Longtime Stow funeral director Redmon remembered for kindness, compassion
A longtime businessman known for his community service and for operating the long-standing Redmon Funeral Home is remembered as a gentleman, a great family man and a compassionate funeral director.
"All the characteristics he had in funeral service he had as a dad," said Keith Redmon of his father, Bruce C. Redmon, who died Nov. 1. "He was all about caring about people."
Born in Urbana, Ill., on Oct. 10, 1940, he was raised in Syracuse, New York and moved to Silver Lake in 1955. Redmon graduated in 1957 from Cuyahoga Falls High School and graduated in 1961 from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
On Nov. 4, 1961, Bruce married Lou-Ann, his wife of 61 years. They established Redmon Funeral Home in Stow in February 1968.
Redmon was involved in numerous community groups and activities. He was a member of Stow Men’s Garden Club, Stow Masonic Lodge, Summit County Funeral Directors Association as past president, Ohio Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association. He also was a past president of the Stow Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce, and was active as a sponsor/coach in Stow Boys’ Baseball, as a member of Stow Munroe Falls Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and was a founding member of the Stow Schools Foundation.
"Bruce was an integral part of the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce since establishing his business in Stow in 1968," said Julie McLain, executive director of the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce. ""We are grateful to have had his leadership in the earlier years of the Chamber and are dedicated to continuing his legacy of leadership through scholarships to students of Chamber members with the President’s Club Scholarship Fund."
Park plans:Stow envisions fresh steps for parks and recreation, inside and out
Sign of respect:Veterans can receive a yard sign to acknowledge their service
In addition, Redmon launched and served as chairman for Stow's annual civic pride week, which started in the 1970s.
As well as Redmon Funeral Home, Redmon was instrumental in creating The GriefCare Place in Stow, an organization that offers grief support and counseling.
"The GriefCare Place wouldn’t exist without Bruce Redmon," said Becky Costello Bulgrin, the organization's executive director. "His memory will forever be etched in our hearts and minds. As the husband of our founding director Lou-Ann Redmon, Bruce provided behind-the-scenes support throughout our 25 years as a provider of free grief support. Through his lifelong commitment to serving the bereaved Bruce lived his faith as a servant leader, touching the hearts and lives of countless men, women and children in our area."
Support local journalism:6 reasons why you should subscribe to the Akron Beacon Journal
Doris Mong Stewart, the former executive director of the Stow-Munroe Falls Chamber of Commerce, said Redmon would be missed.
"Bruce was loved by everyone," Stewart said, adding that he was "a wonderful, community-oriented businessman and friend to everyone."
Redmon was preceded in death by his parents, Carl F. and Ihleen L. Redmon, and sister, Dianne Kinslow. As well as his wife, his son Keith Redmon and Keith's wife Catherine of Stow, Bruce Redmon is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin and Pam of Lawrenceville, Georgia; grandchildren, Alyssa (Todd) Slagle of Atlanta, Georgia, Jacob of Stow, Craig (Katie) of Hoschton, Georgia, and Sydney (Ryan) Roush of Fairborn, Ohio; great-grandchildren, Allison and Harper Redmon, Connor Slagle, and Jackson Roush.
Keith Redmon said he and his family are grateful to the community response.
"The comments from people on Facebook have been overwhelming," he said. "The words I saw many times to describe him were 'gentle' and 'gentleman.' He was always smiling, happy to see you. It made him a great funeral director. He was knit together to be a great funeral director. This also made him a great dad and husband."
Redmon said that years ago, his father told him that he would like to be remembered for his service, citing Psalm 112.
"He served his purpose, he did what God told him to do," Redmon said. "This was most important to him."
Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Director of Redmon Funeral Home remembered by family, friends
