05/09/2008

Lloyd T. Vandervoort

May 8, 2008

OFDA received word this morning that services will be Monday, May 12 at 11:00 AM at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman for longtime area funeral director, Lloyd T. Vandervoort age 82, who passed away Thursday afternoon at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Lloyd was born April 17, 1926, in Salem, Ohio, the son of Francis M. and Mary Anna McSpadden Vandervoort. After graduating from Euclid Shore High School he served in the Army Air Corps during WW II and was later called upon to serve in the Air Force during the Korean War.

Mr. Vandervoort earned a Bachelors of Business Administration from the Cleveland College of Case Western Reserve University, and later graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He began his professional career as a funeral director in 1957 and in 1965 joined the Higgins Funeral Home in Austintown, along with his duties as a funeral director and embalmer he served as its secretary-treasurer. He retired from full-time duties in 1988 but he, with the assistance of his wife, remained a loyal member of the staff until the time of his illness just over a week ago. "LTV" as he was known by many of his friends and coworkers will always be remembered for his tremendous work ethic and his quick wit. In 2007 Mr. Vandervoort was recognized by the Ohio Funeral Directors Association at its annual convention for his 50 years of service as a licensed funeral director.

He had been a very active member of Bethel Lutheran Church, a member of Argus Lodge # 545, F & AM of Canfield, where he had served as Grand Master of the Lodge in 1966, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Youngstown, and was a former member of the Al Koran Shrine of Cleveland and the Youngstown Shrine Club. Lloyd was named an honoree member of the Austintown Rotary Club where he had been an active member for many years and chaired its youth exchange program and also served as a host parent for exchange students.

He loved to travel, and had visited numerous countries all over the world, as well as many destinations in the United States. He was a gifted woodworker and carpenter and among his other hobbies liked to collect unique bells. He collected bells from all over the world and many different cultures. Lloyd enjoyed sharing his collection and their history through volunteer programs for civic clubs and schools in the area.

He is survived by his wife the former Delphine M. Alm whom he married June 29, 1957, and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a sister Mrs. Marjorie Conklin and a brother Larry Vandervoort.

Friends may call Sunday, May 11 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel, and from 10:00 to 11:00 AM Monday, May 12 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman.

The family has requested that material tributes take the form of donations to the Bethel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund in Lloyd's memory.

This tribute may be viewed and condolences sent to www.higgins-reardon.com.