Trevor Hostetler remembered for hard work, big heart

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BRENDA HOSTETLER

Trevor Hostetler with his daughter, Megan; wife, Brenda; and son, Ben.

 

DALTON  If those who packed the house at Trevor Hostetler’s memorial service were asked to raise a hand if the Dalton resident had ever helped them with something, “Every hand would have been raised,” longtime friend Lisa Elett shared.

Hostetler was a member of Cornerstone Community Church in Dalton, and as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 922 and an active member of the community, Dalton Presbyterian Church Pastor Sally Fusek considered him a friend, a leader, and a mentor to youth. Fusek recalled Boy Scout Sunday this past spring, and she remembers Hostetler’s strong and powerful handshake.

She remembers the liveliness and pride in the eyes of the Boy Scouts and their leaders that Sunday. She said Hostetler’s name often would come up as a contact or as a worker. The self-employed contractor was “a very strong man, a faithful man,” Fusek said.

When Hostetler died suddenly April 26 of an apparent heart attack after being rushed to the emergency room, the news “tore up the community,” Fusek said.

Hostetler was 54. He was known as a hard-working family man who not only was dedicated to the local Boy Scouts, but he truly was dedicated to his community. He is survived by his wife, Brenda, and children, Megan and Ben.

A month after his passing and around Memorial Day when the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are involved with the annual parade through town and program at the Dalton Cemetery, the sudden loss to his family, friends and the community is still raw and unbelievable, Fusek said earlier this week.

“It’s unbelievable – but Dalton is an unbelievable community too,” Fusek said.

In true generous Dalton fashion, a fund has been set up to help Hostetler’s family.

A post being shared on Facebook states that without life insurance and a limited savings account, an account has been set up to help out his wife, Brenda, and their two children with living expenses and medical bills.

To donate to the Hostetler family, a deposit may be made in person to any Farmers National Bank, or make checks payable to Brenda Hostetler and note “Donation” on memo line and mail to: Farmers National Bank, C/O Tina Ramsier, 12 W Main St., Dalton, OH 44618.

Hostetler was born in Massillon to Terry and Linda Hostetler, who survive him, according to his obituary, and he and Brenda had marked their 20th wedding anniversary this year.

Trevor was a 1986 graduate of Dalton High School.

“Ask anyone from the Class of ’86 and they will have a Trevor story to share,” Lisa Elett said in a text message. She and her husband, Nate, both graduated from Dalton High School with Hostetler. “Trevor started working with scouts when Ben joined and little by little we coaxed him into being more and more involved,” Elett recalled. “As with all things he did, we could always count on him to lend a hand. … He was always there for anyone in need. He loved Brenda and the kids. He was a loyal friend. He was very patriotic. … basically he was a great guy who will be greatly missed.”

Craig and Lisa McGinty shared similar sentiments.

Longtime friends, Lisa said she remembers that he sat behind her in history class. He went through school with both of the McGintys and Craig said he remembers Trevor as being “super ornery in school but was a hard worker and made something of himself.”

“He didn’t cut corners on anything he did,” the McGintys shared in a text message. “He lived in and renovated an old one-room schoolhouse that his grandfather lived in to make his current home. The workmanship inside that house is incredible. He had a mini excavator that he drove in and dug down under the schoolhouse to make the basement. We lived across the street at the time and watched the whole process.

“It never mattered how busy he was,” Craig and Lisa continued, “if you needed help with something he would drop what he was doing and come help you. You couldn’t ask for a better neighbor and friend. We vacationed with him and Brenda at Lake Cumberland on a houseboat and have great memories of him barefoot skiing and lots of laughs.

“We have a memory of Trevor that we will always enjoy and that is the porch on the back of our current house,” the McGintys shared. “He designed it and built it for us and it’s our favorite part of our house.”

At the end of September 2019, Hostetler had a big part in the funeral procession of his great uncle, Sgt. Vernon Judd. The 22-year-old Elton man had died in a prisoner of war camp in 1951 during the Korean War. His remains were identified June 24, 2019, and he was returned home for burial Sept. 24, 2019 at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. The funeral procession came through Dalton on the way to the cemetery and Hostetler and his family and others helped to place 1,300 American flags along 6.2 miles. In a story in Oct. 2, 2019 edition of The Dalton Gazette, Hostetler said he appreciated the outpouring of support shown for his family, for veterans and for POW/MIA awareness. He said both of his children, Megan and Ben, grasped what was going on that day.
“Both of our kids made us proud that day,” he said in the story.