March 2019

Page A24 MARCH 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A G. Stark founded Stark Memorial in 1920 operat- ing the firm until his death in 1948. In 1950 Jack Harroff and James Grif- fin purchased the firm. In this same year, having graduated from the Cin- cinnati College of Mortuary Science and obtaining his funeral directors and em- balmers license, Loudon returned to the firm where he had previously served Madden to Carry on Tradition at Stark Memorial Daniel P. Madden, left, the new owner of Stark Memorial, shakes hands with longtime Stark Memorial owner Russell Loudon. Loudon is officially retiring and entrusting his legacy of service over to Madden to carry on the Salem funeral home’s tradition of compassionate care to families. Continued from Front Page merce. “I look at it as a ministry — to be there for families at a difficult time and guide them through the process,” Loudon said. Madden plans to con- tinue traditions the com- munity is familiar with including the beautiful Christmas lights bright- ening up the corner of State and Hawley where the funeral home is locat- ed, and the flowers that bloom throughout the spring, summer and fall all around the property and parking lots. Moving forward Dan will be bringing in some innovative ideas through technology, such as a new website for Stark Memo- rial and new video equip- ment for memorial DVDs. A new logo has been un- veiled while plans are in place to offer community programs such as Stock- ings for Soldiers™. Oth- er new offerings include a loan program to help fam- ilies pay for funeral servic- es, and Lunch and Learns where people can come to lunch and learn about the pre-planning process. Madden’s interest in the industry began when his grandmother passed away. His grandfather in- troduced him to the own- er of Fox Funeral Home and he got a job there. “I enjoyed helping families during difficult times and wanted to make a career out of it,” Madden said. His path led him to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where he earned a bachelor’s de- gree in mortuary science. He served his apprentice- ship at Becker Funer- al Home and had been working there 11 years when he started to pur- sue ownership of a funeral home. In 2011 he became a Certified Funeral Ser- vice Practitioner through The Academy of Profession- al Funeral Service Practice. Madden is a member of the Tri-County Funer- al Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors As- sociation, National Funer- al Directors Association, and Ohio Embalmers As- sociation. He will join the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and transfer his membership in the Po- land Rotary, where he is the immediate past presi- dent, to the Salem Rotary. Dan looks forward to working with the firm’s longtime employees in- cluding: licensed funeral director/embalmer Phil Crowgey, 40 years; li- censed funeral director and pre-planning special- ist Steve Ward, 33 years; and licensed funeral direc- tor/embalmer Jeff Davis, 19 years. Cindy Auker- man serves as the admin- istrative assistant. BOOTH 500 Funeral Supply Store 1-800-392-2936 • www.funeralsupplystore.com Hydraulic Embalming Table $2,995 00 Burgundy Cot Pouch $287 00 Shipping $20.00 FREE SHIPPING! Magnum Mortuary Cot $1,495 00 1,000 lb. Capacity FREE SHIPPING! Dressing Table $895 00 FREE SHIPPING! Elite Mortuary Cot $995 00 600 lb. Capacity his apprenticeship. Har- roff retired in 1956 and Griffin retired in 1978. Loudon purchased both of their interests. Loudon will remain through the transition and introduce Madden to the community. “I felt he could carry on the busi- ness, carry on the tradi- tion of serving people,” Loudon said. Madden has been working with Loud- on since November to fa- miliarize himself with the operation. “I’m looking forward to carrying on his legacy and continuing to build on it,” Madden said. Service to families is what Stark Memorial has been about since its incep- tion. As was common in the old days Stark Memo- rial sold furniture through the Stark Furniture An- nex, which later operat- ed as Stark Colonial At- tic, handling nothing but early American furniture made by Pennsylvania House and Ethan Allen. The store, located above the office, closed in 1970. Loudon is known for attention to details and compassionate service to families and the com- munity through his qui- et generosity. He looked out for the Salem Hon- or Guard, honoring them with a free meal now and then; he covered the cost for the electronic bugle used for the playing of Taps; and was recognized by the Salem Histori- cal Society as a Citizen of Honor; as well as receiving a special award for beauti- ful landscaping by the Sa- lem Chamber of Com- Perfect Gift for any occasion! Order Your Favorite Animal Today! Order Online www.nomispublications.com or call 1-800-321-7479 “I Love My Funeral Director” “I Love My Cemeterian” ONLY $ 11 95