Philips Display foreman served on school boards

6/15/2005

CAIRO, Ohio - Kenneth R. Sandy, 76, who helped establish the Apollo Career Center, a vocational school near Lima, Ohio, and served on several school boards, died of cancer on Sunday in Lima Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Sandy was a production foreman for many years at the former LG Philips Display in Ottawa, Ohio.

"I think Dad viewed life in its simplicity," a son, Dr. J. Stephen Sandy, said. "He worked his way up from a common laborer to general foreman."

Mr. Sandy valued education for the practical knowledge and technical skills it offered to students, his son said.

"He enjoyed the supervising role in management," he said. "He was pretty gifted at being straightforward and had a commonsense approach to dealing with people and handling production."

He retired in the late 1980s.

For many years, Mr. Sandy was a member of the Apollo school board. The district was formed in 1972 and was originally known as the Neil Armstrong Joint Vocational School District. The district includes all of Allen County.

He remained on the board until about six months ago, stepping down because of ill health, his son said.

For a briefer period, Mr. Sandy was a member of the Bath school board and Allen County Educational Service Center board.

Mr. Sandy was a member of Lima Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, the former Ruby A. VanDemark, whom he married in 1948; sons, Dr. J. Stephen, Robert, James, and Thomas; daughters, Cathy Lugo and Diane Meffley; brothers, Edward and Glen; sisters, Julia Lugenbill and Jeannette Wood; 18 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow in Lima Baptist Temple. The body is in the Hartman Sons Funeral Home, Columbus Grove.

The family suggests tributes to the Equestrian Therapy Program in Cridersville, Ohio, or a charity of the donor's choice.