Harold Lincoln

LINCOLN

Harold M.



Harold M. Lincoln, age 86, of Toledo, Ohio passed away unexpectedly February 1, 2014, at home. He was born October 8, 1927, to Ruby Elizabeth (Bayer) and Harold Merriman Lincoln. He attended Gesu grade school and Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1945. He was an active participant in Central's yearly class reunions.

While in high school, Harold worked at Toby's Food Market at Bancroft and Upton Avenue. He was always thankful that Jack and Ida Erlen hired him at such an early age. He used to brag about how he was able to deliver groceries for them, even when he didn't have a drivers license. This was just the beginning of his love for the grocery business.

After graduating from high school, he joined the Merchant Marines and was proud of his service. He even took trips recently to Baltimore, MD, to see and ride on the "John W. Brown" Liberty ship.

After serving his country, he went to work for Gerber Baby Foods as a salesman. From there, in 1954, he started his own food brokerage company, Harold M. Lincoln Company, which still exists today. He built the company from the grass roots, until it became one of the largest brokerage houses, with offices in Toledo, Ft. Wayne, Grand Rapids, Detroit and Bay City. Each December he traveled to the National Food Brokers Association meetings and received many national awards for outstanding sales performance. He was extremely proud that his two sons followed him into the business and they continue to run the business along with their brother-in-law.

Harold was strong in his faith and was also a strong advocate for Catholic education. He made sure that his children and grandchildren attended Catholic schools. He was particularly fond of the Ursuline Sisters, St. Francis de Sales, and Central Catholic high schools. He was active on many of the school boards and chairman of various school fundraisers.

One of Harold's greatest loves was the trips he and his wife, Mary, took. They visited Rome eight times, and they also visited France, Germany, England, Denmark, the Far East, Africa, and South America, where they saw the beautiful Christ the Redeemer of the Andes statue.

Harold enjoyed spending time in the summer at his cottage at Sweezy Lake with family and friends. He also loved his Dunbridge Farm farmhouse, that he remodeled and refurbished with his wife. He held many reunions and parties at the farm, that were enjoyed by family and friends.

Harold was the longest living member of the Catholic War Veterans #639, where he also served as the post commander. He was also an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus #3122. He was a member of the Serra Club, which he served as President. He helped found the Msgr. Jerome E. Schmit youth foundation and was chairman for over 10 years.

He was an avid Toledo Mud Hens and University of Toledo supporter. He could be seen attending many games.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary, to whom he was married to for 55 years. She passed away on May 21, 2004. Surviving are his six loving children, David B., Mary Sue (David) DuMont, Margaret A. (Harry) McGovern of Pittsburgh, PA, John S. (Connie), Marcia L. (Ed) Urban of Florida, and Marilyn L. (John) Hall of Whitehouse; along with 17 grandchildren, Lysa, David Jr., Amy, Jeramy, Mary, Elizabeth, Erica, Rachel, Aaron, Harry III, Amanda, Christopher, Bryan, Brittany, Ariel, John II and Alex, and 5 great-grandchildren, Maia, Taylor, Chaz, Spencer, and Grace. His sister, Mary (Don) Kohli, also survives.

Friends may call at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Friday, February 7, 2014, from 2:00-8:00 p.m., where a Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. by Logsdon-Walla Catholic War Veterans #639. Funeral Services will begin in the Mortuary at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2014, followed by the Mass of Christian burial in Gesu Church at 11:00 a.m. Internment will be at New Belleville Ridge Cemetery in Dowling, Ohio following the luncheon at the Sullivan Center at Gesu Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Ursuline Center, St. Francis de Sales H.S., Central Catholic H.S., or Gesu Church. Please view and sign our online registry at

CoyleFuneralHome.com