Carl Withers

Carl Raymond Withers
January 26, 1924 - September 10, 2016

Carl Withers passed away peacefully on Saturday September 10 at the age of 92. He was born on January 26, 1924 to Edith DuGuay and Stuart Withers in Reading, Pennsylvania.

As a true representative of the "Greatest Generation", directly after high-school graduation Carl enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet. He obtained his pilot's wings and Second Lieutenant's Commission in February 1944. Carl flew 15 missions in Italy, and was discharged as a First Lieutenant. One of Carl's favorite war memories was celebrating his 21st birthday on the Isle of Capri.

After the war, Carl enrolled at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. There he met his beautiful wife-to-be Jenny Cory. Jenny hailed from Shaker Heights, Ohio. She's the daughter of Mildred and John Virgil Cory. Carl majored in political science, which seeded his interest in public and civic activities. Always active, Carl joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and as a Senior was Editor of the Wittenberg year book. Carl graduated in 1950, then attended Michigan Law School, from which he graduated in 1953. Thereafter Carl remained an ardent Michigan football fan, much to the dismay of his Ohio family and friends. Go Big Blue!

Carl and Jenny were married in 1950, and had three wonderful children, Wren, Jill, and Bradford. Jenny and Carl raised their family in a lovely coach house on Shaker Boulevard in Shaker Heights. Later Jenny and Carl moved to Pepper Pike, then to Laurel Lake Retirement Community in Hudson, Ohio.

Carl began practicing general law in 1954 at the Cleveland firm of Van Aken, Whiting, Arnold & Nash, ending his practice at Van Aken, Withers, and Webster. Carl's practice included trials, probate, domestic relations, corporate, and criminal law. In addition, Carl was Acting Judge in the Shaker Heights Municipal Court and the Presiding Arbitrator in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Carl was energetically involved in a multitude of organizations, and a proud member of Who's Who in America.

Carl served as President of these organizations:
a�� Cleveland Wittenberg Alumni Association
a�� Cleveland Beta Theta Pi Alumni Association
a�� American Legion Army-Navy Shaker Post 54
a�� Shaker Heights and Ohio Republican Clubs
a�� Pepper Pike Villas Homeowners Association
a�� Heights YMCA Indian Guides

Carl was a Board of Trustee member for these organizations:
a�� Soldiers and Sailors Monument
a�� Fairmount Presbyterian Church
a�� Cleveland Skating Club
a�� Ohio Curling Association
a�� Cleveland Rotary Club
a�� Torch, Inc.

Carl held these additional civic positions:
a�� Shaker Historical Society Life Member
a�� Cleveland Grays member
a�� Cleveland, War Veterans, and Ohio State Bar Associations
a�� Republican precinct committeeman
a�� Shaker Heights Police Pension Fund member

Quick with a joke and a smile, Carl enjoyed life to the fullest. He adored Jenny, and was a dedicated father, lawyer, and Republican. Carl was a faithful member of Fairmount Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon. He delighted in sports, proudly co-founding bringing the Scottish sport of curling to the Cleveland Skating Club. Carl curled for fun and camaraderie, organizing teams and bonspiels (tournaments) for 50 years. He won championships, happily coaching beginners to become strong competitors.

Jenny and Carl shared a love of antiquing, topped off by living three decades in the noteworthy 1900s coach house on Shaker Blvd. Carl relaxed at home by watching his favorite sports teams: Michigan football, and the Cleveland Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers.

Carl is greatly missed by his wife of 66 years, Jenny; children, Wren Withers, Jill and her husband Kevin Morgan, Brad Withers; and grandchildren, Jesse and Nathaniel Morgan.

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Carl R. Withers, age 92. Beloved husband of Jenny C. Withers (nee Cory). Dear father of Wren A. Withers of San Rafael, CA, Jill W. Morgan (Kevin) of Issaquah, WA and Bradford J. Withers of University Hts., OH. Loving grandfather of Jesse Morgan and Nathaniel Morgan.

The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to The Shaker Historical Society, 16740 South Park Blvd., Shaker Hts., OH 44120 or to Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Commission, 3 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114.

Memorial Services will be held in Serenity Chapel at Laurel Lake Retirement Community, 200 Laurel Lake Drive, Hudson, OH 44236 on Saturday, September 17th at 2 PM.