Charles Ohmer

OHMERCharles Thomas, devoted husband and proud father of seven, died on January 1, 2013. He was born in Cincinnati on November 15, 1928 and grew up with the support and care of two loving parents, Mary Cecilia McTernin and Paul Pius Ohmer, his older brother Paul, and his sister Mary Frances, who survives him. Dad was educated in Catholic schools and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Economics in 1950. Dad and his family are proud of his 37 years of service at General Electric's Evendale plant. From his first position in 1951 as an employment specialist who interviewed and placed job candidates, Dad applied his passion for employee relations as a supervisor of education and training, an investigator of employee grievances, and in contracts administration. In 1963 Dad was appointed Manager of Union Relations for all Evendale Departments and one year later, he advanced to Manager of Hourly Employee Relations, where his responsibilities included representing all Evendale departments in the negotiation of union contracts. During his employment Dad was praised as a "seasoned and mature negotiator," "an innovative problem solver," and for his "tolerance for ambiguity and stress": qualities that his family can also confirm. From August 1967 to July 1970, Dad served as Manager of Employee and Community Relations at General Electric's new facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. earning commendation for developing strong ties with Mayor Pete Domenici and for overseeing the only plant in the entire company that did not strike during the 1969 contract negotiations. Dad and his family became good friends with the head of the facility, George Spatta, who lived down the street and welcomed us into his home often. Dad grew to love the culture and landscape of the southwest and encouraged his children to appreciate it by taking them on Sunday afternoon trips to the Sandia mountains, the volcanos, Old Town, and to Native American pueblos. His home office in retirement was decorated with objects featuring the New Mexico state bird, the roadrunner. Dad continued at General Electric until his retirement in 1988, becoming manager of employee relations for the Evendale plant and then developing and managing its health care programs. From 1984 through 1987 he also served as president of the Greater Cincinnati Health Care Coalition. In his retirement Dad contributed his expertise as a negotiator and mediator to various community organizations and enjoyed working with others to resolve complex issues. From February 1952 to July 1953, Dad served as an infantry officer in the G2 Air Section of the 8th U.S. Army in Korea. He was proud of his service and pleased to receive a reserve commission, officer grade, at the rank of Captain in 1956. Though he enjoyed his accomplishments at work, Dad's greatest joy was his family. He married Roberta Rector on February 13, 1954 and together they celebrated nearly 59 years of marriage. Their marriage was blessed by seven children, a daughter and six sons: Susan Catherine, Charles Thomas, Jr., David Paul, John Stephen, Michael Gregory, Mark Robert and Richard James. In the years since their marriage their family has been given the gift of five grandchildren: Julia, Evan, Price, Lexi and Rylan, and also two great grandchildren, Reese and Ryan. Mother and Dad have also welcomed into their family and into their hearts their daughter-in-law Lisa Nekic and son-in-law Donald Crafton and Don and Susan's children Andrew and Elise and grandchildren Alexandria, Declan and Gabriella. Mother and Dad's children and grandchildren have been able to look to their parents as a model of devotion and commitment throughout their lives. We will miss him very much. Visitation at Vorhis & Ryan Funeral Home, 11365 Springfield Pike, Springdale, OH on Saturday, January 5, 2012 from 10:00 AM until time of service at 11:00 AM.