Chester G. Hawley

Chester G. Hawley, Jr., age 94, of Columbus, Ohio and formerly of Naples, Florida, died on February 18, 2016 at Kobacker House. Chester was born in Columbus, Ohio on Jan 5, 1922. Predeceased by his parents Chester G.Hawley, Sr. and Helen G. Hawley, his loving wife of 64 years, Lorena Caldwell Hawley, and daughter Lynn Anne Bryant of Athens, Ga. Survived by sons Philip Hawley (Jo Ann) of Columbus, Ohio and Brent Hawley (Karen) of Fort Collins, Co.; grandchildren Clay Bryant (Daniela), Jennifer Hanna (Kevin), Austin Hawley (Jill), Lauren Norelli (Andrew), Miles Hawley (Lauren), Trevor Hawley, and Marian Hawley; and great grandchildren Clay, Marco, Nina, Conor, Alice, Owen, Paige, Neil, Alexandra, Marie, James and Chet, all of whom affectionately called him "Big Chet." He was in the Columbus North High School class of 1939, attended Ohio State University where he was president of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He graduated from Yale University in 1944, where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honorary society. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and ended his navy service in occupied Japan as an assistant engineer on the USS Vesole, DD 878. Over a 38 year career in business, Chet served as the President of the Jeffrey Manufacturing and Jeffrey Mining Divisions, the Group President of Industrial Equipment at Jeffrey-Galion, and the President of the Galion Division and the Group President of Construction Equipment at Dresser Industries. In those positions he had responsibility for subsidiaries in England, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. He was on the Board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Buckeye Federal Savings and Loan, and the W.W. Williams Co. As a member of the Columbus Rotary he initiated and planned the Camp Free Enterprise program for high school students in Franklin County. In 1967 the Columbus Citizen Journal named him one of the Top Ten Men in the city of Columbus. He enjoyed golf and especially the friendship of fellow competitors. He was a golfing member of Scioto Country Club for 63 years and served as President of the club in 1986. He was a member of the Club Pelican Bay in Naples for 20 years and in the 1960s he joined The Golf Club in New Albany the first year it was open and remained a member there for 20 years. He was a member of First Community Church, serving on both the Board of the church and the Board of First Community Village. He was a proud member of the Catfish Row investment group. Finally, he was a dedicated Ohio State fan, funding the Chester G. and Lorena C. Hawley Athletic Endowment at The University. Chet moved to the Chelsea at First Community Village in 2011. His many friends at the Chelsea made the last five years of his life very enjoyable. The family wishes to thank the personal aides at the Chelsea who assisted him over the past year. There will be a Celebration of Life Service at First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Boulevard on Tuesday, Feb 23 at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, friends may make a contribution in his memory to the First community Foundation--Dominica Fund, 1320 Cambridge Blvd., Columbus, OH 43212. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share a memory or send condolences. Arrangements By SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Road.