Skip to content

Melvin “Denny” Hatten, 79

Wooster — Melvin “Denny” Hatten, age 79, passed away, Friday, January 13, 2023, at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster, surrounded by family members after a period of declining health and complications from Alzheimer’s.
He was born on February 10, 1943, in Wadsworth, Ohio, to the late Charles “Harland” and Leeta (Lycan) Hatten, and grew up in Rittman, Ohio graduating from Rittman High School in 1961.
Denny was drafted and served in the United States Army from September of 1966 to August of 1968 starting in New Jersey then onto Colorado then was transferred to Germany for 2 years. He obtained the rank of E5 Sgt.
His working career began delivering newspapers as a young boy in Rittman, then after graduation he began testing milk at Orrville Milk Condensory, he began working at Diebold as a metal finisher in Wooster until he was drafted, and returned to Diebold after his return from the service. He later delivered Akron Beacon Journal newspapers while managing Stop N Go in Orrville then moved to Convenient Food Mart in Wooster until he began cleaning tile floors which led into starting his cleaning company Denny’s Cleaning Service in 1971. He quickly grew the business into janitorial, tile floor cleaning and later carpet and upholstery cleaning which later focused solely on the carpet and upholstery. With the purchase of Buehler’s Dyna-Kleen in 1984 and merged the two businesses to be renamed Denny’s Dyna-Kleen which will continue to serve the community with his son Mark continuing to operate the company.
Denny married Mallery Davis on June 30, 1998. During their 24 year marriage, they enjoyed their honeymoon and 10 year anniversary at Walt Disney World and also many cruises with their special group of travel friends and several other short trips.
He and his brother Terry inherited the family farm in West Virginia, where he enjoyed riding four wheelers, but it always seemed like he would find peace ansd some alone time with a shovel and a rake cleaning leaves out of ditches to keep the trails from washing out. He especially loved spending time moving dirt and rocks with his backhoe, where he could always covers up his mistakes with another scoop of dirt if need be, which was usually often.
In addition to Mallery, he is survived by, son, Mark Hatten of Wooster; daughter, Tami (Raymond Max) Wohlford of Orrville; grandchildren, Mitchell Hatten, Tyler (Elizabeth) Wohlford, Mckenzie Wohlford, Dean Wilson, and Dylan Wilson; a great-granddaughter; brother Terry ( Barbara) Hatten; sister-in-laws, Melissa Davis and Debra Davis; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by both parents; brother, Raymond Hatten; and nephew, Don Hatten.
Friends may call on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Auble Funeral Home, 512 East Oak Street, Orrville, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, at Auble Funeral Home, with Pastor Randy Moomaw officiating. Burial will take place at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, where military rites will be observed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd. Wooster, OH 44691, www.lifecarehospice.org
Auble Funeral Home in Orrville is handling the arrangements. Online registry and expressions of condolence may be made at www.aublefuneralhome.com.

Leave a Comment