WILLIAM J. J. GUSBETH, 85 Canfield Football Hall of Fame inductee

CANFIELD -- Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Canfield United Methodist Church for William J. J. Gusbeth, 85, of 62 Court St., who died Thursday at home.
Mr. Gusbeth was born Dec. 21, 1915, in Alliance, a son of William J. and Mary Lupher Gusbeth.
He was a postal clerk for the Post Office in Canfield for 23 years and retired in 1978. He previously worked for U.S. Steel Ohio Works and was a carpenter. He was a furniture upholsterer for 40 years and was a World War II Army veteran.
He was a member of the church, where he was president of its Adult Sunday School class, was president of Tri-County Federation of Postal Clerks and member of Canfield Jaycee's for many years and Canfield Community Club.
He was a past noble grand of Independent Order of Odd Fellows 155, Chaplain of American Legion Post 177, charter member and past commander of VFW Post 9571 in Ellsworth, president of AARP 3104 and worked in ticketing at the Canfield Fair for 18 years. He was a board member of Canfield Community Chest.
He handled ticket sales for Canfield Speedway for 12 years, was a volunteer fireman for Canfield Fire Department for 28 years, and was the voice of the Canfield Football team for 36 seasons, retiring in 1985. He was elected to the Canfield Football Hall of Fame for contributions as announcer.
Besides his wife, the former Beulah Rhodes, whom he married May 11, 1939, he leaves two daughters, Linda Kiecole of Highland, Calif., and Wilma Weingart of Boardman; a brother, Robert Gusbeth and a sister, Dorothy Smith, both of North Jackson; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Lane Funeral Home here and from 10 a.m. until the service Wednesday in the church. Contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley or the church memorial fund.
4/7/01