePaul) Koch and is survived by his wife Karen; sons Richard (Beth Shaw) and Brent (Miranda Diesz); daughter Kendall (Joshua Cercone); sister Carol Schenck and partner Eric Lauck; Aunt Mary Jane Koch; sister and brother-in-law Rebecca and Richard Toomey; grandchildren Ronan, Rosalind and Luca, and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Born April 28, 1960, Brian was raised in Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Village. In high school, he played tenor saxophone in the Cuyahoga Falls Tiger Marching Band.
He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Akron, where he worked as a student assistant at the Physical Facilities Plant. After graduation, he began his career at Goodyear Aerospace working on the F-15 flight simulator program, traveling to Air Force Bases worldwide to install equipment for pilot training. He later worked for Loral and Lockheed Martin, often joking he “worked for three different companies without ever changing desks.”
Most recently, Brian was a manager in the Process Development Center at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. His work involved developing NASCAR racing tires, passenger tires, and more efficient production equipment. He was awarded over 15 patents for innovations in tire manufacturing.
Brian’s career took him around the world—to Japan, Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, Australia, Germany, Poland, China, South Africa, and across the U.S. From 1999–2001, the family lived in Luxembourg during a Goodyear assignment, traveling widely through Europe. He twice helped rebuild a chemical plant in Beaumont, Texas after hurricanes, and later oversaw construction of a Goodyear Proving Ground in San Angelo, Texas.
From childhood, Brian showed a knack for taking things apart and putting them back together encouraged by his father, also an electrical engineer. As a teen, he built an early “boombox” inside a briefcase which he took with him to social events. As a Life Scout, he enjoyed camping, sailing, and summers at the Krehl dairy farm in Indiana, helping with cutting hay, milking, and tractors. He also worked at McDonald’s with his two sisters.
Brian met Karen at a Valentine’s party in 1981 and they married in 1984. As their family grew, he enjoyed church softball, little league coaching, cooking, boating, hunting, and skeet shooting. Later in life, Brian became a certified FAA drone pilot, enjoyed photography, birding, hiking, and especially recreating Italian dishes from his childhood.
Brian was quick-witted, loyal, and caring—a devoted husband, proud father, and doting grandfather. He was happiest helping others. Loved deeply by his family, he will be greatly missed, and his memory cherished.
A gathering of friends will be held on Friday, April 24th from 5-7 p.m. at the Arnold Funeral Home, 504 West Maple Street, Hartville, Ohio, 44632.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 26th at 1:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Uniontown, 13370 Cleveland Ave NW, Uniontown, OH 44685.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Greater Akron Audubon Society.
Charles O. Parkinson
Charles O. Parkinson, 95, of Ravenna, Ohio, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2026. He was born on June 25, 1930, in Bellaire, Ohio to the late E.W. and Clarissa (Strahl) Parkinson.
Chuck proudly served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War as a hospital corpsman aboard the USS General A.E. Anderson. After the Navy he enrolled in Pharmacy School at Ohio Northern University. He met his wife Jan standing in line at freshman registration when she asked to borrow his newspaper. Jan always said if she’d had a nickel, they never would have met as she would have purchased her own paper. They married in 1955, graduated from college in 1957 and began working in Marion, Ohio before moving to Ravenna in 1961. Chuck became a partner in Thompson Drug, managing the Brimfield store until his retirement in 1995. A longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, he served as Treasurer for over twenty years. He played golf on the St. Paul League and continued to play into his early 90’s. Cards and games were a favorite pastime, and he was brutal at Monopoly.
Chuck loved to travel. He and Jan made lifelong friends through their trips with Elderhostel. Every summer he took his entire vacation at one time and traveled the US and Canada with the family and often friends, pulling their travel trailer with the family’s Buick LeSabre. His homemade chocolates were legendary. He was often asked to sell them but refused because then it would be a job instead of his gift to family, friends and associates. Being on the list for candy was an extra kind of special. His faith, family and friends served as the foundation of his life, and he will be greatly missed by the lives he touched.
Chuck was preceded in death by his wife Janet, and his sister Jane Lingle. The family appreciates all the love and care given to him at Vista Veranda, where he moved after the loss of his wife in August of 2025.
He is survived by his children, Amy (John) Crawford of Garrettsville, OH, Charles II (Michelle) Parkinson of Shorter, AL, and Christopher (Cynthia) Parkinson of Anderson, SC; and grandchildren Christian Crawford and Caroline Parkinson.
Calling hours will be held Saturday April 25, 2026 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 170 N. Freedom St. Ravenna, Ohio 44266 followed by a service at 1 p.m. officiated by Pastor Dan Caruso. Interment with military honors will be at a later date in Park Cemetery in Garrettsville. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church in his name.
Alan O. Dech
Alan O. Dech passed on April 21, 2026, at the age of 95, having been born on February 4, 1931.
Robert J. Speer
Robert J. Speer, 63, of Ravenna, Ohio passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Summa Hospital in Akron, Ohio after several months of failing health. He was born on October 22, 1962 in Stuttgart, Germany to Helene and the late Joseph Speer.
Ralph W. Laubert
Ralph W. Laubert of Ravenna, Ohio passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2026, peacefully at home. He was 95 years old. Born on June 8, 1930, to the late Lester and Cecile Laubert, Ralph was raised in Atwater, Ohio.