George F. McLaughlin

MC LAUGHLIN George F. "Pudge" George F. McLaughlin "Pudge", 77, of Curtice, passed away on March 21, 2007, at home surrounded by his family. George was born August 1, 1929, in Toledo to parents Frank and Myrtle (Doan) McLaughlin. He was reared in the Cottonwood area of East Toledo and attended McKesson and Oakdale School, graduating from Waite High School in 1947. He attended Toledo University. Pudge always excelled in sports, mainly baseball and football. In 1948 he was signed by the St. Louis Browns (now Baltimore Orioles) baseball club, and played in the Class D league at Mayfield, Kentucky. He was a fastball pitcher and a third baseman. After several years he returned home and began his pitching career with many area baseball teams: Local Twelve, Old Dutch, Zedlitz Meats, Perrysburg Commodores, and Curtice. While in his teens, he had a record of 21 strikeouts in an American Legion game. Pudge also played left halfback for two semi-pro teams in the area: Kasco Mills and Polman's Cafe. George married Anne Leppert on December 2, 1949. They have four children: Frank (Kathleen Kelly) McLaughlin (Bowling Green), Trudy (John) Aleksander (Perrysburg), Mary Beth (Jerry) Wassum (Boerne, Tx) and Marian (Jerry) Gomoll (Oregon); as well as eight grandchildren, Tom and Anne McLaughlin, Elizabeth and Jessica Aleksander, Craig and Rebecca Morgan, Lori (Randy) Burket and Matt Gomoll (Julie), and a great-granddaughter, Renee Burket. A sister, Lee Balish and brothers, Gordon and Albert McLaughlin also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Frances Carter and Verbal Symington and brother, Donald. George worked nearly forty years for Sun Company in maintenance and in the carpenter shop. He was a woodworker and following his retirement in 1988, he was able to spend time each day in his shop. Although he did some cabinetmaking, his real passion was wood turning. He made bowls, goblets, tops, pens and other lathe-turned objects. He also made book racks and banana stands. Many of these items have been sold in this area and in Spruce Pine NC, where they were featured at Woody's Chair Shop. George was a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church. He will be greatly missed by his wife, children and grandchildren. He was admired by his family and coworkers, neighbors and friends. His philosophy was "everyone has to go sometime and when the Good Lord wants me to come and pitch for his team in heaven, I am ready to go". He dearly loved all of his dogs, from Tippy to Logan and all those in between. We honor and celebrate his life. The family wishes to thank all of the beautiful people at Caring Services Hospice, especially Eva, Connie, Jill, Joanne and Caren. Visitation will be held Saturday March 24 at the Freck Funeral Chapel at Wynn and Pickle Roads in Oregon from 2 to 9 p.m. Funeral services win be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 25 at the funeral home, with The Rev. David Bartley officiating. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be given to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 725 Navarre Avenue, Toledo 43605, or to Visiting Nurse Hospice, 383 W. Dussel Drive., Maumee 43537.