Hershel Kermit Gandee, age 89, passed away at the Ashford of Grove City on July 5, 2024. Hershel was born on January 17, 1935, in Walton West Virginia to the late Romie and Cassie (Phillips) Gandee. He graduated from Walton High School on May 14, 1952, participating in sports while working on the family farm. Hershel was preceded in death by his youngest brother, Darrell Gandee. After graduation Hershel moved to Charleston and began working at the Union Carbide plant and met Bob Ulbrich who became one of his most trusted friends and our family fondly referred to him as "Uncle Bob". From Charleston Hershel went to Central Ohio and went into the tree business for a while at Karl Kuemmerling. He left there and went with Whirlpool in Marion which is about the time he met his future bride, Jackie Gilkerson, who lived next door to Hershel's Aunt and Uncle. They were together for about nine months before they decided to elope and were married in Indiana on April 27, 1956. After Steve was born in 1957 they made a return trip to Charleston for another job at the plant which only lasted several months before he was laid off. It was back to Central Ohio and he decided to return to Karl Kuemmerling. Dad worked for Karl Kuemmerling as a foreman, supervisor and finally Vice President of Operations. He was there from 1958 to 1988. Karl Kuemmerling was then purchased by the Nelson Tree Service in 1988 and dad worked there as an Area Manager until his retirement in December of 1997. They lived in Florida for several years, made a couple of other moves back home until they purchased their final home in Canal Winchester in July of 2006. This remained there home until August of 2023 when they moved to the Story Point in Grove City and finally to The Ashford of Grove City in April of 2024. Hershel is survived by his loving wife of (68) years Jacqueline (Gilkerson) Gandee, middle brother Bill (Bertha) Gandee, sister-in-law Barbara Gandee, three (3) sons, Steven (Nancy) Gandee, Mike (Joanne) Gandee and Terry (Jodi) Gandee, ten (10) grandchildren Jason, Jessica, Dawn, Jennifer, Jordan, Ashley, Heather, Scott, Kirsten and Matt, nineteen (19) great grandchildren Zella, Olive, Charlotte, Greyson, Lila, Kayleigh, Sophia, Ella, Serena, McKenzie, Jaxon, Colton, Zoey, Maddie, Cam, Casey, and (3) pending, and one (1) great great grandchild Theo. Dad always had a smile on his face, was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone that needed it and I don't think he ever knew a stranger. Our cousin Brad probably said it best in an email to us recently, "Your dad is a special man with so many admirable qualities and will be missed by all that knew him". We are really going to miss him, he has had a rough go of it for the past six months and is in a much better place now. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial contribution in Hershel's name to Cap City Hospice or any local Animal Rescue Organization. At the family's request please wear casual attire for the service and the lunch-in to follow. Arrangements have been entrusted to the O.R. Woodyard Co Funeral Home, Myers-Woodyard Funeral Home, 587 Main St, Groveport, Ohio 43125. Visitation will be held on Saturday July 20, 2024 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm. Memorial service will begin at 2:00 pm and a Celebration of Life will be held at the Clubhouse in the Eagle Ridge Condominiums, 6848 Falcon Dr, Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110 from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm.