Marvin L. Billow

BILLOW, Marvin L, 88, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away Thursday, April 26th in Tucson, AZ. He was a graduate of Ney High School in Ney, OH in 1947 and received his B.S. in Business Administration from Capital University and an MBA from the University of Michigan in 1955. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952 on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Essex. In 1953 he married Mary Alice Riggs and they moved to Ann Arbor Michigan. Marvin started his professional career as a sales representative in the advertising industry in Ann Arbor, MI, followed by a brief tenure in the aluminum industry. He found his calling in the steel industry in 1960 when he moved with his wife Mary Alice and two young children to Pennsylvania. He spent many years as an executive with National Forge Company in Warren and Erie, PA. He then went on to work as a Regional Vice President for Gulf and Western Corporation before accepting a position as CEO at Massillon Steel Casting in Northern Ohio. He finished his career as President, CEO and majority owner of Harris Thomas Drop Forge in Dayton, OH where he and Mary Alice made their primary home. Wintering in Tucson since 1999 and spending summers in their New Hampshire home, he and Mary Alice enjoyed an active and fulfilling life travelling and visiting with family and friends. He was a devout Christian, actively participating in several Lutheran congregations, most recently Epiphany Lutheran in Dayton, OH and Resurrection Lutheran in Oro Valley, AZ, singing in the choir and serving as Sunday School teacher and a member of multiple church councils. Faith was an important and foundational component of his life. He is survived by his daughter, Debra Krajec and husband David; son, Donald and his wife, Nora; 2 grandsons, Jeremy and Kyle, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Marvin was preceded in death by his Wife of 63 years, Mary Alice and son, Douglas. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, May 4th 2018 at the Routsong Funeral Home, Centerville Chapel 81 N Main St Centerville, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 5th, 2018 at Epiphany Lutheran Church at 6400 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, Ohio, with Rev. Charles Woodward officiating. Burial will follow the service in David's Cemetery at 4600 Mad River Road, Kettering, Ohio. The family would like to express thanks for the wonderful care given by Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson, AZ. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to Epiphany Lutheran Church at www.epiphanydayton.org/giveserve/, Resurrection Lutheran Church at www.orovalley.org/, or Casa de La Luz Foundation at www.casafoundation.org/ways-to-give/donations. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.routsong.com.

Funeral Home:
Centerville Routsong Funeral Home
81 N. Main St.
Centerville, OH
US 45459