Lakewood Lore

Daniels planted shovel here, to city's fortune

During the fledgling years, the undertaking business in Lakewood produced a roster of respected funeral directors -- active, civic-minded citizens who became and integral part of our growing city.

Bill Daniels, who died four years ago at age 93, was one of the most prominent. He was affable, low-key and well-liked. From wise investments he became a wealthy man. Through his trust fund, our community continues to benefit from his generosity.

Late in life, when fending a compliment, he used to say in a self-effacing way, "I'm just a farm boy who made good."

William R. Daniels was born on a farm in Meadville, Pa., on Aug.1, 1891. He went throughout the eighth grade in a country school, walking six miles each day to get to and from.

He came to Lakewood on St. Patrick's Day in 1910. After delivering milk for a spell, he read about a job opening at the Flynn-Froelk Funeral Home and took it.

In 1913, he graduated from Cleveland Embalming School. A few years later, he opened his own undertaking venture at Gormsen's Furniture Store on Detroit near Rocky River Bridge. (originally, funeral directors frequently worked out of furniture stores because of the coffin connection).

In the early '20s, he moved his business to a home at 15800 Detroit, which was subsequently remodeled and expanded, and where today he is still remembered in the combined name of Saxton-Parker-Daniels Funeral Chapels Inc.

Bill joined the Lakewood United Methodist Church in 1915. Two years later, he met Sue Elma Pyle at a youth-group meeting there and married her. She died in 1975. Three years afterward, Bill sold the business and retired.

Our subject was a Mason for 70 years and an Elk 65 years. He was a vice president of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and, at the time of his death, the oldest dues-paying member of that organization.

He was a director of First Federal Savings & Loan of Lakewood and helped organize the Lakewood Country Club and the Lakewood Little Theater.

Bill was the last remaining charter member of Lakewood Kiwanis Club, which boasted 83 members at its inception in 1921. In 1949, he gave $15,000 to launch the club's Scholarship Foundation, which provides college money for Lakewood students who excel. Thereafter during his lifetime, he made periodic donations. Finally upon his death he left bequests that, in the form of trust-fund interest earnings, continue to support in regular payments the scholarship program, as well as the hospital and theater and two Lakewood churches.

During his final years, Bill lived in the Kirtland House at Warren and Hilliard. The walls of his seventh floor apartment bore numerous plaques he prized, including a Mayor's Award for devoted community service and an Ohio State Senate proclamation for outstanding benefactions.

There was a sign there, too, with a saying that may have been a clue to Bill's longevity. It was the old saw: "Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."

This article by Dan Chabek appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post September 14, 1989. Reprinted with permission.

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