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Otho "Bill" Mays
September 15, 1936 - April 28, 2021
Otho "Bill" Mays, 84, of Deshler, Ohio passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at his residence with his wife and children by his side.
He was born September 15, 1936 in Falls View, West Virginia to the late Otho and Virginia (Williams) Mays.
Bill graduated in 1954 from Gauley Bridge High School and attended West Virginia Tech University. He then served his country and enlisted in the U.S. Army, being stationed in Germany.
While working for Braniff International Airlines in Washington, D.C., Bill had a day off in the summer of 1971. While watching the Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators baseball game at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, a young woman visiting the nation's capital with her parents happened to attend the same game. Myra Diederich, sat next to Bill and I guess you would say the Senators were not the only ones that won that day. For over the next year, Bill and Myra corresponded; he took several flights to visit Myra while she was attending Bowling Green State University and they got to know each other’s family. Their love story led them to marriage on July 15, 1972 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Deshler, Ohio.
Bill and Myra would settle in Deshler and he would work as the territory manager for the former Clay Equipment Company. He would also work as the Food Production Manager for BGSU and then finished his working career in his favorite role as a travel agent, retiring from AAA of Northwest Ohio. He thoroughly enjoyed helping others experience the joys of traveling and vacations.
He was a 50+ year faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Deshler where he served as councilman, Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher; Greeter, Lay Reader and Usher. Over the years he enjoyed rooting for the West Virginia Mountaineers and Washington Redskins. Bill was always proud of his West Virginia roots, but his greatest joy was his time with his family and the love and legacy they will forever cherish.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Myra; children, Brenda Holcomb, Morgantown, WV; Ryan Mays, Deshler; Robyn (Todd) Neiderhouse, Deshler; grandchildren, Connor; Luke; Griffin; Paul; Lucas; Ashley; great grandchildren, Colin; Izzy; Kyra; brothers, James (Ana) Mays, Weston, Florida; Fred (Carol) Mays, Charlton Heights, WV; John Mays, Falls View, WV; Robert (Mago) Mays, Wilton Manors, FL and sister, Betty Jo Miller, Falls View, WV.
He was also preceded in death by brother, Charles Mays.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Deshler with Rev. Chris Walter officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Deshler.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday at Feehan-Rodenberger Funeral Home, Deshler and from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday prior to the services at church.
The family suggests memorials to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Bridge Hospice.
You are encouraged to leave a message or memory for the family at www.feehanrodenbergerfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Otho "Bill" Mays, please visit our floral store.
Immanuel Lutheran Church
220 West Elm Street, Deshler OH 43516
Web: http://www.ilcdeshler.org
Bridge Home Health & Hospice
15100 Birchaven Lane, Findlay OH 45840
Tel: 1-419-423-5351
Web: https://www.bvhealthsystem.org/education-resources/hospice/hospice