Basil Meyer

BLUFFTON -- Basil Edward Meyer, 92, of Bluffton, Ohio, passed away on October 19, 2025 at The Meadows in Ottawa, Ohio. Basil was born on April 17, 1933 in Paulding County, Ohio, the fifth of eight children of Francis M. and Madonna (Trembley) Meyer. On June 25, 1960, he married Rosemary (Batt) at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ney, Ohio and she preceded him in death on March 22, 2019.

Basil was a 1951 graduate of Antwerp High School. After high school, he spent a summer traveling and painting Mail Pouch Tobacco signs. He began classes at Defiance College, but then joined the army in 1953. Basil trained at Ft. Knox and served as a tank driver in the Third Armored Tank Division in occupied Germany, and was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1961. Upon his return to civilian life, he became active in the Toledo Council of Catholic Youth, through which he met his bride, Rosemary.

Basil worked at the cement plant in Paulding, Ohio while continuing to pursue a business degree at Defiance College. He graduated June 2, 1962, with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He worked for many years in sales of agricultural products for various companies, and then was employed at DLM Plastics for 11 years until retirement. After retiring, he became a hospital chaplain at St. Rita's Hospital in Lima, Ohio for years. In retirement, Basil also enjoyed activities at the Bluffton Senior Center and the Bluffton Garden Club. He enjoyed gardening, traveling and taking part in activities with the American Legion Post 382, for which he also had served as chaplain.

Basil's Catholic faith was always of prime importance to him. At the different parishes he belonged to through the years, he served in many ministries, including altar server, lector, catechist, parish council member, greeter and extraordinary minister of holy communion. He was a member of the Hicksville Council of the Knights of Columbus. In the 1970s, he was the first lay person at his parish to be a lector, an EMHC and was the first to carry the Blessed Sacrament to the home bound. This last was a ministry that he delighted in until he was over 90 years old.

Basil is survived by his children, Edward (Kathalina) Meyer of Newark, Ohio; Matt Meyer of Bluffton, Donne Meyer of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, Rebecca Hollen of Columbus, Ohio, Tonya Meyer of Bluffton, Ohio, Michael (Ceresa) Meyer of Bluffton, Ohio, Mary Ann (Robert) Levino of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Natasha (Stephen) Decker of Delaware, Ohio and Theresa (Garey) Conley of Antwerp, Ohio; fifteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Basil was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Rosemary Meyer and all of his siblings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 24, 2025 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bluffton. Father John Murray officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton following the service. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. where a prayer service will take place at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.