John F. Ludway

1917 - 2015

John F. Ludway, age 98, a retired Plain Dealer cartoonist, passed away at home Dec. 27, 2015.
He was born July 22, 1917, in the Village of Grand River to Hungarian immigrant parents and lived there 25 years before moving to Willoughby.
He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 64 years, Mary Margaret (nee Morgan) in 2008; brothers, George, Louis, Andy, and Albert; and sister, Ellen McClish Waldorf.
Mr. Ludway had four children, James (Louis Ostrof) of Ft. Myers Beach, Fla., Linda Deboer of Madison, Wisc., Mary Lou Pearson (James) of Eastlake and John David (Rosemary Moore) of Cleveland Heights. He was also the loving grandfather to Jamie Hart, Jaye Ludway, Victoria Maxfield, Derek Maxfield, Vanessa Maxfield and Brien and Erin Quinn; and great-grandfather to 13.
Mr. Ludway was a staff cartoonist/artist at the Plain Dealer for 30 years, describing himself as ""their oldest intern,"" when he started in ""paste up"" at age 40. He was a graduate of the Cooper School of Art, being at the top of his 1947 Class. In his teens he successfully contributed cartoons to magazines such as Boy's Life. The World War II Army veteran, served from 1941 to 1945 as a cartographer with the IX Corps Headquarters doing map work in Leyte, Philippines and as part of the occupying force in Sapporo, Japan.
Although not a joiner, he belonged to the Holy Name Society, American Legion, American Newspaper Guild and Knights of Columbus, as well as penning covers of Immaculate Conception's newsletter, The Concept, for many years.
Family will receive friends and relatives from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at McMahon,-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Home, 38001 Euclid Ave., Willoughby.
His life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Immaculate Conception Church, 37940 Euclid Ave., Willoughby. Burial will be in Willoughby Cemetery.
To leave condolences for the family or light a memorial candle, visit www.MCVfuneralhomes.com.