Harold Eugene Zeller

He is survived by two daughters, Susan Zeller Dunn (Rick) and Sonya Richardson (David), and one son Jason Zeller (Julie). He also leaves behind his beloved sister Marilyn Sarna (Joe) and seven grandchildren, whom he loved deeply: Michael Dunn (Julia), Nick Richardson (Ashley), Megan Jordan (Joshua), Heather Ross (Tyler), Blake Zeller, Katie Zeller, and Melanie Zeller, as well as 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by the love of his life Carol Hamilton Zeller.

Harold was born on January 26, 1937 to Harry and Eva Zeller in Leipsic, Ohio where he grew up with his family on a farm. He earned the high achievement of Eagle Scout as a young man and excelled in his classes. Harold was a well-rounded athlete who played basketball, baseball, football, and ran track. He graduated in 1955 from Leipsic High School and went on to play basketball for Bluffton College his first year. While attending college, he took a part-time job selling life insurance policies for Modern Woodmen of America. This became the first step in a successful career that spanned more than sixty years. He continued to work up until a few weeks before his death. He loved building relationships with the people he met and forming lifelong friendships. Modern Woodmen soon became a second family to him.

Harold loved reading, movies, and music. He was an avid sports fan and faithfully followed his favorite teams; the Reds, the Bengals, and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He also loved to travel, having visited 49 out of 50 states as well as many countries. He especially liked going to the Hawaiian Islands or to Estes Park in Colorado. He was a long standing member of the Sugar Valley Country Club where he enjoyed playing golf with friends.

Though he accomplished so much in his 86 years of life, Harold’s greatest accomplishment and love was his family. He took his children and grandchildren on countless trips, attended sporting events and competitions for his grandchildren as their biggest fan, and always spent holidays surrounded by those he loved. He taught them how important it was to travel, work hard, never stop learning, and follow their dreams. Harold was so proud of each and every child, grandchild, and great grandchild.

Visitation will be from 11-2, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 on May 6th at Tobias Funeral Home on Far Hills Avenue in Centerville. Burial will follow in David’s Cemetery. We welcome friends and family to join us at the Sugar Valley Golf Club after the burial from 4-6 to celebrate Harold’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave, Dayton Ohio 45420 https://www.hospiceofdayton.org/donations/

Condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com