Hilbert J. Meyer

Hilbert J. Meyer, 92, of Piketon, died at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2012 in Bristol Village Health Center, Waverly. He was born in Spring Lick, KY on August 26, 1920, son of Maud (Whitworth). Hilbert was very active in the seed corn business starting at Park Seed Farm in Urbana, OH which was located in Champaign County. From his travels through the years of selling the Parks Corn, he learned how to produce various seeds for different farming. He traveled all over the Midwest selling Parks Seed Corn and was instrumental in the developing of the “Silver-Gold” brand of sweet corn. After leaving Park Seed Farm in the late 60s, he started his own seed business in Greenfield, Ohio called “Kenworthy Seed Company.” He and his wife, Margery, owned and operated several farms and grew their own seed of which they would sell through Kenworthy. Hilbert was very successful in this field in learning the cross-breeding traits of the seed corn industry which is quite a complicated field of science. Hilbert was very proud of his achievements and would often remind us that he was able to accomplish this even though he had no high school to attend when he was growing up. Hilbert’s hobbies included mushroom hunting, fishing, gardening and riding his 4-wheeler with his most beloved dogs. He held a very special place in his heart for his family and friends from Troy and Dayton, Ohio in which he has played cards with and hunted with for the past 60 years. For the past 50 years, Dad has made many friends in his community and a special thank you to all of his neighbors who help him in these past few years of his illness. Survivors include his daughters, Carolyn Meyer Straley of St. Petersburg, FL, Linda Meyer Morse of Urbana, Diana Meyer (George) Mastovich of Valencia, PA and M. Lisette Meyer of San Francisco, CA, step children, Cinda (Gay) Whaley, FL, Duke Meyer of Bellefontaine and Carolyn (Jay) Wolfe of Springfield, grandchildren, Kimberly Straley, Michele Metzger, David (Kris) Metzger, Nichole (Susan) Metzger and Samuel (Kerry) Mastovich, step grandchildren, MSTR. SGT. Gregory Whaley, Bryann Dixon, Autumn Dixon and Brian Dixon, several great-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, former wives Helen Meyer, Christine Meyer, and his wife of 33 years, Margery Meyer, brothers, Hugh Meyer, Lewis Meyer and Sam Meyer, sisters, Beulah Bryant and Myrtle Durben, and step children, Charles Dixon and Curtis Dixon. Family will receive friends from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, December 8, 2012 in the Walter and Smith Funeral Home, 642 S. Main St., Urbana. There will be no service. The family would also like to thank the doctors and staff at Piketon Community Hospital and Bristol Village Nursing Facility for their help in making Dad comfortable during these past few months. Condolences may be expressed to Hilbert’s family at www.walterfunerals.com.