Composing room retiree Armand Lear dies

Armand Louis Lear

Armand Lear was born July 11, 1935 in Akron, Ohio. He passed away at his home on June 5, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Armand loved working in his yard, general "tinkering," and spending time with his family and friends. He celebrated 29 years of sobriety, involvement and leadership in Alcoholics Anonymous. He and his wife often tried their luck at the casinos in neighboring states. He retired from the Akron Beacon Journal in 1997 after nearly 30 years service where he worked in the Composing Room as a printer. He moved from Copley to Norton in 2003 and was a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Barberton. Material possessions were never important to him. He always thought spending time with family and loved ones gave him all the riches in the world he would ever need.

Armand was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Catherine Lear; his brothers, Raymond and Wilbert, and his sister, Winifred. He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth of 28 years; children, Mark (Debbie), Mike (Tracy), Denise Minnich (Ray), Diane Lear, Donna Cook (Alan), Cindy Preston (Eric), and Katie Lear (Jason). He is also survived by his sister, Sister M. Corita Lear, I.H.M.; brother, Jerome Lear; fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and special sister-in-law, Loretta Lear.

Mass of the Christian burial will be held Tuesday, June 9, at 10 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Church, 1263 Shannon Ave., Barberton, Ohio. Entombment at Rose Hill Burial Park. The family will receive friends at Bacher Funeral Home in Norton, Monday, June 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1900 West Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44313. Funeral home map, directions, and the Lear Family condolence book are available online at www.bacherfuneralhome.com.(Bacher, 330-825-3633)
[Beacon Journal, Akron, OH,Sunday, June 7, 2009, page B6, col. 4 ]

Blog Note: Lear was a regular at BJ retiree luncheons.