Harold Eugene Ringer Jr

Harold Eugene “Gene” Ringer Jr. of Canton passed away Saturday February 15, 2025, at 87 years of age. He was born on February 17, 1937, in Hartville, Ohio, to the late Harold E. and Bertha (Weisel) Ringer. Gene graduated from Hartville High School in 1955, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. Upon graduation, Gene attended Washington and Jefferson College, where he was in the ROTC program. He later transferred to the University of Mount Union. Gene had a variety of careers from being a pharmaceutical salesman, to manager for a national commercial battery company, his own auctioneer business, and milk hauler before he found his true passion for driving and eventually owning his own commercial trucking business. Gene owned and operated Ringer Pool Water whose tank trucks serviced northeast Ohio for many years, and also had semi-tractor trailers that hauled many products, such as Hoover sweepers, rubber bands, kids toys, Anheuser Busch beer, and potato chips to any state east of the Mississippi. Gene expanded his business by forming RenaVan Rentals, a mobile storage rental business that rented semi-truck trailers and shipping containers to many different manufacturing and retail companies with over 300 units in his fleet. 

In his younger years, Gene enjoyed hunting and fishing at his cabin at Leesville Lake, shooting clay pigeons, refereeing basketball games, and playing in a men’s volleyball league. Upon retirement, he began traveling the United States with his wife of 30 years, Judy (Oswald-Boltres), singing in the Canton Men’s Chorus, having breakfast with his buddies, spending time with family, attending Ohio Light Opera performances at the College of Wooster, cheering on his grandchildren at sporting events, school performances and teaching them how to drive. Gene was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. He loved his family unconditionally – they were his pride and joy.

Gene is survived by his wife, Judy Ringer, of Canton; brother William (Candance) Ringer, sister Carol (Sis) Ringer, and sister-in-law Cynthia Ringer (Larry) all of Hartville; the mother of his children, Carol Ringer of Sebring; his children Charles (Diane) Ringer of Canton, John (Sue) Ringer of North Canton, Kathleen Ringer of Malvern, and Daniel (fiancé Ashley) Ringer of Akron; his three step-sons Scott Boltres of Johnstown, Jan Boltres of St. Petersburg, FL, Patrick Boltres of Arvada, CO, and Mark (Autumn) Boltres of Canton; his grandchildren Jack (Hannah) Ringer, Rosemary Ringer, Jacqlynn Ringer, Alex Ringer, Casey Ringer, Grace Maley (fiancé Tommy Gliatta), Cole (Abby) Maley, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Harold E. and Bertha Ringer, his brother Larry Ringer, his granddaughter Jerrilynn Ringer, and his step-daughter-in-law Tracie Boltres.

Gene was a strong-willed but warm-hearted gentle giant who could sell anything and had a story or a joke to make everyone smile. He will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. 

The family will be holding a private ceremony and a celebration of his life. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice. Condolences and special memories of Gene can be shared with his family online at www.heritagecremationsociety.com