Galen Monroe Oakes, Sr.

Galen Monroe Oakes, Sr., 92, of Jackson Twp. passed away peacefully in his sleep July 18, 2022. He was born on March 14, 1930, in Ramona, Kansas to the late Hazel (Eshelman) and Jasper (Monroe) Oakes. Galen graduated from Messiah Academy (Grantham, PA) in 1948 and attended Upland College (Upland, CA) and Mount Union College (Alliance, OH). Galen owned and operated Oakes Construction and Oakes Land and Excavating. He has built high-quality custom homes, churches, shopping centers, and commercial buildings throughout Ohio and beyond since 1957. He was a devout Christian and a very involved member of Amherst Community Church. He served on the board at Upland College, and had a lifelong commitment to the mission of Messiah University where he served on the board for 44 years. He and his late wife, Beulah, were members of Brookside Country Club for many years. His hobbies included hunting, farming, traveling, and woodworking. He enjoyed attending Cleveland Browns games as well as his children and grandchildren’s sporting events. Spending time with his family and loved ones was his greatest delight. Galen’s legacy will live on as an extremely generous, compassionate, and influential man who earned a good name through a lifetime of service to his family and community. Galen is survived by his wife, Kathy A. (May) Oakes, whom he married on August 10, 2014; his children, Garry L. Oakes of Ft. Myers, FL., Larry W. Oakes of Vero Beach, FL., Yvonne (Daniel) Fleishour of Canal Fulton, Lynette (Kevin) Fulmer of Malvern, and Galen M. (Malinda) Oakes, II of Jackson Twp., step-daughter Clarissa (Mark) Constable; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren, 1 step-granddaughter; and his sister Ila (Merle) Brubaker. He is preceded in death by his mother and father Hazel and Monroe Oakes, his wife of 63 years Beulah L. Oakes whom he married March 31, 1950, son Vernon M. Oakes, grandchildren Jesse P. Fleishour and Courtney J. (Oakes) Harding, and brother Vernon P. Oakes. Family and friends will gather at Amherst Community Church, 8650 Beatty St. NW, Massillon, on Saturday, July 30. Calling hours are 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.; Celebration of Life service at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Galen M. Oakes, II and Rev. Calvin Hamblin, Jr. officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Amherst Community Church.