Judy Hazlinger Grna, wife of former BJ Librarian Paul Grna, Jr., passed away Saturday, September 8. They were married for 48 years and spent nearly all that time on Jonathon Avenue.

Judy’s sister, Janis Hazlinger Rich, lives in Canal Fulton with husband Gary Rich.

Paul was the guy with the black beard so happy to be living with the redheaded love of his life.

There will be no memorial or service.

Nowadays, Paul is manager/auditor for Econo Lodge Akron East. I don’t know if that’s the one on Gilchrist Road or South Arlington Road.

Paul Grna, Sr., Paul’s father, was in the BJ mailroom for 35 years.

 

The Paul we knew in the BJ Library was a third-generation family member to work at 44 E. Exchange Street.

 

His grandfather, Joe Grna, Sr., came to the BJ after leaving Yugoslavia in the early 1900s to be a driver for the Akron Times, which the Knight family later absorbed into its Beacon operation. Joe drove a Model-T Touring car and an open-cab Ford truck that he owned.

By the time the BJ began providing trucks for its drivers, Grandpa Joe had two other men working for him to get the papers to the suburban counties. He retired in 1972 after 42 years of driving Akron newspapers to their appointed dropoffs.

Paul’s stepmother, Joan E. Grna, passed away in 2008 at the age of 78. The Akron native retired from Firestone after 34 years there. She was a golfer who regularly attended St. Mary Catholic Church where she worked in the church office once a week. Joan’s brothers were Ralph and Richard Young.

The advice Paul’s father gave him the day that dad retired: “Paul David, stay with the Beacon Journal. They were good to me and they will take care of you. It’s a good company.”

Truer words were never spoken, particularly as long as John S. Knight worked at his desk in the corner office where he could see the Akron skyline.

Judy’s obituary:

Judith L. Grna (Hazlinger)

Judith L. Grna, 78, of Akron, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2018 with her loving husband, Paul, by her side.

She will be sorely missed by her husband of 49 years, whose little redhaired girl is gone.

Judy was a great lady who lived for the happiness of others. She was an avid sports fan who loved the Indians and especially the Cavaliers.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sister, Janis (Gary) Rich of Canal Fulton; niece, Anne (Tanner) Kirby; nephew, Joe (Courtney) Rich; sister-inlaw, Debbie (Jack) Rogers; great niece and nephews, Sadie, Braden and Jordan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and Frank Hazlinger.

No service or memorial will be held, and the family asks only for your condolences and well wishes.