Alexander Ingram Oliver

Alex was born in Maybole, a village on the southwest coast of Scotland, on December 10, 1922, to Robert and Jeanie (Ingram) Oliver. At the age of 18, he joined the British Army, and was honorably discharged at the end of WWII after fighting in several military campaigns, most notably in the North African campaign and the invasion of Berlin.

After WWII Alex lived with his parents and younger siblings in Sunninghill, England where he was employed as an accountant for the local government offices. During a community dance in Sunninghill, Alex met his future bride, C. Hazel Barke. In January of 1956, Alex and Hazel immigrated to the United States along with her parents, George and Mabel Barke. Alex and Hazel were married at The Presbyterian Church in Coshocton on March 31, 1956, with the Reverend Harold Kaiser officiating. They made Coshocton their permanent home, where they would eventually raise their three children, and become naturalized U.S. citizens in 1969. They continued to be active members of the Presbyterian church.

Alex was one of the first to be employed by Cyclops Universal Steel (AK Steel), where he worked as a stainless steel inspector until his retirement in 1987.

He was a devoted husband and father, spending many memorable summer vacations at the beach and attending his children’s sporting events and activities. He and Hazel also enjoyed the occasional trip back to Great Britain to expose their children to their familial heritage.

Alex’s retirement years were spent between homes in Bonita Springs, Florida, and Coshocton, which allowed him the freedom to be near family and friends. Retirement finally afforded him the opportunity to pursue his avid interest in golf, an interest inspired by growing up near Turnberry Golf Course in Scotland. Other favorite lifelong activities were ballroom dancing, playing the piano, and singing, especially the old Scottish ballads. Due to declining health, Alex spent the last two years of his life at the Otterbein facility.

Alex is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 59 years, C. Hazel (Barke) Oliver; a daughter, Celia Oliver and husband Jim Murphy, of Greenfield, New Hampshire; two sons: Keith Oliver and wife Nancy (Totsch) Oliver, of Mason, Ohio; and Terry Oliver and wife Voni (Owens) Oliver, of Evansville, Indiana; and six grandchildren: Robert, Tim, and Emily Oliver, and Ian, Kaylee, and Sam Oliver. Additionally, he is survived by a sister-in-law, Gwen Stotler; nephews Chris Stotler and Steve Stotler; and nieces Cheri McCullough, Jackie Steele and Julie Wilson. In England, he is survived by a brother, George Oliver; a sister Jennie Hillman, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings.

Funeral services will be held at Given-Dawson Funeral Home, 186 Park Ave., Coshocton, OH 43812, on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 2:00 pm. The family will greet friends from 12:00-1:30 pm. Internment at Canal Lewisville Cemetery will immediately follow services at the funeral home.

Because of the outstanding care and compassion of the team of nurses and aides from Crossroads Hospice of Dayton, OH, the family respectfully requests that those who wish to do so make a donation to Crossroads in lieu of flowers. Donations may be sent by mail to Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation, 10810 E. 45th Street, Suite 300, Tulsa, OK 74146, or online at https://crhcf.org/donate/.