John H. Stewart Jr.

1929 - 2017

After a long and faithful walk among us, John H. Stewart,
Jr. (Jack) was called home by our Heavenly Father on
Saturday, Oct. 14. He was loved and respected by the
many people who knew him for his quiet manner and
steadfast devotion to his wife and three daughters. He is
survived by the wife he adored for 61 years, Shirley Ann
(Bobby) Stewart who is a resident at Windsor Medical
Center, North Canton, Ohio.
Jack was born in 1929 at home in Canton, Ohio to Mr.
and Mrs. John H. and Hazel (Dawson) Stewart, Sr. Jack
attended Avondale Elementary School. He spent many
summers in his youth working, learning and playing at
the BADOJA family farm in Dalton, Ohio. He graduated
from Lehman High School in 1947 where he was active in
student government. He then attended Kent State University, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of
Science degree in business administration. Jack served his country during the Korean War in the
US Air Force. He enlisted as an Airman in the California Air National Guard in 1951 and completed
his USAF training at the Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Ga. He was assigned to active duty
with the 146th Maintenance Squadron at George Air Force Base, Victorville, Calif. He rose from
Private Airman to the rank of Corporal. Jack was honorably discharged from military service in
1953. Upon returning from duty he met Shirley A. Bobby on a blind date. They danced the night
away at the Meyers Lake Ballroom where they enjoyed big band and swing music for many years to
come. They married in 1956 at the former First Baptist Church of Canton and were active members
for many years.
Jack followed in the footsteps if his father, JH Stewart, Sr. and worked at Stark Ceramics, Inc., a
brick and ceramic tile manufacturing company in East Canton, Ohio for his entire lifetime. The
Company was founded in 1909 by his grandfather Enos A. Stewart (1958). The Company served its
customers and 90 distributors as well as employed hundreds of people during its 96 years of operation
before closing in 2005. Thousands of schools, hospitals and commercial buildings across the
country still feature its premium quality ceramic glazed tile. Jack served in multiple capacities from
VP to President /Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and later Chairman of the Board.
Jack was well known for his love of custom built cars. He was nationally recognized for his custom
designed 1950 Oldsmobile Holiday known as the "Polynesian", named for its orchid flame
purple paint and lemon yellow interior. He was also a Founding member of the International Ford
Retractable Club in 1971; the IRC was organized to promote the preservation and restoration of the
1957, 1958, and 1959 Ford Skyliner Retractable Hardtop, a unique automobile with a complex roof
mechanism; Jack's jet black Retract was a popular car in many National Football Hall of Fame
Parades. Jack was also passionate pilot who loved to soar; He was a member of the AOPA, Aircraft
Owner's and Pilot's Association having earned his civilian pilot's license for operation of commercial
aircraft at a young age. He and his co-pilot Shirley logged many air miles in their twin engine
Cessna 410 and enjoyed "taking people where they wanted to go." In 1972, Jack was instrumental in
erecting the "Hazel and John Stewart Golden Wedding Anniversary Bell Tower" in Stadium Park,
Canton, Ohio; Operational today, the 14 bell carillon tower stands in tribute to his parents "for the
Glory of God and for the enjoyment of man". A 2002 Renovation project was dedicated to honor of
Jack and Shirley Stewart for their lives of community service. The Stewart Family Foundation expanded
the Bell Tower project with the addition of the new Stewart Family Gazebo, commissioned
in June of 2017 with Jack and friends and family present.
