Gary Charles Stoddard

Gary was born March 3, 1948, in Salem, Ohio, and was a 1966 graduate of Salem High School.  Gary was the owner of Stoddard Marketing and Best Hostas.com.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles, and mother, Ruth (Pat) Jones Stoddard, and his brother, Nelson Stoddard.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart, business partner, and wife of 46 years, Susan (Snyder); three children, Julie (Matt) Smith, Annie Stoddard and Jack Stoddard, all of Columbus, Ohio. He will be greatly missed by his two grandchildren, Nick and Caroline Smith, as well as his sisters, Linda Solmen-Hertel, Jill Abdoo and Janie Allison.

Gary maintained friendships with many people over the years including high school friends, business associates and his turkey camp buddies. His wicked sense of humor spared no one and he was fluent in sarcasm.

Gary understood and revered the natural world. He loved turkey hunting in the Zaleski State Forest and fishing anywhere he could from the New River, W.Va., to Islamorada, Fla. He was an excellent golfer and enjoyed playing the game as much as he could. Gary was passionate about all Cleveland sports. He witnessed the Tribe make it to the World Series and celebrated the Cavs NBA Championship this summer. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball players, stats and history. He also was a logophile, a lover of words, and could complete the most difficult crossword puzzles and could recite the Latin names for most hostas. The only present he ever asked for was to have his whole family under one roof for Christmas — a gift he received this year.

The family will host a celebration of Gary’s life from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at the Salem Community Center. A special thank you to Hospice of the Valley for helping care for him this year.  Friends may contribute a gift in his memory to the Banquet of Salem or Hospice of the Valley.

12/31/16

(Paid obituary)