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Keith G. Earley

1945 - 2021

Keith G. Earley obituary, 1945-2021, Toledo, OH

BORN

1945

DIED

2021

FUNERAL HOME

Keith Earley Obituary


By Mark Zaborney and Vincent Lucarelli
Blade Staff Writers

Keith G. Earley, who as Lucas County engineer oversaw changes to the infrastructure landscape including a dozen roundabouts, a major underpass, and the start of a new freeway interchange, died Thursday in OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, Columbus. He was 75.

He hadn't felt well for more than a week and learned Wednesday he had cancer, said his wife, Ruby Earley.

He retired at the end of 2019. The couple, formerly of Springfield Township, then moved to Grove City, Ohio to be near children and grandchildren.

Mr. Earley had been Mercer County engineer for 16 years when in March, 1999, he became chief assistant to George Wilson, who had been Lucas County engineer since 1970. Mr. Wilson retired, and Mr. Earley in early 2000 was appointed by county commissioners to succeed him.

A Democrat, Mr. Earley defeated a Republican challenger that November and won re-election thereafter.

"He was friendly with everybody," his wife said. "He had as many Republicans who donated to his campaign as Democrats. They liked him and respected him."

In his valedictory annual report, for 2018, Mr. Earley credited his predecessor with hiring good people, writing that they built "probably one of the best networks of county-maintained roads and bridges in the state of Ohio."

Mr. Earley cited a saying by Woody Hayes, the late Ohio State University football coach - "You win with people" - and added, "I have been very fortunate to work with very good people, dedicated and experienced employees."

Likewise, Mike Pniewski - Mr. Earley's appointed, then elected successor and former chief deputy engineer - lauded Mr. Earley in his first annual report.

"His visionary leadership enabled our office to continue to deliver for our citizens," Mr. Pniewski wrote. "Keith was a great steward of resources during times of great financial challenges for the Lucas County engineer's office."

In an interview Friday, Mr. Pniewski said: "He was just a good, genuine person who cared about his people."

They'd known each other since Mr. Pniewski's time as program manager with the Army Corps of Engineers.

"[Mr. Earley] was also a wonderful mentor, in terms of dealing with issues that come before the office and very, very knowledgeable on how things worked and how operation needed to conduct itself," Mr. Pniewski said. "He always conducted himself in a very ethical and an upright manner, always with the needs of the citizens in mind."

Listed in that 2018 annual report as significant events and projects during Mr. Earley's tenure were the completion of 12 roundabouts, the formation of the Lucas County Transportation Improvement District, and the start of the Dorr Street interchange at I-475/U.S. 23.

He took the most pride, his wife said, in the McCord Road underpass in Holland to guide vehicles and pedestrians beneath the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. He had championed that project for years as transportation chairman for the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments.

John Crandall, an engineer's office veteran who retired as operations director, said: "Some of these projects, he just kept trying to fund them, and eventually they came through. He was very good at that. He never let up on some of these major projects."

Born Dec. 31, 1945, in Galion, Ohio, to Maxine and Justin Earley, Mr. Earley graduated Mount Gilead High School and was an Ohio State civil engineering graduate. He started his career in the private sector, including a stint designing subdivisions in southern California. He became Mercer County engineer in 1983. His father served as Morrow County engineer from 1961-89.

He was the County Engineers' Association of Ohio 2002 "engineer of the year" and the Toledo Society of Professional Engineers' 2014 "engineer of the year."

He and his wife attended Epworth United Methodist Church in Ottawa Hills.

Surviving are his wife, the former Ruby Jarrell, whom he married June 7, 1969; sons, Randall Earley and Douglas Earley; daughter, Rebecca Earley; sister, Della Mosier; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life in the Toledo area will be scheduled later. Arrangements are by Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Services, Grove City.

The family suggests tributes to the American Cancer Society.

Published by The Blade on Dec. 18, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Keith Earley

Not sure what to say?





7 Entries

a tremendous man and greatly loved and respected

john W sacher

Work

April 6, 2022

My prayers are with the family, and my love to Ruby. Keith was a great person, bright, kind, and very knowledgeable. As former Mayor of Oregon I always enjoyed being in his presence at TMACOG. May Our Lord hold his family in His hands. Peace!

Marge Brown

Other

January 3, 2022

Our deepest sympathy on your loss
He was more than a great engineer
He was a dear friend.
His beautiful smile always lit up the room

Doug and trudie

December 22, 2021

Sending our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers to Ruby and the entire Earley family. Keith will be dearly missed by all of us. He was a great man, and I will miss his smile and great sense of humor. So very sad to hear of his passing. All our Love

Andy Langenderfer

Friend

December 20, 2021

Keith always had a smile on his face. He knew how to balance work and family. My sincere condolences to his wife and children.

Kris Cousino

December 19, 2021

I enjoyed getting to know Keith over the years while he was county engineer. He did great things for Mercer and Lucas Counties. He will be missed in the County Engineer world.

Thoughts and Prayers.

Stephanie Goff

Work

December 18, 2021

Thinking of you all and sending my love.

Sacha Ramirez

Other

December 18, 2021

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results

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