Our Family Tree
Learn about the generous donors who have established charitable funds through Stark Community Foundation.
The Vincent E. and Ruth M. Skelley Memorial Fund was established to honor the Skelleys' impact on youth development through sports and mentorship, annually supporting the Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
Vincent E. and Ruth M. Skelley Memorial Fund
Est. 2017 / Designated Fund
In memory of Vince and Ruth Skelley, a charitable fund was established to honor their lasting impact on young people in Stark County in the years following World War II. Both were deeply committed to youth development through sports and mentorship. Vince helped expand Little League baseball into Plain Township and later coached his daughter’s softball team, while Ruth built one of the area’s largest and most imaginative Cub Scout programs. They were also avid bowlers who started bowling leagues at their church. Their passion for athletics ran deep—Ruth was a standout athlete at McKinley High School, and Vince came from a family deeply rooted in local sports history, with both he and his father inducted into the baseball division of the Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. The Skelley family's legacy continued through their children, with two sons also earning Hall of Fame recognition in billiards (Thomas Skelley) and bowling (David Skelley).
That shared love of sports lives on through their charitable fund, which annually supports the Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. Grants help preserve a cherished piece of local heritage, celebrating local athletes and showcasing their stories through exhibits and artifacts housed in the historic Renkert-Belden home. Through this ongoing support, the Skelleys' passion for sports encourages future generations to honor the role sports play in building character, connection and community pride.