Online Obituaries

In Loving Memory Paul Richard Erb 11/17/1927 - 8/25/2008 Paul R. Erb, 80, of Riverview Drive Marietta, OH, died at his home Monday, August 25, 2008 at 7:55 A.M. He was born in Marietta on November 17, 1927, to the late Homer H. and Norma Fickeisen Erb. He graduated from Salem Liberty High School in 1945 and served in the U.S. Navy for two tours of duty. Paul was retired from 40 years as a painting contractor and owner of Erb Decorating Store. He worked for many years on Hadley Field and then for 17 years as head groundskeeper of Marietta College Pioneer Park. He had been active in many bowling leagues and was a life member of V.F.W. Post #5108 and attended St. Pauls Evangelical Church.  He married Betty L. Kehl Erb on June 7, 1947, in Warner, OH, and they just celebrated their 61st anniversary. Three daughters survive, Sue Joy (David), Jo Heldman (Greg) and Norma French (Steve).  There are five grandchilden, Shawn Joy (Julie), Kelly Heldman, Jennifer Reed (Ronnie), Cathy Whittekind (Rob) and Beth Wheeler (Dennis). He also has nine great-grandchilren, Alexa, Brady, and Drew Whittekind, Lindsay and Derek Joy, Danielle and Lukas Reed, and Cole and Blake Wheeler. One sister Sally Schafer, two sisters-in-law Betty Erb and Margie Morgenstern and a brother-in-law Neal Kehl (Alma) also survive. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Claude Erb and a brother-in-law Bob Schafer. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2008, at 11:00 A.M. at Hadley Funeral Home 500 5th Street Marietta Chapel with Pastor Tom Hendershot officiating.  Burial with full graveside military rites will follow at East Lawn Memorial Park. Friends may call on Wednesday, August 27, 2008, from 4 to 8 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Home Nursing, 210 N. 7th Street Marietta, OH 45750. Online condolences may be made to hadleyfuneralhomes.com Online Condolences From: Cheryl Miller   Rittman Ohio Relationship:  Friend Dear Betty, Sue and family, We are so sorry to hear of you loss. We just last week was talking about you. We have a picture of you and your shuffel board team. Take care, Love Cheryl and Mike Miller. Sent:  8/26/2008 From: Larry McCullough   Pandora Ohio Relationship:  Baseball / Friend Dear Betty, It is with great sadness that I sit here to write this letter! On behalf of our whole family I wish to express our sincere sympathy for the loss of Paul to you and your entire family. He was one in a million! I will always cherish my days at the ball field and the friendship and companionship the both of you expressed towards me, as you did with so many! You should know how important that was in my life and how close I hold those fond memories to my heart. I was miles from home and rarely had the opportunity to go home, often at times when it was important. But the two of you always made us feel special and went out of your way to do so. That helped with the tough emotional times and developed a home like experience that will be forever cherished!! I am happy I took the time a while back to stop up and visit with the two of you; I just wish it could have been more frequent. It was evident then that things were getting tough for Paul. It was with joy to visit with him and I was amazed at how much he distinctly remembered about my time at MC. But it was with sadness at the same time knowing his time was drawing near and that an important icon in my life would soon pass. What a special guy!! First to put up with Coach Schaly all those years! :) I know how much the two of them loved each other. What a special friendship and relationship. But I also know how important it was for him to make things as good as possible for us young men. He had pride in his work and he had pride in us. You could just tell it gave him great joy to make things as nice as possible for us. Our fraternity and Marietta College owe him a great deal of gratitude for all his efforts and the huge heart he possessed. The images of his big smile, hearty laugh, and him perched on the lawn mower with the big horn as he went round and round on the infield…….they are imbedded in my head second to nothing else. He was an MC Baseball icon and was a major part of the success of our program. Thanks for everything Erbie! You will never, ever be forgotten!! And thank you Betty for everything you have done, not just for me but for our whole fraternity. Your commitment and support of us guys is appreciated in ways you can’t imagine! And thank you for sharing Paul’s time with us! It was as big of a commitment on your behalf as it was his. I know the two of you shared an incredibly special bond and deep love for one another! I am unsure at this point if we will be able to make services but we are trying to make arrangements if possible. Our commitments run thick with our children and all the activities they are engaged with and we seldom get a break from chasing our tails! Please know that our thoughts, prayers and hearts are with you at this difficult time! If we don’t see you tomorrow, we will be down to Marietta sometime in the coming future. I look forward to visiting with you! God bless!! All our Love! Larry, Suzi, Paige, Vanessa, Layton & Cooper McCullough Sent:  8/26/2008 From: Pastor Steve Dennis   Westerville OH Relationship:  Former pastor I'm so sorry to hear of Paul's