Ernest Ishmael Hay

Ernest (Ernie) Ishmael Hay, of Lancaster, Ohio, went to his eternal home on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the age of 93.

Ernie grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, which fostered his love of family, nature, and downhome cooking. When he was twenty, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in the Korean War. After escaping death by both a munitions train explosion in Korea and a volcanic eruption in Japan, he returned home to meet the love of his life, Wanda Cordle, and married her four months later. After moving to Ohio, Ernie worked in small electronics repair, eventually retiring from Lazarus, though he was able to keep his employee discount, which Wanda loved. Ernie kept a large garden, growing many vegetables and was known for his enormous cabbages which could barely fit on your lap. He hobby farmed peanuts and honey bees, and occasionally enjoyed making a little wine from his grape arbor. Ernie was a regular at Bob Evans for breakfast on Sunday mornings, and was known to the staff as “Grandpa”. He loved them because they never let his coffee cup run dry. When he was 75, Ernie was baptized into the Catholic Church at St. John the XXIII in Canal Winchester, where he loved attending Mass, ushering, and visiting with friends in The Platinum Club. After Wanda passed away, he returned to his love of walking the hills, usually at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.

Ernie was preceded in death by parents Ervin and Mausia (Kelly) Hay, his loving wife Wanda, brothers Elza, Darrel, Evan, Earl, and Delmar, and grandson-in-law Paul Sparks. He is survived by his children Tina (Gary) Stammler, and Ernie Hay; grandchildren Amanda (Joe) Dunlevy, Sarah (Jonny) Swies, Samantha Sparks; chosen family members Michael Taylor, and Jessica and Thomas Bethel; great grandchildren Taizsha, Tiona, Michael, Malachi, Parker, Aiden, Maggie, Macayne, Myla, Ellie, and Eloise; as well as by his sister, Loena Hay of Kentucky, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Family and friends may visit on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at Dwayne R. Spence Funeral Home in Canal Winchester. Funeral on Wednesday, April 24, 2025 at 10:00 am at St. John XXIII Catholic Church.