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His greatest pride was never in what he had accomplished, but in the people he loved.

Lowell "Red" Raymond Gilham, 89, formerly of Cadiz and most recently of Gnadenhutten, passed away on July 16, 2026, following a rapid decline in health.

Red was born on July 30, 1936, the fourth of five children born to the late Harold "Shorty" and Anna Mae (Truex) Gilham. His childhood was spent moving among the small river towns of eastern Ohio as his family followed work wherever it could be found. His father labored on the river and in the coal mines, and Red attended a patchwork of one-room schools and small-town classrooms along the way.

Life was not easy in those years, and Red learned the value of hard work early. As a boy, he delivered newspapers, and that strong work ethic stayed with him throughout his life. Over the years, he worked on the railroads, at TRW, Scio Pottery, and Consol Energy. He also pursued ventures of his own, including operating a bar, running a whitewashing business, and farming. His working years came to an end in 1974 after a serious coal-mining injury, but the determination and resilience that defined him never left.

On July 6, 1957, Red married the love of his life, Nancy Lee Bell. Together they built a life rooted in family, spending 52 wonderful years side by side until Nancy's passing in 2009. Whether they were raising children, spoiling grandchildren, traveling, fishing, or trying their luck at a casino, they seemed happiest when they were together.

To know Red was to know someone who truly loved the outdoors. He could often be found fishing at a favorite spot, walking through the woods hunting, tending to his garden, or just out for an adventure to see what he could find. He delighted in introducing a grandchild to the wonders hidden in nature, whether it was how to catch a bluegill, identify sassafras, or find the perfect patch of morels. Some of his grandchildren's fondest memories were made alongside him in the woods and at the lake.

Red was also a devoted sports fan. He enjoyed nearly every sport imaginable, though he made it clear there was one exception: soccer. Baseball, football, golf, NASCAR, and horse racing were among his favorites. And if there happened to be an opportunity to place a wager, all the better. From lottery tickets to slot machines to the outcome of a sporting event, Red never passed up a chance to test his luck.

One of Red's most remarkable gifts was his curiosity. He was a lifelong learner whose memory seemed almost limitless. He loved history above all else but rarely met a book he did not enjoy. He absorbed facts in the way others collected souvenirs, storing them away for future conversations.

Yet perhaps what people will remember most was his ability to tell a story. Red was a natural storyteller, the kind of person who could hold an entire room captive with nothing more than a tale and his distinctive delivery. Whether recounting adventures from his youth, describing an unbelievable event that somehow turned out to be true, or bringing a chapter of history to life, Red made listeners feel as though they were right there beside him.

Red lived a life that was bigger than most. It often seemed impossible that one person could have seen, done, and experienced so much. But for all the adventures, jobs, travels, and stories, nothing mattered more to him than his family. His greatest pride was never in what he had accomplished, but in the people he loved. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren fiercely and without hesitation. If any one of them needed him, he would be there.

He is survived by his children, L. Douglas (Tanya) Gilham of Cadiz, Sherry Gilham of Gnadenhutten, and Bobbi (David) Dunlap of Freeport; grandchildren, Shannone (Mitchell) Koch of Gnadenhutten, Tonya (Dustin) Dean of Tippecanoe, Nicole (JT) Cunningham of Gnadenhutten, Ryan (Shayla) Gilham of Rayland, Cody (Tayler) Dunlap of Cadiz, and Joshua (Austin) Dunlap of Akron; great-grandchildren, Mallorie, Cooper, Piper, McKinley, Maverick, Harper, Camry, Peyton, and Kolson; his brother, William "Bill" Gilham of Carrollton; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and beloved wife, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Bernice Monahan, Harold "Ben" Gilham, and Betty Roach, and by his son-in-law, Michael Ferguson.

A celebration of Red's life will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Koch Funeral Home, 101 W. Main St., Scio. Family and friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will follow at Ridge Presbyterian Cemetery in Hanover.