The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory
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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.
The establishment of City Hospital in 1892 led the Billow Company into another form of service to the community and by 1911, Billow''s operated the first ambulance service 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.
Before 1890, Captain Billow''s son, George W. had joined him in practice, and other sons, Edwin and Charles F. were soon to follow, as did his 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 intregal and active role in the company today.
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. As the millennium approached, Billow''s has continued to expand, opening the Tallmadge Chapel in 1996 in the beautifully restored Victorian mansion of Dr. Sperry on Historic Tallmadge Circle. Our clean and modern facilities represent the finest funeral homes in the greater Akron area.
Today, as we celebrate 125 years of serving the Akron community, 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 for 125 years and will continue to surpass the standard of excellence for years to come.