Robert “Bob” Vail
Robert L. Vail, 77, of Oregon, Ohio passed away peacefully on Monday, December 8, 2014 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 10, 1937 in Toledo, Ohio to George and Marie Vail. Bob was very mechanically inclined and talented creator as well as an entrepreneur. But most of all he cared for his fellow human beings whether they were family, friends, employees or someone in need. Life allowed him to enjoy many creative opportunities beginning with building cars for the drag strip and his dragster called “Blue Velvet”.
He entered into business with his father-in-law, Frank Hinkle and restored autos at V & H Body Shop. This business led to the beginning of creating custom motorcycles with Toledo Choppers Inc. and Toledo Motorcycle Accessories Inc. He created many award winning “Custom Choppers”. He also was known for his custom auto interiors and restorations through Toledo Auto Trim.
His creative ability and fabrication expertise led him to working with St. Vincent Medical center in developing the Vail Enclosed Beds used for patients with head injuries and those cognitively impaired. Through this endeavor at Vail products Inc., he was awarded many patents. The Vail Enclosed Beds became known throughout the U.S.A. and Canada in homecare and medical facilities. He was one of the first businesses to win the prestigious Prism Award.
Through his concern for those with disabilities, Vail Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center was opened in 1998 to provide therapy through the use of horses for special needs children and adults. He ultimately was awarded the coveted Prism Award for his charitable work at Vail Meadows.
Bob cared for his friends, employees, family and those in need without limitations. He gave without ever expecting anything in return. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Joy (Hinkle) Vail; children: Robyn (Don) Shinaver, Joylyn (Mike) McGee, Rick (Chrissy) Vail, Wendy (Mike) Heskett and Ryan Vail; grandchildren: Nicholas, Bobby, Dillon, Cory, Delaine, Jordyn, Michael, Katelyn, Chelsea and Allyson and great-grandson, Cole. Bob is also survived by his brother, Charles (Ellen) Vail; sister-in-law, Mary Vail and his canine companion, Levi. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Don, Earl and Kenneth Vail and sisters, Virginia Larimer, Doris Pratt and Shirley Hatton.
Family and friends may visit the Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Rd, Oregon, on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 4-8 p.m. The Mass of Christian burial will take place on Wednesday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church at 11 a.m. where the family will greet guests after 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vail Meadows Therapy Riding, Senior Independence Hospice or St. Ignatius Church.
“A special thanks, to Dr. AlNsour, Dr. DaRocha and staff as well as Senior Independence caring staff for their compassionate care allowing him to live an additional 5 years with his family.”
(News article) Robert L. Vail, 77, a self-taught mechanical tinkerer who established several businesses and later founded a therapeutic equestrian center in Oregon for special-needs children and adults, died Monday at his Oregon home.Mr. Vail died of multiple organ failure associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune disease, said Joy Vail, Mr. Vail's wife of 54 years. His health problems had started about five years ago, she said.Mrs. Vail said her husband opened Vail Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center in 1998 in part to help learning-disabled children because he had suffered with undiagnosed dyslexia during his own childhood.
"He was one of the kids who fell through the slats in the educational system. As it was, he went pretty far for the education he had," she said.Mr. Vail's formal schooling ended in the 11th grade, Mrs. Vail said, but his natural mechanical talent carried him for the rest of his life."You could just put something in front of him, and he could make something out of it," she said.Mrs. Vail described her husband as "busy all the time," whether with his own projects or on jobs around the house with his children."Everybody had a hammer in their hands at one time or another if they were related to him," she said.
Mr. Vail was born June 10, 1937, in Toledo to George and Marie Vail. His business pursuits began in 1962 when he and his father-in-law, Frank Hinkle, established V&H Body Shop for automobile restoration.This led to a motorcycle-customizing business with Toledo Choppers Inc. and Toledo Motorcycle Accessories Inc., plus another line of work customizing auto interiors and restorations with National Custom Auto Trim, also in Toledo.He patented Vail Enclosed Beds, developed in cooperation with what was then St. Vincent Medical Center to help keep patients with head injuries or cognitive impairments from falling out of bed. Mrs. Vail, who worked at St. Vincent, said her husband refined a concept the hospital already was using in its neurologic ward that came to Mrs. Vail's attention through "a really good friend" who managed that facility.Vail Products Inc., sold about 5,000 of its beds, which were designed as an alternative to using direct restraints on patients.But the U.S. Food & Drug Administration ordered a recall in 2005 after eight patients became trapped in the beds and suffocated, and federal marshals raided Vail Products' East Toledo factory and seized its inventory.While Vail Products maintained the beds could be used safely if their instructions were followed carefully, it ceased production, laid off its 35 employees, and sold off its machinery after the raid, stating that it could not reach an agreement with federal regulators about how to return to market."We only had one product to sell, and we couldn't afford to fight the FDA," Mrs. Vail said Monday.Vail Meadows had by then been founded using profits from the bed company."[If] he made $2, he was going to give $1.50 back," his wife said of his philanthropic philosophy.
