Earl M. Stewart
WARSAW- Earl Mathias Stewart, 86, of Bethlehem TR 29 and formerly of Moccasin Lane in Coshocton, died Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at the Autumn Extended Care Facility under the care of Hospice-Health Services of Coshocton.
He was born April 28, 1928 in Coshocton Co. to the late Russell Walter and Ethel May (Fox) Stewart. He was a 1946 graduate of Clark Consolidated High School, and a 1947 associate of Kenneth Haas Jewelry where he apprenticed under Mr. R.V. Lee, who was head and master watchmaker of the Webb C. Ball Co., rail road watch specialist from 1905-1910 in Cleveland.
He was a Korean War Veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953. He instructed watch repair at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, and later served in the 6th Ordinance & 80th Ordinance Battalion 7th Army in Germany repairing military watches.
After his honorary discharge, he attended the Guffy Institute of the Washington School of Gemology in Washington D.C., becoming a certified gemologist in the schools of gemology, goldsmith, and lapidary. He was also a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America correspondence course from Santa Monica, CA. He attended numerous watch and jewelry sales and repair schools. He was elected and served the State of Ohio offices of treasurer, vice president, and board of directors of the Watchmakers Association of Ohio. He was the founder and organizer of the Akron Watchmakers Guild. He composed the constitution and by-laws for these two organizations. In 1957, he earned the title of Certified Master Watchmaker CMW8491 from the Horological Institute of America, now known as the American Watchmakers Institute. He was a 1957 associate of the S.W. Bishop Co. Jewelers AGS in Akron. He purchased Virgil Loos Watch Repair & Jewelry Store in Coshocton in 1962. He returned to the S.W. Bishop Co. in 1963. He was a 1964 associate of the Argo & Lehne Jewelers AGS, for 20 years was an associate of the Thomas L. Hawk Jewelers AGS, including 5 years as Manager of the downtown location. He was a 1989 associate of Jacobson’s Dept. Store as a jewelry salesman in the City Center location in Columbus.
He was a member of the American Watchmakers Institute, and the Professional Jewelers Guild. He was a 50 year member of the former Warsaw Masonic Lodge #255, the American Legion Post #65, and the Coshocton Moose #935. He was a former member of the Columbus Elks Lodge, the American Gem Society, the American Gemological Association, and the Ohio Watchmakers Association.
He is survived by a sister, Bessie Infield of Warsaw, and a nephew, Larry (L. Jean) Infield of Warsaw.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Paul Infield, and an infant niece.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2014 at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw, with Pastor Mark Granger officiating. Burial will follow in Blissfield Cemetery, with graveside military rites performed by the Coshocton Co. Joint Veterans Council Honor Guard. Visitation is one hour prior to service time at the funeral home, and a Masonic Service will be held at 10:45 a.m. www.fischerfuneralhome.com
Category: Obituaries