Jack was a resident of Perry Township in Canton, Ohio for many years where he raised his family
and supported Perry High School events; he also maintained a second home in Sanibel Island,
Florida during most of his lifetime. He discovered Sanibel in the 1960's long before it was a popular
vacation destination or there was even a bridge from the mainland. He loved his family time on beloved
Sanibel, relaxing with his children and grandchildren who would visit. Jack and Shirley were
avid supporters of the Sanibel Conservation Foundation and J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife
Refuge on the Island. Jack was an early member of Lake Mohawk Properties Owners Association,
having acquired land when the 507-acre Lake in Malvern, Ohio was first constructed in 1963. He
enjoyed boating and water-skiing there for many decades and lived there as a full time resident in
his retirement years. He skied on his 80th birthday. Jack and his wife Shirley were long-time members
at Shady Hollow Country Club; he was proud that the property was originally purchased in
1925 and developed by his grandfather, EA Stewart until it was sold by the Stewarts to its Club
members in 1964. Jack was a man of abiding faith and a generous steward of his blessings. He and
his wife Shirley worshipped at The Canton Baptist Temple where they established a scholarship
fund for young Christians seeking a college education in the ministry field. He later worshipped at
First Christian Church in Malvern, Ohio and other churches in Carroll County, Ohio; he also worshipped
at the Sanibel Community Church, Sanibel Island, Fla; later in life he and his wife became
members of The Community Christian Church in North Canton, Ohio. Jack and Shirley were contributors
to the Stark County Community Foundation and directed their financial resources to
many local and national charitable organizations, including those closest to his heart, The American
Cancer Society Strides Against Breast Cancer and The Alzheimer's Association.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John H. and Hazel (Dawson) Stewart, Sr.,
(1983, 1994), his in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. John Henry and Violet Louise (Kirkland) Bobby (1986,
1985); his brothers-in law and sisters, Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. and Dorothy L. (Stewart) Blosser
(2001, 2003) and Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. and Barbara A. (Stewart) Tillett (2008, 2009); his
brother-in-law John R. Bobby (2017) as well as his nephew Thomas G. Tillett (2011). Jack is survived
by his three daughters and their families: Lorraine G. Stewart of North Canton, Ohio; Ellen
Stewart Tennison (LV) of Granbury, Texas; and Amy Stewart Pinger (Steve) of Ft. Myers, Fla; eleven
grandchildren, including Kate Rojek Kundrat (Jonathan) of Atlanta, Ga.; Grace Ellen Rojek, Andrew
John Rojek, Daniel Mark Rojek, all of North Canton, Ohio; Shali Tennison Wilson (Tasha
Cantrell) of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Jessica Tennison Gray (Jordan) of North Richland Hills, Texas;
Emily Tennison Hall (Jake) of Oklahoma City, OK; Abigail Zoe Tennison of Atlanta, Ga.; Matthew
Steven Pinger (Erin) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Kyle Jonathon Pinger (Ashley) of Cincinnati, Ohio and
Justin Amor Pinger of Ft. Myers, Fla; as well as 13 great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Mrs. Glenda Bobby of Port Richey, Fla. and Mrs. Lynn Ormiston
(Gayle) of Savannah, Ga., and his nieces Rachel (Ormiston) Caffoe (Jason) of Seattle, WA,
Anna Ormiston of Madison, WI and nephew Michael Ormiston of Brooklyn, N.Y. Jack is also survived
by nephews Curt C. Blosser (Mary) of Dalton, Ohio; Fred C. Blosser II (Beth) of Pompano
Beach, Fla; David C. Blosser (Sherry) of Canton, Ohio; Daniel S. Blosser (Jill) of Dalton, Ohio;
RichardA. Blosser (Jeanne) of Dalton; and niece Kathy Tillett Smith of Canton, Ohio, as well as
their many children and grandchildren. Jack is survived by the family friend and extraordinary
caregiver Mrs. Lola Conway of Louisville, Ohio. Jack is survived by his life-long friends of sixty
years, Shirley Hartzell of North Canton, Ohio, Bob Hill of North Canton, Ohio and Ronald Eschilman
of Canton, Ohio.
On Friday, November 24, friends and family may call on the immediate family from 6:00-9:00
PM at Spiker-Foster-Shriver Funeral Home, 4817 Cleveland Ave., N.W. Canton, OH 44709. Jack
Stewart will be interred in a private ceremony at North Lawn Cemetery, Canton, OH. Memorial
service will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at Community Christian Church, 210 Main
Street, North Canton, OH. Music begins at 10:30 AM; Worship service begins at 11:00 AM. Memorial
gifts can be made in the name of John H. Stewart, Jr. to the Stewart Family Foundation Bell
Tower and Gazebo Fund, c/of Lorraine G. Stewart, Trustee, or to Community Christian Church,
c/of Reverend Sarah Taylor-Peck.
You may sign the guest book at: shriverfuneralhomes.com.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." Gal.5:22
Shriver Funeral Homes & Cremation Service
330-455-0349
shriverfuneralhomes.com