Harold Eugene Thirey, 75, of New Vienna, Ohio passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2021. His wife, Amy Josephine Dunn Thirey, survives. They were married August 14, 1971. He was born September 27, 1945 in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of the late William Paul Thirey and Lena Ruth Thomas Thirey.
Mr. Thirey served in the U.S. Army obtaining the rank of sergeant. He received the Purple Heart for his military service in Vietnam.
He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Wilmington College, his master’s degree from Penn State University, and had done course work for his PhD at The Ohio State University.
Early in his career, Mr. Thirey taught in the dairy science department at Delaware Valley College and in the agriculture department at Southern State Community College. Since 1977 Harold has been teaching in the agriculture department at Wilmington College. He was an icon at the Wilmington College ag department and impacted the lives of many students over the years.
He was a member of the Dove Church in Wilmington, advisor for the Wilmington College Aggies, a past board chairman for the Clinton County Women’s Center and had been active in the Wilmington Rotary Club. He enjoyed woodworking, farming, and reading.
In addition to his wife, Harold is survived by three sons and four daughters-in-law, Micah Jacob (Elizabeth) Thirey of Wilmington, Ohio, Daniel Paul (Chrissy) Thirey of Wilmington, Ohio, Nathan David (Sarah) Thirey of Wilmington, Ohio, and Tricia Thirey of Fort Worth, Texas; two daughters and a son-in-law, Rebekah Marie (Dan) Painter of Dayton, Ohio and Hannah Ruth Thirey of New Vienna, Ohio; a brother and two sisters-in-law, William Earl (Claire) Thirey of Alpharetta, Georgia and Penny Thirey of Martinsville, Ohio; a sister and brother-in-law, Ruth Pauline (Loren) Henning of Newtonsville, Ohio; 15 grandchildren, Joshua, Savannah, Kinsey, Andrew, Isaiah, Grace, Nathaniel, Jonathan, Lilly, Kaiden, Emelyn, Sophia, Mia, Eliana, and Ian; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, a son, Benjamin James Thirey, and a brother, Leslie Roger Thirey, are preceded in death.
A private family service will be held at Smith Funeral Home in Wilmington followed by burial in Sugar Grove Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Army and the American Legion Post 49 Honor Guard. A public memorial service will be announced later.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Harold’s memory may be made to the Wilmington College Agriculture Department, 1870 Quaker Way, Wilmington, Ohio 45177.
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