Lloyd W. Putnam

Lloyd W. Putnam, 90, of Tiffin, died Friday, January 4, 2019, at Elmwood at the Shawhan.

He was born on December 7, 1928, in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Forrest and Hazel (Dresselhouse) Putnam.

Survivors include a sister, Marilyn Pries of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and a niece and two nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Thelma, and a twin brother, Leon.

Lloyd graduated from Jackson (Michigan) High School, Jackson Junior College, the University of Michigan, Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, NY, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity, and the University of Chicago Divinity School where he earned a Master's degree in Theology.  He was an ordained American Baptist minister, holding many different positions over the years, including education director for the Office of Religious Affairs at the University of Michigan, assistant dean of the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, associate minister at First Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio, and counselor with the Salvation Army in Rochester, NY.

In 1981 Lloyd's life dramatically changed after he spent six weeks in a coma as a result of a violent mugging.  Against odds he survived and then went through a lengthy recovery process.  While his brain injury would forever be with him, it did not define him.  He would continue to frequently write, churning out letters to the many friends and family he corresponded with and going through countless typewriter ribbons in the process.  His curiosity and compassion could not be constrained.

There will be no visitation, and services will be private.

The family wishes to extend our heartfelt gratitude to those that assisted with his recovery and care over the years, including the staff of the former Genesee Hospital in Rochester, NY, his friends in the Rochester area, the staff of Elmwood at the Shawhan in Tiffin, Ohio, and also the staff of Community Hospice Care of Tiffin.

Memorials may be made to Community Hospice Care of Tiffin.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe Street, Tiffin, Ohio, 419-447-3113.

To offer condolences to the family, go to: www.traunerofuneralhome.com