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In Memoriam - Habitat Legacy Donors

Meridith Ruth Beck

Meridith left several local organizations funds from her estate. Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County was blessed to be one of those recipients. Meridith supported Habitat for many years and her memory will live on through this generous contribution.

Meridith Ruth Beck passed away peacefully on February 24, 2023, at her home at Ohio Living at the Vineyard, Port Clinton, Ohio.

Meridith was born to Raymond and Gretchen Linder Claus in Port Clinton on February 16, 1941. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1959, and from Colby College of Waterville, Maine, in 1963.

After college Meridith began her lifelong mission of service to others and to the environment. For five years she worked with the American Red Cross, serving military hospitals, including a one-year assignment aboard the Navy hospital ship Repose in the waters of Vietnam.

Meridith was the director of Ottawa County Red Cross from 1972 through 1975. In 1976 she graduated from the Augustana Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, and in 1980 from the OBGYN Nurse Practitioner Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. She worked as a nurse practitioner for Toledo Planned Parenthood until 1984, and then with the Ottawa County Health Department.

In 1984 Meridith married William Beck of Fremont, Ohio. They retired to the home they built in Port Clinton in 1994.

Meridith owned and operated the much-loved Riverfront Bookstore in Port Clinton. Continuing service to the community, she was on the Ida Rupp Public Library Board and volunteered with the Red Cross and the Ottawa County Historical Museum. She belonged to the Thursday Study Club, the National Organization for Women, and the Port Clinton Classic Books group.

Meridith's favorite volunteer job was pursuing her lifelong interest in preserving the natural beauty of Ottawa County, serving for ten years on the Catawba Island Park Board. She was on that Board when the township acquired the property that became Cedar Meadow Nature Preserve, and helped in the planning and development of the preserve.

She always enjoyed spending time with her six step grandchildren, Racheal, Chelsea, Olivia, Madeline, Chloe and Max, they survive. She is also survived by stepsons, Brian (Robin) and Dean (Hope) Beck. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William (2017); and stepson, Douglas (2018).

Per Meridith's wishes, there will be no visitation. Burial at Catawba Island Township Cemetery will be private.

All who knew and loved Meridith will miss her intelligence, quick wit, honesty, sense of humor and generosity. That generosity lives on, and memorial contributions can be donated in her name to Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

James Paul Crozier

James left several local organizations funds from his estate. Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County was blessed to be one of those recipients. James supported Habitat for many years and his memory will live on through his generous contribution.

James Paul Crozier, age 96, died peacefully at Genoa Retirement Village on Friday, January 1, 2021. Jim, the oldest of eight children, was born on August 13, 1924, to parents Dale and Leona (Freimark) Crozier. Growing up in Elmore, Ohio, he graduated from Harris-Elmore High School in 1942. He married Hattie Faye Noss on October 5, 1946. Together, they cherished family and faith, lovingly raised five children, and celebrated their 50th anniversary before Hattie's death on July 5, 1997. They enjoyed spending summers at their cottage on Clark Lake in Michigan.

Jim was an active member of the former Elmore Christian Church, serving for many years as a trustee and board member. He was a quietly compassionate man and helped many people in their times of struggle, without expecting anything in return.

Following in a long line of very mechanically-inclined Crozier men, Jim loved collecting and working on cars and could fix just about anything. He was known as an excellent process instrumentation technician, and worked for Sun Oil Refinery for over 40 years, retiring as a Project Engineer.

Ronald E. Tindall

Ron left several local organizations funds from his estate. Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County was one of these recipients. Because of the generosity of this hero, many families will be impacted over the years.

Ronald Edward Tindall, of Catawba Island Township, Port Clinton, Ohio, passed away on December 6, 2018. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 4, 1933.

Ron started his long career in broadcasting as a child actor at WJR Radio in Detroit. He was an actor in the nationally syndicated radio show the "Lone Ranger". He was a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and at that time, Jack Benny was the president of the union. He often joked that as a child he was making more money than his parents. Ron attended Wayne State University in Detroit majoring in broadcasting. While in college, he would help host a radio show that would feature many prominent African American Churches in Detroit with the "gospel hour". On one Sunday evening, they were broadcasting from the Reverend Franklin's church and Ron introduced Reverend Franklin's little daughter Aretha Franklin - who ended up having a very successful singing career in her own right. Ron will be remembered in Toledo as hosting the popular radio show "Ask Your Neighbor" on WSPD radio. Ron and his producer Andi Roman became very good friends over the years and he was the MC at their wedding when she married Greg Tye. In the 1980's, Ron also owned the popular bar / café the Centre Court Lounge. It was a wonderful neighborhood hangout and Ron made everyone feel at home. Ron also loved to visit the Sunshine Children's Home and share his many funny stories with the residents and staff. It is often said residents would wait at the front door to greet him. He made them all feel like very special people. Ron also had a great love of animals and would attend and participate in dog shows. Later in Ron's career, he narrated many of the popular "Toledo Stories" on PBS. The stories are still being re broadcast and you will hear his familiar voice on the Toledo Stories about the former Tiedtke's Department store in downtown Toledo and also the impressive theatres that were located in Toledo. Ron enjoyed his retirement on Catawba Island and traveling in his motorhome. He met some special friends on Catawba Island - Hector Loera and Lee Hitchings who were neighbors of his at the Lake. They would often visit and listen to his wonderful stories or take him on a boat ride over to Put in Bay or Kelley's Island. Ron will be sadly missed by his dear friends. He was a special person and what many remember as a "Local Celebrity".