Marion Loar [1923-2014]; Metamora official was ambassador for village

3/4/2014

METAMORA, Ohio — Marion Loar, 90, whose roles as village mayor, councilman, volunteer fireman, and longtime businessman earned him the honorary title of “ambassador” of Metamora, died Saturday at Swanton Valley Center.

Even after he “officially” retired from government in 1989, he served on various boards and committees for the village, his wife, Harriet Loar, said.

“He was very dedicated to this community,” Mrs. Loar said. “He cared about it.”

Colin McQuade, who served as the city’s attorney during Mr. Loar’s tenure on council and as mayor, agreed.

“He was a great ambassador for Metamora. He was very active, very professional, and very caring,” Mr. McQuade said.

Mr. Loar began as a volunteer fireman for the Metamora Fire Department after he built a home and moved to Swanton Street in 1953, said his son, Gary Loar.

Marion Loar served on village council from 1979-87, when he took over as mayor for two years.

Born May 26, 1923, to Jennie F. (Spurrier) and Ronald D. Loar, Marion Loar was an infant when his family moved to Columbus. When he was 14, the family returned to Metamora to stay.

A 1942 graduate of Metamora High School, he attended Ohio State University for one year before returning home to help the family tend to farming, Gary Loar said.

Marion Loar married Harriet Woodring on Oct. 15, 1944.

In 1947, Marion Loar began working as a mechanic for his father-in-law. In 1960, he took a job at Jim White Chevrolet in Toledo. After the dealership was sold in 1972, Mr. Loar was employed at Weissenberger Chevrolet until it closed in 1982.

In the mid-1980s, Mr. Loar realized a lifelong dream and, along with his son Gary, opened Loar’s Auto Repair, which Gary Loar continues to operate.

“My father was hard-working,” said Gary Loar, who has served as Metamora’s mayor since 1994. “He loved working on cars.”

Mrs. Loar and several of her children spent Monday evening together sharing memories about their father; her husband.

He liked making jewelry out of semi-precious stones and giving it away, his daughter, Luanna Jackson, said.

How would we describe our father to people? Gary Loar and Luanna Jackson asked that question as they sat in the living room among other siblings.

“Grumpy,” Mr. Loar’s children all roared as they burst out laughing.

“He was grumpy because he had six kids,” Mrs. Loar said with a laugh.

Surviving are his wife of 69 years, Harriet; sons, Robert, Ronald, and Gary; daughters, Claudia Tracy, Luanna Jackson, and Melinda DeTroye; sister, Jean Needham; 13 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Weigel Funeral in Metamora, where a Last Alarm Service will be at 7 p.m. Services be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 3450 W. Central Ave., Ste. 230, Toledo, OH 43606.

Contact Federico Martinez at: fmartinez@theblade.com or 419-724-6154.