Francis Louis Sulsberger

1921 - 2008  (87 years)

• Name	Francis Louis Sulsberger
  Nickname	Tinker, Tink
  Born	14 Jan 1921	Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	2 Dec 2008	Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, USA
  Buried	6 Dec 2008	Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, USA   [1]
  Person ID	I84343	Suedpfalz
  Last Modified	2 Aug 2014

  
  

  Father	Francis Louis Sulsberger,   b. 19 Jan 1874, Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, USA ,   d. 3 May 1960, Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio, USA  (Age 86 years)
  Mother	Ethel Riemenschneider,   b. 25 Feb 1885, Belmont County, Ohio, USA ,   d. 27 Dec 1964, Barnesville Hospital, Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio, USA  (Age 79 years)
  Married	28 Nov 1907	Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio, USA   [2]
  Family ID	F38005	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Helen Rosalie Lynn,   b. 5 Sep 1924, Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio, USA ,   d. 14 Jul 2010, Monroe County Care Center, Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, USA  (Age 85 years)
  Married	Abt 1942
  Children	1. Susan Sulsberger   2. Margie Sulsberger   3. Thomas Sulsberger   4. Richard Sulsberger
  Last Modified	1 May 2018
  Family ID	F38006	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  F.L. "Tinker" Sulsberger, 87, who was known as the "kid sheriff" when first elected in 1948 and later became the dean of Ohio sheriffs, died Tuesday in the Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The Monroe County native acquired the nickname of kid sheriff after his election at the age of 27 when he was believed to be the youngest sheriff in the nation. He retired after approximately 38 years of service and was the dean of Ohio sheriffs at that time. The sheriff who came closest to that record at that time had served for seven terms or 28 years. Sulsberger's youth when elected and his long tenure aren't the only things notable during his service. He had an enviable record in solving murders and bank robberies. In addition, he introduced the idea of stickers identifying the vehicle owner's home county in 1980, and it was signed into law by the governor two years later. He favored the stickers as an aid to law enforcement, particularly in rural counties. Except for portions of two terms, he served as sheriff from his election in the late 1940s until his "second" retirement. He completed terms begun by Homer Antill and Robert Wilson. Sulsberger retired at the end of 1984 and then came out of retirement in 1987 when Wilson resigned because of other employment. It isn't unusual for sheriffs to handle life-and-death situations, but one rescue was vitally important to him personally. The incident occurred during his retirement when a two-car accident occurred, and his wife, Rosalie, was pinned in a blazing car. Sulsberger broke the window on the left side of his wife's car and pulled her from the vehicle. The accident occurred near their home at Tinker's Dam between Malaga and Miltonsburg. Despite confrontations with murderers and other criminals, he only carried a gun a couple of times while on duty. He once said, "I think at times if I had a gun, I probably would have shot somebody. I can talk my way out of it. You can do it if you make up your mind." Among his honors was his selection by the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association as the "Outstanding Sheriff of the Year" in Ohio. That was the year that Sulsberger during a 24-hour period arrested three persons wanted for murder, two for killing the Adams County sheriff and the other for a murder in Monroe County. In 1989, he and Tim Price, who now is sheriff but was chief deputy at that time, arrested two persons in connection with a marijuana haul considered by state officials to be the largest in Ohio that year. Sulsberger wasn't the first member of his family to serve as Monroe County sheriff as his grandfather, Louis, a Civil War veteran, served two terms, and an uncle served as sheriff in the 1930s. One of his four children, Margie Ann Hannahs, now is a deputy in the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

  
  

• Sources

  [S927] Obituary. Francis L. ?Tinker? Sulsberger Jr., age 87 of Woodsfield, Ohio died peacefully while surrounded by family and friends Tuesday December 2, 2008 at the Woodsfield Nursing and Rehab. Center. He was born in Woodsfield January 14, 1921 the son of the late Francis and Ethel (Riemenschneider) Sulsberger. Tinker was a graduate of Woodsfield High School, and member of St. Paul?s United Church of Christ Woodsfield. He was also Army veteran of World War II serving in the Persian Gulf. Tinker and his family returned to Woodsfield in 1947. He ran for Sheriff of Monroe County and when elected was the youngest Sheriff ever to serve in the State of Ohio. He served a total of 40 years as Sheriff until his retirement in 1993. He was active in many civic organizations. Preceded in death by 4 sisters: Kathryn, Margie, Vivian and Janet. 2 brothers: Walter and Carroll. He is survived by his wife: Helen Rosalie (Lynn) Sulsberger of Woodsfield, 2 daughters: Susan (Mike) Murray ? Grove City, Ohio, Margie Hannahs ? Barnesville, Ohio, 2 sons: Tom (Jane) Sulsberger ? Cambridge, Ohio, Dick (Karen) Sulsberger ? Woodsfield, Ohio, 7 grandchildren: Mike (Grace) Strahl, Louie Hannahs, Justin Sulsberger, Megan Sulsberger, Abby (Bill) Roen, Ryan Sulsberger and Louie Sulsberger. 1 great grandson: Donovan Roen. Friends and family will be received from 11 a.m. until time of Memorial Service at 3 p.m. Saturday December 6, 2008 at St. Paul?s United Church of Christ, 303 S. Main St., Woodsfield, Ohio with Rev. Frank Lehosky officiating. Arrangements by Bauer-Turner Funeral Home 100 S. Paul St. Woodsfield, Ohio. Condolences can be expressed online at www.bauerturner.com. Memorial contributions may be made to: Tink and Rosie Sulsberger Law Enforcement Scholarship Fund, c/o WesBanco Bank, 101 N. Sycamore Street, Woodsfield, Ohio 43793 [S8] Information from an informant - Auskunft eines Informanten - Information d'un informateur. Proposed Change: Francis Louis Sulsberger (I84342)Tree: Südpfalz / Southern PalatinateLink: http://www.birkenhoerdt.net/getperson.php?personID=I84342&tree=SuedpfalzDescription: Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958Search collectionGroom's Name: Francis L. SulsbergerGroom's Birthplace: Woodsfield, OhioBride's Name: Ethel ReimenschneiderBride's Birth Date: 1885Bride's Birthplace: Jerusalem, OhioBride's Age: 22Marriage Date: 28 Nov 1907Marriage Place: Barnesville, Belmont County, OhioGroom's Father's Name: Louis SulsbergerGroom's Mother's Name: Lena RicerBride's Father's Name: Casper ReimenschneiderBride's Mother's Name: Bertha ArmstrongGroom's Marital Status: SingleBride's Marital Status: SingleIndexing Project (Batch) Number: M00052-5System Origin: Ohio-VRSource Film Number: 0902151Reference Number: 2:3S2XB0J. claire rassman