Joe Finley Remembrance


Joseph A. Finley age 72 passed away August 31, 2021.  Joe graduated from Central Hower High School in 1967.  Enlisted in the United States Navy from 1967 – 1971.  He served two tours in Vietnam on the USS Oriskany (The Mighty “O” and the last of the wooden flight decks), reached the rank of E-4/Petty Officer Third Class, and was honorably discharged.  He graduated from the University of Akron and molded minds as a history and English teacher for several schools within the Akron Public School System.  Joe stepped up and was voted in as the Union Rep for Goodyear Middle School for several years, later he ran for Ward II Councilman and was voted in for 2 consecutive terms.  He loved the city and its local politics so much; he became a mayoral candidate to further his vision for Akron and to greater serve the city and community that he loved.

He was remembered most for his love of family – politics – the civil war – JFK – Abraham Lincoln – Don McLean – Cat Stevens – Sweet Baby James, his warm smile, quick witty humor, innocent fun nicknames (jive turkey, blood, you right…you ugly but you right) and respect for all those he came across…but, mostly the numerous sacrifices he made for his wife and children.  His former students would love to call out his name in public, so anxious to share their memories of him as their teacher.  Joe was also very proud of his 38 years of sobriety…we his immediate family were only too happy and awestruck as the direct recipients of the wonders of its results and his dedication to such an incredible program.

The Finley Family Book

Get a copy of the hard cover book, available now to purchase (at cost) online. Just $24.95. Old photos and handwritten text tells the Finley Family history from 1827 to 1987.

Click here to preview the book and purchase.

Rex Finley Remembrance – Febuary 12 2020

Rex Finley was born on Friday, June 17, 1921 and passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. 

He loved baseball and played all the way until the last few years. With 4 kids and 13 grandchildren and I think 27 great grandchildren and now countless great great grandchildren he left a FINLEY legacy that we will all strive to fulfill.

Rex was the last of Clay and Letha Finley’s children to pass away. Clay and Letha’s children are shown in the picture to right taken in 1927 and 1977.

The Finley Family Photo – 1989



The above photo shows the descendants of Daniel Washington Finley & Gertrude Finley (Hoskinson)
and Clay (Christopher Clay) Finley & Letha Powell  – Wilda,  Bob, Red, Rex, Dan (Joe) and Betty.
All 6 of Clay and Letha’s children are in the photo and most of their Children and Grandchildren.

Also in the photo are the children of Ollie (Ford) – Jack and Nelda  and the children of Irma (Baker) – Lyle and Fin.

Click here to view and download this photo

Thomas Jay “Tommy” Cowman – September 12 2019


tommycowman(Tommy was the son of Jay and Wilda (Finley) Cowman. Wilda was the oldest daughter of Clay and Letha Finley)

Tommy Cowman, 69, went home to be with the Lord on September 12, 2019. Tom was born in Akron, Ohio and lived in Uniontown, OH. He graduated from Garfield High School and retired from the Akron Beacon Journal where he worked for 40 years. Tom was a member of the Akron Typographical Union. His hobbies were golf, chess, reading, talking stocks and politics. He enjoyed time with his family and getting a beer with friends.

Dennis Finley Remembrance – April 1 2019


Dennis Finley in the hat

Dennis Finley in the hat

(Dennis was the oldest son of Rex Finley who was the son of Clay and Letha Finley.)

Dennis Finley passed away on Monday April 1st at the age of 76 in Murrieta California surrounded by his Wife, Children and Grandchildren. He was born in Akron Ohio to Rex and Irene (Dixon) Finley. He was the oldest of four children. His family moved to California when he was a teenager. It was there that he met Gabrielle Tohill, the love of his life. They were married for 55 years. He was a devoted Husband and Son. He was a wonderful father to Dennelle and Brian. A fabulous Grandpa to Riley, Kayla (Finley) Alcorn and Grandson-in-Law Mitch Alcorn. He was a caring Brother, Uncle and Great Uncle to all his family. Dennis was a Real Estate Broker for over sixty years, running his own office much of that time. When not in the office he enjoyed Skiing with Family and Friends, Fishing with his friends, Riding Motorcycles with his buddies and Shooting with his team. He is dearly loved by his family and will be greatly missed by all that knew him

Cousins_8Cousins_11

Irene Finley Remembrance


irene(Irene was married to Rex Finley the son of Clay and Letha Finley. Rex was the grandson of Daniel Washington Finley)

IRENE FINLEY Irene was born on March 10, 1924 in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas and passed away on September 8, 2018 in Menifee, California. She was married to Rex Finley on Dec. 13, 1941 in Akron, Ohio and she and Rex recently celebrated their seventy sixth wedding anniversary. Rex and Irene had four children: Dennis, Sharon, Gregory, and Claudia. She is survived by thirteen grandchildren, thirty great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Irene owned her own real estate company in Simi Valley, California and was a well-known and successful real estate broker for twenty-seven years. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. Irene was a wonderful cook and loved to entertain family and friends. In addition to her children and great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, her sister she is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Winnie Finley Remembrance


winnieWife of Bill Finley the son of Ira Finley  Click here for more photos

Below written by her son Mark Finley:

