HOWARD - Rodney V. Hayden, 90, of Pigeon Roost Rd. died Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.
He was born April 27, 1922 to Rodney Gilbert and Florence Caroline (Fry) Hayden in Bloomingdale, Michigan.
Rodney graduated from Orrville (Ohio) High School in 1940 and The Ohio State University in 1949.
On June 17th 1944 Rodney married Marie Haxton in Rittman Ohio.
He served in the U. S. Army in the 34th Infantry Division and was stationed in Italy during WW 2. Rodney was awarded the Bronze Star for valor in action. He is a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars.
Mr. Hayden was a former member and elder of the Danville Church of Christ and at present a member of the Mount Vernon Central Church of Christ.
Mr. Hayden operated a dairy farm in Knox County in the 1950s and 1960s. He served on the Amity Local School Board and the Knox County Board of Education.
Following his Army service and OSU graduation he was employed by the U S Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service in several Ohio counties as a Soil Scientist and a Soil Conservationist. His last assignment was as a District Conservationist in Licking County. Following his retirement from the Soil Conservation Service he operated Haydens' Haven Tree Farm with family members.
He is survived by his wife, Marie. A son, James V. (Janet L.) Hayden of Powell. Two granddaughters, Jennie L. (Todd) Woodard of Zanesville and Jammi L. Hayden of Columbus. Two sisters, Thelma Ziegler of Montana and Bernice Croston of Delaware, OH.
He was preceded in death by his son, John E. Hayden, his parents, three sisters, Edith Oldham, Alice Patton, and Mary Dee Glossner, and a brother, Fred Hayden.
Graveside services will be held Friday, July 20, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Millersburg, with Dr. Marshall Hayden, Ken Springer, and Stan Ratliff officiating. Visitation is Friday from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the FISCHER FUNERAL HOME in Danville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Vernon Central Church of Christ 17833 Gambier Rd. Mount Vernon, OH 43050 or the American Cancer Society 555 Frantz Rd. Dublin, OH 43017.
