Rudy Yovich Jr., 56 of St. Clairsville, Ohio, passed away April 14, 2020 at Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling, WV.

Born September 19, 1963 in East Liverpool, Ohio, he is remembered fondly by friends, colleagues, and family as a kind man with a great sense of humor.  All who knew him remember him as a source of encouragement and quick to give a kind word when one was needed.

A proud graduate of Edinboro University, Rudy spent a lifetime closely associated with his passions for athletics and music.  A star baseball player for Lincoln High School in Midland, PA; he was ultimately inducted into the Midland Sports Hall of Fame in July 2019.  While in college his love of playing trumpet in marching bands led him to meet his beloved wife of 30 years, Timera.

While the couple had two children, Rudy proudly stated he was blessed to have thousands of kids from the many fine student-athletes he mentored in a 20-year career serving as athletic director for Owens Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio, Wheeling University, Defiance College, and as associate director/SID for Purdue University Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, IN.

Family lovingly remember him as a man who could find humor in nearly every situation and was at his happiest enjoying anything to do with Hawaii.  A lifelong Pittsburgh sports fan, he spent many happy nights enjoying the Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rudy Yovich Sr., an infant sister, and his father-in-law, Alvin Thomas.

Surviving are his mother, Betty; his wife, Timera Thomas Yovich; son, Nicholas Yovich; and daughter, Lauren Yovich; two sisters, Debra Yovich and Diana Hunter;  his mother-in-law, Kaye Thomas; a brother-in-law, Jodee Thomas; sister-in-law Amy Jo Thomas; and two nieces, Samantha and Chelsea Granito.

The family will hold private services Friday at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville, Ohio, with burial following in Beaver Cemetery, Beaver, PA.  In lieu of flowers, the family is asking any memorial contributions be made to the scholarship program for the Midland Sports Hall of Fame.  Their address is: The Corwin House, 935 Ohio Ave., Midland, PA 15059.