In memory of Gary Ray Cline, we introduce this memorial scholarship fund to honor his life and legacy in the skilled labor force. Since the fall of 2022, Gary had been suffering from an undiagnosed pain in his neck/back which progressed with no relief from the prescribed treatment methods. After a year of unanswered questions, and with further testing, on September 6th, 2023, Gary was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that metastasized to other areas of his body. On October 2nd, 2023, Gary entered Aultman Hospice & Palliative Care and then on the morning of October 25th, with such strength and courage while surrounded by his loving family, he lost his battle with cancer.
Gary is free from his earthly suffering, but he leaves behind his East Canton High School sweetheart of 49 years, four children who graduated from East Canton High School, and eight grandchildren who wish for his life and legacy to live on! Gary graduated from Timken High School in 1973 from their skilled trade program as a machinist. Shortly thereafter Gary was accepted into a tool & die maker apprenticeship program at the Hoover Company and continued to devote 34 years of his adult life to the Hoover Company before retiring early.
Gary’s career would not have been possible if it were not for his Uncle Robert Worthen, who purchased the necessary tools that allowed him to enter the machine shop program at Timken High School. The Gary Cline family will be using that same generosity and gifting an East Canton High School student each year that has the desire to enter the skilled labor force but might not be able to financially afford the required tools to enter their program with the funds to be able to do so. For Gary Cline, his future could have been written very differently, but with this kind gesture he had an extremely bright and rewarding future and was able to provide for his family.
Gary will forever live on in our memories and within our hearts, and because of him we can help change a student’s course of life.