Winnie Finley – my Mom and grandmother to my kids – passed away today at noon. She was two weeks shy of her 90th birthday when Alzheimer’s got the best of her. Mom was kind and generous, a wonderful woman. She was so many things to so many people through her lifetime. She met my Dad Bill while working at my Grandpa Finley’s cafe during World War II – they married on her birthday – November 26, 1944. Our family photography business was her life’s work – she worked side by side with my Dad for over 60 years. Up until just last year, she was still coming to work 4 days a week. She loved the people she worked with and was the type of boss who led by example with her work ethic. Mom kept her children close – I worked at her side 48 years, and Linda still lives in the home where Mom raised us. She always had that smile – such a warmth about her. Miss you forever Mom!

Betty Finley Cinalt Remembrance


bettybettyBetty Jane (Finley) Cinalt, 89, died peacefully at home on Monday, July 20, 2015.Betty was born in West Union, W. Virginia and moved to the Akron area at a young age. She retired from the payroll department at B.F. Goodrich.

Betty loved sports, trips to Mountaineer Park, roller skating, bowling, dancing and was always known to leave you with a good joke.

Preceded in death by her parents, Clay and Letha (Powell) Finley; sister, Wilda Cowman; brothers, Bob, Red and Joe Finley; Betty is survived by her daughters, Debbie (David) Moore of Akron, Donna (Monty) Lee of Coventry and Darlene Jones of Barberton; son, Douglas (Debbie) Cinalt of Barberton; grandchildren, Davy, Danny, Jimmy, Johnny, Joey, Jeff, Jacky, Dougie, Ricky, Jamie and Jimmy; 27 great-grandchildren; brother, Rex (Irene) Finley; numerous nieces, nephews and special friends, Sue Lawrence and Barbara Brock.

Funeral service will be held Friday, 11 a.m. at the Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home, 566 W. Park Ave., Barberton 44203, with Pastor Michael Somerville officiating. Burial at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Calling hours Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Written by Shane Finley, grandson of Rex and Irene Finley


(Rex is the son of Clay and Letha Finley and the grandson of Daniel Washington Finley)

My Grandma turned 90 on Sunday (March 9th 2014). She is a great woman and married to a great man. I wrote the following as a tribute to them a couple of months ago but haven’t done anything with it. It is a bit lengthy but I hope worth the read.

Legacy
What’s in a name? Today names don’t mean as much as they once did. In other cultures through out history a name said a lot about who you were, where you were from and even what you did for a living. A name defined a person in a way.
Today we don’t put as much into the thought of a name. Of course there are those whose names bring about different thoughts, pictures and ideas because of their notoriety in certain areas of expertise. If I say the name Manning many people may think of football or if I say Jackson people might think of pop music, or the name Reagan might bring to mind on era of politics.
If I said the name Finley it probably would mean very little to you if anything. It is not a name that is known by many. There have been a few famous people with the name but none of them or their accomplishments come to my mind when I think of the name. The name means much more to me. It is a name I am proud and sometimes even humbled to bare. It is a name that holds a standard for me, a name that stands for something. Not because of any famous man or woman. Not because it will go down in any history books but it is a name with a deep legacy. Read More …

Jack Ford – Remembrance


Jack Edwin Ford, 83 of West Union formerly of Clarksburg departed this life on January 6, 2012 at noon in the United Hospital Center. He was born on October 15, 1928 and raised in West Union a son of the late Harold H. and Ollie (Finley) Ford. Jack was married to Clara (Fleming) Ford, a native of Doddridge County, for 63 years. He was the older brother of Nelda (Ford) King, wife of the late Sam King of Doddridge County.
Read More …

Joyce L. (Cowman) Latshaw Remembrance -September 9, 2011


Joyce L. Latshaw, 71, went home to be re-united with her parents on September 9, 2011.

She was born on August 26, 1940 to the late Jay and Wilda Cowman. Joyce was a member of the First Evangelical Congregational Church and St. Paul Catholic Church. She was a lifelong resident of Firestone Park and a member of Firestone Park Silver Sneakers. She retired from the Akron Summit County Public Library. Joyce was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, and yoga.

Survivors include her daughters, Loree (John) Conley and Cherie (Ken) Owens; brother, Thomas (Sandy) Cowman; sister, Carol (Dale) Petz; grandchildren, Nicholas and Rachael Conley, and Katie Coughlin; her best friends, Maryann Jarvis and Rosemary Soroka; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.