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Billy Ross Avent, age 88, passed away peacefully and with dignity on Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Bill was born September 18, 1918, to Early and Tessie Avent in Durham, North Carolina. His wife, Alvina, whom he married November 20, 1943, preceded him in death in 1976. The youngest of four children, he was placed in the Junior National Orphans' Home of Tiffin, Ohio along with his three siblings following his father's death during the flu epidemic of 1918. Upon the remarriage of his mother, he alone was taken from the Junior Home to live with his new family. He eventually came to reside in Genoa, Ohio where he graduated from Genoa High School in 1938. Bill was a member of the 1938 Basketball Team that was inducted into the Genoa High School Hall of Fame in the year 2000, the first Genoa basketball team to go to the Buckeye State Tournament. He also participated in football and track running the track medley in the State Track Championships also in 1938. His love of sports followed him to the baseball field and the Toledo Amateur Federation League. He played with the UAW Local 12 in 1940 and 1941, and after being recruited in 1942 by Tommy Thomas, manager of the Old Dutch Beer Ball Club and manager of The Minor League All Stars, Bill accepted a position with both clubs. He was the only player on the Minor League All Star team with no minor league experience and was referred to as the handy-andy youngster from Genoa. Bill was a bullpen catcher having warmed up pitchers, Dizzy Dean and Satchel Paige, then with the Pittsburgh Crawford's. Bill recalled proudly hitting a double off of Satchel Paige in a game while playing with the Minor League All Stars in 1946. In 1943, he played on the Championship Spicer Ball Club for Chuck Swinghammer and was approached by Roger Bresnahan to try out for a professional ball club. Bill declined sighting his impending marriage and job at DeVilbiss Co. as being his priorities. In 1944 he played again for the UAW Local 12. In 1954, he ended his baseball career playing with the Old Timers Baseball Association at Swayne Field. Bill went to work at DeVilbiss Co. in 1940 beginning as a dock man. He advanced his way through the years becoming production manager in 1963. He retired as a superintendent in 1983. He was especially proud to be a member of the Toledo Management Association. He served as chairman of the Speaker's Committee inviting Woody Hayes and Jessie Owens to speak to its members. He was extremely proud to have invited and hosted Jessie Owens in his home prior to the speaking engagement. Bill coached for St. Catherine's Little League Baseball team taking them to second place in the finals in 1968. His passion for baseball continued in his support of the Toledo Mud Hens and Detroit Tigers. He was also team statistician for the Toledo Tornado's Football Team in 1964. Bill is survived by his daughter, Vicki (Richard) Pack; son, Bill Avent of Tempe, Arizona; grandchildren, Gary (Kelle), Todd (Elaine) Pack, Amy (George) Mergen, Jason and Wesley Avent; and great-grandchildren Logan, Hannah, Noah, Jordan and Maisy Pack and Madison Mergen. His brother, Joseph; sisters, Geraldine and Blair (Kuhar) preceded him in death along with his infant daughter, Maureen and infant son, Martin. The family would like to thank the Caregivers of Heartland of Waterville, especially Elizabeth, Dawn, and Chris and Heartland Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Paul's Respite Care, 310 Elizabeth St., Maumee, Ohio or St. Rose Catholic Church, 215 E. Front St., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551. Friends may call at the Foth-Dorfmeyer Mortuary, 3815 Sylvania Ave., on Friday from 2-7 where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday June 23, 2007. Interment Ottawa Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. |
