HISTORY

A Tradition of Firsts

The History of the Billow Company

1875 to Present

One of Akron’s First Undertakers In 1875, when Captain George Billow returned from the Civil War, he stabled his team of horses on Ash Street and offered his service, trust, and integrity to Akron families as one of Akron’s very first undertakers, operating from a store front on Howard Street, at the corner of Mill. At the turn of the century, visitation and funeral services were held in the home, most homes having been built with oversized doors leading from parlor to front porch for the express purpose of allowing passage of a casket and pallbearers.

Surrounded by his sons, George, Edwin, and Charles F., Captain George Billow poses in front of their Akron funeral home in 1911.

Akron’s First Ambulance Service

The establishment of City Hospital in 1892 led the Billow Company into another form of service to the community; by 1911, Billow’s operated the first ambulance service in Akron.

The First Funeral Home in Akron

In 1915, anticipating the trend toward the convenience of having funeral services at a location other than home, Captain George built the first funeral home in Akron at 118 Ash Street on the site of his original stables. Church funeral services or dignified memorials at the funeral parlor supplanted the crowded discomfort of services at home.

A Family Business

Before 1890, Captain Billow’s son, George W. had joined him in practice. Other sons, Edwin and Charles F. were soon to follow, as did Captain Billow’s grandsons, Paul E., Archie L., and Arthur F. In 1983, Arthur’s son, Charles W. Billow became the president and principal owner of the Billow Company, and still plays an integral and active role in the company today.

Expanding to Serve the Needs of Akron Area Families

As the greater Akron area has grown, so has Billow’s, opening the Cuyahoga Falls Chapel in 1954, and the Portage Lakes Chapel in 1963. When the original Ash Street location had to make way for the Akron Expressway in 1967, the spacious and modern chapel in Fairlawn became Billow’s headquarters building. Our clean and modern facilities represent the finest funeral homes in the greater Akron area.

Five Generations of Family Service

Today, The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory are owned and operated by Charles W.’s son, Charles M. Billow, the fifth generation of Billow at the helm. His sister, Ann Billow Grebelsky, is the secretary-treasurer of the company. Our proud tradition of providing service with dignity and respect has remained unaltered since 1875 and will continue to surpass the standard of excellence for years to come.