Albert E. "Ab" FitzPHILO: Albert "Ab" E. Fitz, 88, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, December 17, 2016 at his home in Philo.Ab was born on April 1, 1928 in Philo. He is the son of the late Bernard G. and Lena (Bell) Fitz. He retired in 1991 from the Ferro Corporation in Crooksville after 34 years of service. He was a charter member of the Ruritan Club.Ab had a love for God, his family and his community. From a young age he began attending the Philo United Methodist Church, and continued attending his entire life. He served as a Sunday school teacher for 61 years. Ab was one of the Philo Electrics Greatest fans! One of his biggest joys in his life was attending his grandchildren and great-grandchildren's sporting events. He became a Philo supporter in 1937 at the age of 9, when two of his older brothers played on the first Philo football team. He played four years of football and three years of basketball for Philo. He was a charter member of the Philo Athletic Boosters, one of the original organizers of the Philo youth football team and he also coached the youth team for a number of years. He was a coach and league president for the little league baseball and helped to build the baseball diamond at the Harrison Township Park. He was instrumental in helping to put together the "Philo Football History" and he was the coordinator of the Homecoming committee that honored the 1938, 1944, 1950, 1951 and 1953 Philo MVL football champs and well as Roseville's 1949 team. He was honored in 2007 with the Philo Electrics Hall of Fame Award of Merit.He is survived by his wife Jeanne Fitz, whom he married February 5, 1949; his children Alan (Ann) Fitz of Philo; Ruth (Steve) Havens of Mount Perry and Ronnie (Tammy) Fitz of Philo; his grandchildren Chris Sites, Brady Sites, Shannon Sines, Jennifer Sullivan, Jessica Harris, Justin Fitz, Sara Wilson and Ryan Fitz; two step-grandchildren Steve Havens and Jayna Smith; 19 great-grandchildren; his sister Juanita Mattingly of Zanesville, Betty Ann (Alan) Baker of Texas, Bonnie Foley of Florida and Evelyn Moore of Alabama; his brother Jerry Fitz of Duncan Falls.In addition to his parents, Ab is preceded in death by his in-laws Bert and Hazel Oliver and his four brothers Paul "Squealer" Fitz, Don "Grinny" Fitz, Wayne "Lefty" Fitz and Bernard Fitz Jr.Please consider making memorial contributions in Ab's name to the Philo United Methodist Church, Main Street, Philo, OH 43771Friends and family are welcome to attend visitation on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 from 3 to 8 pm at the Farus Funeral Home of Duncan Falls where the funeral will be 11 am Wednesday with Rev. Dee Rader officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Duncan Falls Cemetery.