AVON PARK, Fla. — Bruce Andrew Billow, 74, died Wednesday, July 15, 2009, in Avon Park, Fla., following a short illness.
He was born Oct. 31, 1934, in Wheeling, W.Va., to J. Stanley and Mary Virginia (Braunlich) Billow. Bruce grew up in Buckeye Lake, Ohio, and graduated from Hebron High School, Hebron, Ohio, in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1960, stationed at Fort Knox, Ky. He married Janet Byrley on Jan. 24, 1959, in New Albany, Ind. Bruce was a self-made man, starting as a lineman with The Ohio Power Co. and advancing through the utility industry becoming the CEO of Noble County Electric, REMC, located near Kendallville, Ind. Along the way he worked in Louisville, Ky., Harrisburg Pa., Clinton, Ark., and St. Marys, Ohio, finishing in Kendallville. Bruce loved to read, golf and spend time with his family. He was a proud husband, father, grandfather and brother.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Janet; his brother, Jim (Susan) Billow of Canton, Ohio; and three children, Mike (Chris) Billow of Danville, Ohio, Gina (Jack) White of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Aimee (Mike) Forsythe of Wakefield, Mass. His grandchildren are Angela Baker, Vincent Billow, Jennifer Brecheisen, Nicole Stelzer and Sarah Forsythe, as well as six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
There will not be any services. Several Irish wakes will be held later in his memory.