04/01/2008

William E. "Bill" Ourant

March 29, 2008

OFDA received word this afternoon that William E. "Bill" Ourant, 87, died Saturday afternoon, March 29, 2008. In December, 1948, Bill, as a licensed funeral director and embalmer, settled in Newcomerstown and became the founder, owner, and operator of the Ourant Funeral Home. He purchased the residence of independent contractor W. M. Brode at 407 East Canal St. and moved the business to this location in 1950. Along with funeral director and colleague W. Robert Parks, the funeral home also operated one of the two ambulance services in Newcomerstown for many years.

Bill was born in Harrison County, Ohio on February 25, 1921, a son of the late Lyle and Geneva Ann Hugh Ourant. He was a graduate of Scio High School, class of 1939. He attended the Ohio State University, but like so many others of his generation, his studies were interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as second lieutenant as a bomber pilot. While in the Air Corps, he took courses at Murfreesboro State Teachers College, which later became Middle Tennessee State University. He served in England with the 95th Bomber Group as a B-17 pilot. In March of 1945, after completing a successful mission, his B-17 was shot down and crash landed in the small community of Weisel, Germany near the Rhine River. Along with his B-17 crew, he was interned as a POW in Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Germany's largest POW camp. Along with 110,000 Allied prisoners, he was rescued in late April, 1945, by General George Patton's Third Army Division on its march to Berlin. After being liberated, he returned home, attended, and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.

Bill was active in many civic organizations during his lifetime in Newcomerstown. He also belonged to the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the Tri-County Funeral Directors Association. Bill was also the last surviving funeral director who assisted with the West Lafayette Troop Train Wreck in 1950. Bill enjoyed being with his family and friends and going out for dinner. He also was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Indians. When he and his wife, Marge, established a winter residence in Winter Haven, Florida, they became season ticket holders for the Tribe's spring ball games.

Bill was preceded in death by wife Marjorie E. Beall Ourant, who died on December 8, 1999, and whom he married May 1, 1944. Also deceased are daughter-in-law Bonnie L. Spengler Ourant; a brother, Edwin L. Ourant; a sister, Mary Lou Pittenger; and brother-in-law Donald Pittenger. Bill is survived by two sons, John C. and Kenneth L. Ourant, both of Newcomerstown. Also surviving are two brothers and their wives, Robert and Gladys Ourant, and Jack and Marge Ourant; sisters-in-law Mary Ourant and Sylvia Beall Treiber Creager; numerous nieces and nephews, including great niece, Leah A. Spengler.

Funeral services to celebrate Bill's life will be held on Thursday, April 3, 11:00 AM, in the Ourant Funeral Home. Burial will follow in West Lawn Cemetery, Newcomerstown, where the Newcomerstown Veterans' Honor Guard will perform military grave side services. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2008, 5:00-8:00 PM, in the funeral home and on Thursday from 10:00 until the 11:00 funeral.

The family is requesting that memorials be made in Bill's name to the Newcomerstown Lions Club, in care of Dennis Belle, Treasurer, 623 South River Street, Newcomerstown 43832.