Stark Memorial will continue serving community

Russ Loudon retires following over six decades of carrying on a tradition

SALEM -- Longtime Stark Memorial owner Russell Loudon kicked off 2019 by officially retiring and passing the funeral home's enduring record of service and compassion over to new owner Daniel P. Madden.

"I'm looking forward to carrying on his legacy and continuing to build on it," Madden said.

Loudon will remain through the transition and introduce Madden to the community. Both stressed that all pre-arrangements anyone has made will continue to be honored and the tradition of caring will remain, too, along with all the familiar faces of the employees who helped Loudon build the business into what it is today.

Madden described Stark Memorial as one of the premier funeral homes in the whole tri-county area, a fact which led him to Salem. He had always dreamed of pursuing ownership of a funeral home and started putting feelers out within the last four years. He talked to Loudon and they finally came to an agreement which was finalized for the new year.

He came to work for Loudon over the past month in December to familiarize himself with the operation and the employees and said the transition was going very well.

"I wanted to pick a funeral home that had a good reputation, one with an easy transition to come into and a good base, and good people around who cared about families and the good reputation," he said.

Madden plans to continue the traditions built in regard to service, both to families and the community, including the beautiful Christmas lights brightening up the corner of State and Hawley where the funeral home is located and the flowers that bloom throughout the spring, summer and even into fall all around the property and parking lots.

"I felt he could carry on the business, carry on the tradition of serving people," Loudon said.

Service to families is what the business is all about -- it's what Stark Memorial has been about since its inception in 1920 and throughout Loudon's tenure which began in 1956 -- it's what Stark Memorial will continue to be about under Madden, who's been in the business 20 years and licensed for 16 years. He's one of a handful of funeral home directors with the designation Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, CFSP.

"I look at it as a ministry -- to be there for families at a difficult time and guide them through the process," he said.

Loudon became known for his attention to details, for compassionate service to families, his service to the community and his quiet generosity. He especially looked out for the Salem Honor Guard, honoring them with a free meal now and then in appreciation for the free service they provide at funerals for veterans. He covered the cost for the electronic bugle the Salem Honor Guard uses for the playing of "Taps." He said he has enjoyed his work serving the people and families, but he felt after 62 years, it was time to find someone to take over.

A 1946 graduate of Salem High School, Loudon studied at Ohio State for a year and worked for Stark Memorial and then a funeral home in Akron, Eckard Baldwin, where he served his apprenticeship. He graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1950 and was hired by Eckard Baldwin as a funeral director and embalmer. He worked there five years and met his future wife, Marilyn Williams, during that time. They married in 1956 and he purchased stock in Stark Memorial from Jack Harroff, becoming a part-owner and partner with James Giffin, who later retired. Loudon became sole owner in 1978.

In the old days, Stark Memorial also sold furniture through the Stark Furniture Annex which they renamed the Stark Colonial Attic, handling nothing but early American furniture made by Pennsylvania House and Ethan Allen. The store was above the office but shut down in 1970.

Loudon has been active in the community and was recognized last April by the Salem Historical Society as a Citizen of Honor for all his accomplishments. His list of memberships includes the First Presbyterian Church, Saxon Club, Independent Hose Club, Salem Elks, past president and member of Salem Rotary, 60-plus years as a Mason, Al Koran Shrine, the remaining founding member and past president of the Winona Ruritan Club, past president and member of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, past president and 25-year member of the Salem Community Hospital Board of Directors, former board member of the Salem City Health Department, former chairman of the United Way and chairman of the Salem Jubilee Ball.

For many years, Loudon set out chairs for people to view the former Salem Jubilee Grande Parade on Stark Memorial's front lawn, also providing snacks for attendees. He was also a supporter of the Columbiana County Fair and 4-H steer program. He supports many community events and community groups.

Madden commented that Loudon had put a lot of faith in him to carry on the legacy. His plan is to honor that faith.

A 1998 graduate of South Range High School who hails from Canfield, he was attending Youngstown State University unsure of what he wanted to do when his grandmother passed away. She was at a funeral home in the greater Youngstown area and he became curious about the industry. His grandfather introduced him to the owner of Fox Funeral Home and he got a job there.

"I enjoyed helping families during difficult times and wanted to make a career out of it," he said.

His path led him to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where he earned a bachelor's degree in mortuary science. He served his apprenticeship at Becker Funeral Home and had been working there 11 years when he started to pursue ownership of a funeral home within the last four years, getting to know Loudon. He earned the CFSP certification through continuing education courses and will have to continue doing that each year to keep certified.

He's planning to bring in some innovative ideas through technology, such as a new website for Stark Memorial and new video equipment for memorial DVDs. He just signed up with a marketing company and he's already making plans for next Christmas to do stockings for soldiers, giving residents the opportunity to fill them with needed items to send to the troops. He'll be joining the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and transferring his membership in the Poland Rotary, which he served as past president, to the Salem Rotary.

Another new offering at Stark Memorial is a loan program where people can apply for a loan to pay for funeral services. He's also going to do Lunch & Learns where people can come to lunch and learn about the pre-planning process. Madden is married and said his wife, Claudia Kovach, will help, also.

Loudon's name will remain associated with Stark Memorial, on the sign and other material, and Madden said he'll remain a presence.

Loudon credited his longtime employees with the success of Stark Memorial, including: licensed funeral director/embalmer Phil Crowgey, 40 years; licensed funeral director and pre-planning specialist Steve Ward, a combined 33 years; and licensed funeral director/embalmer Jeff Davis, 19 years. Cindy Aukerman serves as the administrative assistant. He also recognized the service of part-time personnel, Gary Moffett, Keith Stephens and Ron Poage, along with the Salem Honor Guard.

He expressed his appreciation for some former employees, including Roxanna Beck, who served as his administrative assistant for 25 years, former administrative assistant Karen Travis and funeral assistants Derek Beck, Bill Schaefer, Tom Cope, Charlie Juliano and George Ehrhart.

Besides his wife Marilyn, Loudon's family includes their daughter, Julie (Sam) Johnson, and two grandchildren, Paige and Hayden.

Stark Memorial can be reached at 330-332-5139.

mgreier@salemnews.net