Fred Ora Girton founded the Girton Funeral Home in 1906. The business operated from several locations, including the Gale building on the Northwest corner of Main and Barron Streets, from 1906 to 1918, and the Gans Building on East Main Street from 1923 to 1925. Ora was married to Mabel (Dillman) and they had one daughter Helen. The present home at 226 West Main Street was constructed in 1940. From 1938 until construction was completed, funerals were held in the Girton residence at 224 West Main Street. Ora Girton passed away on November 11, 1954 at the age of 75 and Mabel passed away on December 3, 1959 at the age of 79.
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About Us
Our History
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
When we sit down with a family, we have just one goal: to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.
Together, we'll design a memorial or funeral service that suits their needs now, and in the future. Families who come to us know that years from now, they will have deep peace-of-mind because in coming to us, they've done their best to honor their loved on
Girton Schmidt & Boucher Gard Funeral Home
In 1955, Girton’s son-in-law, Virgil W. Schmidt, became affiliated with the firm. He and his wife Helen were named the owners and the funeral home became known as the Girton-Schmidt Memorial Home. They often worked together, Virgil conducting funerals while Helen played the organ. They had five children, Jahn, Jerry, Mary Jane, Keith and Suzanne. The current funeral chapel was added onto the existing building by Virgil and Helen in 1977. Virgil passed away on June 1, 1989 at the age of 74 and Helen passed away on December 6, 2004 at the age of 85. Many people, even to this day, have expressed how compassionate and caring Helen and Virgil always were during their tenure as owners of the funeral home.
On January 1, 1983, Donald E. and Rebecca A. Boucher moved to Eaton from North Baltimore, OH and purchased the funeral home. In 1986, the Boucher’s purchased lots 110 and 111 adjacent to the east of the funeral home. The next year they constructed a parking lot and landscaped both of those lots. Don and Becky have two children Denise (Mike) Sanders and Bethany (Craig) Hewitt and seven grandchildren, all who still reside in Eaton, OH. To say the least, Don and Becky always put the families they served first. Each and every family was given the utmost care and respect.
For many years the business operated a second location in West Manchester, OH. In 1958 Vernon Michael purchased what had been a local school building and remodeled the main floor becoming the Michael Funeral Home. In 1979, after Michael’s death, Virgil W. Schmidt bought the building and opened the Girton-Schmidt Michael Chapel. In January of 1983, the Bouchers purchased the Schmidt business and maintained the West Manchester facility as the Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Michael Chapel. In 2000, the Bouchers closed this facility and all business was moved to the Eaton location.
In July of 2004, Ron R. Gard joined the Bouchers as a full-time licensed embalmer and funeral director. Ron, his wife Angie and three sons, Seth, Nathan and Bradley moved to Eaton from Cincinnati, OH. In February 2007, Ron and Angie Gard purchased the business from the Bouchers and continue to operate the funeral home in the same dignified and caring way that all former owners had previously done.
Lindloff-Zimmerman
Over one hundred years of service, one family and five generations of caring individuals.
Zimmerman Funeral Home was originally founded in Gratis, Ohio by Lurton Zimmerman and his wife, Lizzie in 1892. The funeral home was and still is located at 113 Ada Doty Street in Gratis. Lurten and Lizzie had four sons, Lysle, Oleson, Leonard and Robert Zimmerman. The funeral home soon became Zimmerman and Son Funeral Home as Lysle and his wife, Irene became involved in the funeral business.
Lysle and years later, Oleson and Robert Zimmerman, all became funeral directors and embalmers and the name was changed again to Zimmerman and Sons. Lysle and Irene opened a funeral home at 41 W. Dayton St. West Alexandria where he did embalming and offered a casket showroom. It was the first funeral home in Preble County, Ohio where embalming and funerals were held at the funeral home instead of the residence of the deceased. In 1930 they moved the funeral establishment to 67 W. Dayton St., which is the main location today.
Lysle and Irene had 3 children, Kathryn, James and Philip. Although, neither James and Philip joined their father in the family business, Kathryn married Eugene "Cincy" Lindloff in 1944 and after serving in the Marines during WWII, he became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Kathryn, although not licensed, helped him in the family business. Cincy worked side by side with Lysle and later Robert. Kathryn and Cincy had three sons, Lysle, David and Mark Lindloff. Lysle Zimmerman died in 1968 and the two funeral homes were operated by Cincy Lindloff and Robert Zimmerman. After the death of Robert Zimmerman in 1972, Lysle Lindloff, who had just graduated from Miami University, decided to join the family business and started attended Cincinnati Mortuary School, graduating in 1974. Lysle later earned his MBA degree from the University of Dayton. His brother, David Lindloff, after serving in the Marine Corps, attended the Cincinnati Mortuary School and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer also.
Mark and David have both chosen different career paths, but to this day, David still helps part-time in the business. Lysle and Jo Ellen Lindloff, married in 1969 and have three children, Paula, Bryan and Brad. After the sudden death of Cincy in 1984 Lysle and Jo Ellen decided to buy the funeral home business from his mother, Kathryn. Jo Ellen then attended college graduating with an Associate degree. She served her apprenticeship as funeral director, and then joined her husband in the funeral business. Jo Ellen thus became the first full time female funeral director in Preble County. Our daughter, Paula Lindloff Bassler, graduated from Wright State University and decided to join the family business and became a licensed funeral director in 2002. She also serves as Vice President and Administrative Assistant. She is married to Dan Bassler and they have four children, Jacob, Ryan, Allison and Noelle. Bryan and his wife, Alicia have three children, Bryson, Ansley and Braxton. Brad and his wife, Meghan (Adsit) live in Covington, KY, as do Bryan and Alicia. Bryan and Brad serve as officers in the corporation.