Bernard Lawless

Bernard J.
"Barney" Lawless
age 79, of Dover, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, in his home, surrounded by his loving family. Born August 20, 1934, at Dover, he was s son of the late Bernard Francis and Bessie Aubihl Lawless. Barney graduated from Dover's St. Joseph High School, and, on Oct. 24, 1953, was married to the former Margaret A. "Peg" Stien in St. Joseph Church by Fr. Pius Kaelin; the couple celebrated their sixtieth anniversary this year. He went on to study at John Carroll University at Cleveland and the University of Detroit, graduating from Detroit with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Barney returned to Dover to work at the business founded by his father and grandfather, Dover Tank & Plate Company, ultimately becoming its president. His education and training led the concern from a small steel fabricating company to that of a metal engineering and design company with projects across the United States. Barney was a member of Sacred Heart Church at New Philadelphia, and a Eucharistic Minister there. He was a staunch advocate of Catholic Education and served on the school boards of Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School, St. Joseph School, Sacred Heart School and Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary School. Barney was also a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. A licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio since 1963, Barney was a member of the Society of Professional Engineers and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He served on the boards of numerous business and community organizations. For Barney, work was his hobby, but he did consider himself an "occasional golfer," and greatly enjoyed outings with his family. Cruises were another get-away, and he and Margaret visited the Caribbean by ship as well as Europe their visit to the Sistine Chapel at Vatican City was very special.
Survivors include his beloved Peg; his nine children, Bernard H. (Linda) Lawless of Cincinnati, Earl (Sue) Lawless of Dover, Dave (Amy) Lawless of Green, Mary Ellen (Kevin Newton) Lawless of Bath, Margaret (Ray) Schembechler of Massillon, Timothy Lawless of Dover, Barbara (Ron) Ross of Canton, and Luke (Cathy) and Joe (Sandy) Lawless, both also of Dover; his grandchildren, Matt (Mishelle), Christopher, Emily and Kathryn Lawless, Kate (Aaron) Yingling, Brian (Becky), Julia, David J. and Jonathon Lawless, Raymond Schembechler III, Audrey and Ethan Lawless, Ronald J. Ross III, Monica (Mike) Monfredi, Phillip and Regina Ross, Molly (Colt) Liggett, Alex, Megan, Mary Katherine, Joseph and Michael Lawless; his great-grandchildren, Alexia, Blake, Emma, Zeke and Ava; and his half-brother, Earl Dreher of Florida. In addition to his parents, Barney was preceded in death by his grandson, Bernard E. Lawless, in August of this year.
Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at Dover, on Sunday, November 10, any time after 2 p.m., with the family present 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Christian Wake Services will be conducted Sunday at 3:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, November 11, at 10:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, New Philadelphia with Fr. Jeff Coning officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery, Dover. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the gymnasium of Sacred Heart's Saint Ambrose Hall.
To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Barney, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the Toland-Herzig website. The family requests that, instead of flowers, donations be made to Sacred Heart Church, 139 Third St. N.E., New Philadelphia, OH 44663, Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School, 777 Third St. N.E., New Philadelphia, OH 44663, Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary School, 600 N. Tuscarawas Ave., Dover, OH 44622, or Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, OH 44663.