passing. I have thought of him often since I've been away from Marietta. He was a genuinely good man. May the Lord strengthen you in these days. Sent:  8/26/2008 From: Stacy Miller   Marietta Ohio Relationship:  Friend Miss Betty, I am so sorry for your loss. God must have been looking for another angel. I hope you know we are praying for you... Stacy( from the outpatient center) Sent:  8/26/2008 From: Jeff Wiktorski (Class of 1985)   St Louis Missouri Relationship:  Friend Betty My sympathy to you and your family for your loss. I will forever have memories of seeing both you and Paul at the ballpark and attending our games. For someone like myself who lived too far away to have family see me play, you and Paul became my family. We all could not have asked for more dedicated fans of MC baseball. Paul was a strong person and very loyal to his profession - not to mention even a greater man for putting up with all of Coach Schaly's demands over the years!! He will be missed by many but his legacy will live on at the ballpark. Take care of yourself. With Love, Wik Sent:  8/26/2008 From: mike mcnamara   Angola IN Relationship:  family friend My sincere condolences to Betty and all the family. "Erb-bay" was one of the kindest and hardest working members of the "Pio Team" I ever had the pleasure of working with. I still can hear him saying, "It's sunshine and 70 somewhere" on those cold, rainy days at Pioneer Park. Sincerely, mike mcnamara Sent:  8/26/2008 From: brandon hunt   marietta ohio Relationship:  friendof the son inlaw greg i am so sorry to hear about ur father in law i work with u at the oak grove cemerty Sent:  8/26/2008 From: Scott Barber (Class of 1990)   Jefferson Ohio Relationship:  Friend Betty - So sorry to hear of the passing of Paul. The loss has touched the hearts of all of us. Erbie and you were such special people in my life at Marietta College. All of the hard work that both of you have put into Pioneer Park and the Baseball Fraternity have been just as important as any accomplishment that was ever played out on the field itself. You and your family are in our prayers. Scott, Sharon, Matthew and Molly Barber Sent:  8/26/2008 From: Erin Fruit   New Castle PA Relationship:  MC baseball player parent Dear Betty and family, Please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of Mr. Erb. He was the funniest person I ever met in the 5 years my son attended Marietta College. Even though I haven't been back since my son graduated, I can still see Mr. Erb on his tractor and sitting in the stands rain or shine cheering on all of our sons as if they were his own. And, Betty, don't think I've forgotten about you with your SOS and SOL calls and your meticulous scorekeeping. I told Matt(DeSalvo) about Mr. Erb's passing yesterday. Not one day has gone by that I don't think about Marietta and all of the wonderful people that helped take care of my son and look out for him when I could not be there. Thank you, Mr. Erb!! Sent:  8/27/2008 From: Jane Hiener   Marietta Ohio Relationship:  Friend Betty,Sue,Dave,Jo,Greg,Norma,Steve,Shawn,Kelly,Jennifer,Kathy & Beth: My sincere sympathy to you all. Paul & Betty treated the Erb Decorating women's softball team like family. I will never forget how nice we were treated. Paul will be sadly missed. Sent:  8/27/2008 From: Nate Counts (Class of 1993)   Relationship:  Friend Betty & family, It is with a heavy heart that I extend my deepest sympathy to all of you on the passing of Paul. Our fraternity has lost such a wonderful member. It's hard to put into words everything you want to say during times like this. Simply put though, Paul was truely a good man and a great supporter of MC Baseball. I feel very fortunate to have known the two of you during my time at MC. The two of you always took care of us players and for that I am very thankful. Paul always made coming to the park special because of the way he took care of it. His work ethic was tremendous and no doubt that rubbed off on us guys in the pinstripes, then and now. Please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers. Nate, Chris, Abby, Allie & Sam Sent:  8/27/2008 From: Norman & Dorothy (Ullmann) Wilkinson   Marietta Ohio Relationship:  friend Dear Betty, Our hearts go out to you and your family at the passing of Paul. He was a fine man and the two of you raised a WONDERFUL family. You have much to be proud of. We will be thinking of you in the days ahead. May God comfort you as only HE can do. Much Love, Norman and Dorothy Wilkinson Sent:  8/28/2008 From: Gary & Kelley Jones   Lima OH Relationship:  parents of current player Danny Jones Our deepest sympathy to Paul's family. We have appreciated the fruits of his labor. God's blessings and comfort Sent:  8/28/2008 From: Michelle Carpenter   Marietta Ohio Relationship:  friend Betty,Sue,Shawn and family, Iam so sorry for your lose. Paul was a very well liked man and will be missed by everyone. But, just remember he will always be in your heart and he will always be with you where ever you go. Sent:  8/29/2008 From: Bob and Charlene Eredics   Bradenton Fl Relationship:  Friends Our deepest sympathy to the entire family of a great man. Times like this are when I miss being so far away. If only to be there to give you a hug. Sent:  8/30/2008 Send an Online Condolence   View Printer-Friendly Page