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Gerald E. “Lank” Bargdill, 88, of Bellefontaine and formerly of West Mansfield, passed away Monday, April 24, 2017
He was born on the family farm in Byhalia along Greenville Treaty Line Road on Aug. 14, 1928, to Clarence Elmer and Wilma Lucille Green Bargdill on their 12th wedding anniversary.
Lank went to Byhalia School grades 1 to 12, graduated in 1946 with a total of three boys in his class and played a lot of basketball in high school — up to six nights a week. He went to The Ohio State University for one year ,1946-1947.
He started driving truck in 1947 for Harris and Jolliff, traveling from Byhalia to West Virginia and Kentucky hauling hay and grain on his way down and coal back for a year. He started tree trimming and logging for Harrods of Ft. Loramie and worked on drag lines and ditching for Ivan “Buck” Howell for 10 years on and off while trying to get his business started. He then hired on the railroad for New York Central on Feb. 12, 1951, as a yard switchman. In 1959, he started Bargdill Hardwood Lumber that made pallets for Super Foods for 10 years, HBD for 34 years, Ohio Deck in Delphos, Teleflex in Van Wert and Lotridge Rubber in Botkins. He worked from 1962 to 1966 at Hoge Lumber Co. in New Knoxville where he started cutting trees and ended as the sawmill manager. He retired from the railroad in 1993 and logging in 2008 after 60 years of cutting trees and logging with all of his fingers and toes intact. He also worked at TRC for six years test driving trucks.
Lank is survived by his children, Jocele (Larry) Gruber of St. Marys and Stephen (Connie) Bargdill of Botkins; his significant other, Barbara Scherer, and her family Samantha Hook, Ryan Johnson, Naomi Reames, William Johnson and Jessie Johnson, all of Bellefontaine; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by Micki James, a member of Ms. Scherer’s family.
Funeral services are at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the Wilson Funeral Home, Schnurrenberger Chapel, 222 W. Center St., West Mansfield, where calling begins at 11 a.m. The Rev. David Moore officiates and burial follows in the Hathaway Cemetery in West Mansfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Caring Neighbor Food Pantry.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wilsonfuneralhomesinc.com.