Donor Legacies for Stark County

Anna K. Turnbull's 1991 will left the majority of her estate to the Foundation. Upon her death at age 101, she perpetuated her many contributions to our community by creating this permanent memorial fund on behalf of herself and her husband Calvin, whose death in an auto collision had occurred 40 years earlier. A lifelong resident of Canton, she lived alone to age 100 among helpful, caring neighbors. An active, award-winning gardener, she had also been involved in the Democratic Women's Club, which hosted a party celebrating her 100th birthday in 1996.

Philanthropist Richard O. Parker created this charitable trust as a memorial to his father and mother. Memorial gifts from other donors to the Foundation in honor of Clarence J. Parker were added to the fund in 1969. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were lifelong Canton residents and active community volunteers.

The Danner family established a private charitable foundation in 1948. In 1976, the trustees of The Danner Foundation decided to transfer all of their assets to Stark Community Foundation as an undesignated fund.

This tribute fund was created by a committee of local citizens to honor Dr. Parkinson for many years of service to his church and to his community as senior pastor at Christ United Presbyterian Church. During his life, Dr. Parkinson, as advisor to the fund, was instrumental in making grants to many local social service and cultural organizations. Both Dr. Parkinson and his wife Hazel died in 1991, and the fund became part of the General Purpose Endowment of Stark Community Foundation.

A man of legendary accomplishment, Edward Langenbach held his first job with a bank in the 1880's. The salary: $50 a year. In 1926, when he retired as senior executive of a massive industrial complex that included The Berger Manufacturing Company and Central Alloy Steel Co., the annual payroll of the companies whose development he had directed was $15,000,000. Throughout his business career, Mr. Langenbach's entrepreneurial capabilities were matched by his humanitarian spirit. In 1932, two years before his death, Mr. Langenbach established a large, general-purpose charitable trust. Its mission was to serve the community with a broad range of charitable activities. When the concept of a community foundation became a reality in 1963, the advisors of the Edward A. Langenbach Charitable Trust, with the concurrence of the Stark County Probate Court, transferred the assets of the trust to Stark Community Foundation. This fund, then amounting to about $2,150,000, represents one of the cornerstones of this Foundation, and it has served to perpetuate the philanthropic motivation Mr. Langenbach demonstrated throughout his life.

Edward Wilkof and his brother Ervin founded the Turner Quick-Lift Corporation in Canton. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkof established their General Purpose Fund in Stark Community Foundation to aid in addressing varied community needs. Ruth Wilkof died in 1991. Edward Wilkof is retired but continues an active charitable interest in the Stark County area.

At Mrs. Sigler's death in 2000, the fund received the proceeds of her charitable remainder trust. This fund was established primarily for placement of pilot dogs with blind and/or physically-handicapped individuals who are residents of Stark County. The remainder of income is to benefit purposes determined by the Trustees of the Foundation.

Along with his brother Edward, Ervin Wilkof co-founded Turner Quick-Lift Corporation. In 1990, Mr. and Mrs. Wilkof established this General Purpose Fund to support a variety of causes in Stark County. Ervin Wilkof died in 2004. Marie Wilkof has a strong interest in the local arts organizations and continues to be active in the philanthropic community.

This fund was established by the donor in her will to benefit the charitable purposes of Stark Community Foundation through the undesignated funds. Mrs. Snyder was active in various civic organizations such as United Way, Canton YWCA and Church Women United.