He also did quieter charitable works, she said, such as paying the Catholic-school tuition for the child of a friend who couldn't afford it and buying groceries and Christmas presents for another family the Vails knew.Vail Meadows was visited by tragedy last year when a barn fire killed six of its seven horses, plus four other horses that belonged to the Vails personally. The fire "was very traumatic to him," especially the loss of the horses, Mrs. Vail said.Survivors include his wife, Joy; sons, Rick and Ryan; daughters, Robyn Shinaver, Joylyn McGee, and Wendy Heskett; brother, Charles; 10 grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Visitors will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Rd., Oregon, and 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, followed by a funeral Mass at 11.The family suggests memorial tributes to Vail Meadows, Senior Independence Hospice, or the church. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/toledoblade/obituary.aspx?n=robert-l-vail&pid=173410446&fhid=6444#sthash.HSCNsAtK.dpuf
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Robert L. Vail, 77, of Oregon, Ohio passed away peacefully on Monday, December 8, 2014 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 10, 1937 in Toledo, Ohio to George and Marie Vail. Bob was very mechanically inclined and talented creator as well as an entrepreneur. But most of all he cared for his fellow human beings whether they were family, friends, employees or someone in need. Life allowed him to enjoy many creative opportunities beginning with building cars for the drag strip and his dragster called “Blue Velvet”.
He entered into business with his father-in-law, Frank Hinkle and restored autos at V & H Body Shop. This business led to the beginning of creating custom motorcycles with Toledo Choppers Inc. and Toledo Motorcycle Accessories Inc. He created many award winning “Custom Choppers”. He also was known for his custom auto interiors and restorations through Toledo Auto Trim.
His creative ability and fabrication expertise led him to working with St. Vincent Medical center in developing the Vail Enclosed Beds used for patients with head injuries and those cognitively impaired. Through this endeavor at Vail products Inc., he was awarded many patents. The Vail Enclosed Beds became known throughout the U.S.A. and Canada in homecare and medical facilities. He was one of the first businesses to win the prestigious Prism Award.
Through his concern for those with disabilities, Vail Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center was opened in 1998 to provide therapy through the use of horses for special needs children and adults. He ultimately was awarded the coveted Prism Award for his charitable work at Vail Meadows.
Bob cared for his friends, employees, family and those in need without limitations. He gave without ever expecting anything in return. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Joy (Hinkle) Vail; children: Robyn (Don) Shinaver, Joylyn (Mike) McGee, Rick (Chrissy) Vail, Wendy (Mike) Heskett and Ryan Vail; grandchildren: Nicholas, Bobby, Dillon, Cory, Delaine, Jordyn, Michael, Katelyn, Chelsea and Allyson and great-grandson, Cole. Bob is also survived by his brother, Charles (Ellen) Vail; sister-in-law, Mary Vail and his canine companion, Levi. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Don, Earl and Kenneth Vail and sisters, Virginia Larimer, Doris Pratt and Shirley Hatton.
Family and friends may visit the Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Rd, Oregon, on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 4-8 p.m. The Mass of Christian burial will take place on Wednesday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church at 11 a.m. where the family will greet guests after 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vail Meadows Therapy Riding, Senior Independence Hospice or St. Ignatius Church.
“A special thanks, to Dr. AlNsour, Dr. DaRocha and staff as well as Senior Independence caring staff for their compassionate care allowing him to live an additional 5 years with his family.”
(News article) Robert L. Vail, 77, a self-taught mechanical tinkerer who established several businesses and later founded a therapeutic equestrian center in Oregon for special-needs children and adults, died Monday at his Oregon home.Mr. Vail died of multiple organ failure associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune disease, said Joy Vail, Mr. Vail's wife of 54 years. His health problems had started about five years ago, she said.Mrs. Vail said her husband opened Vail Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center in 1998 in part to help learning-disabled children because he had suffered with undiagnosed dyslexia during his own childhood.
"He was one of the kids who fell through the slats in the educational system. As it was, he went pretty far for the education he had," she said.Mr. Vail's formal schooling ended in the 11th grade, Mrs. Vail said, but his natural mechanical talent carried him for the rest of his life."You could just put something in front of him, and he could make something out of it," she said.Mrs. Vail described her husband as "busy all the time," whether with his own projects or on jobs around the house with his children."Everybody had a hammer in their hands at one time or another if they were related to him," she said.
Mr. Vail was born June 10, 1937, in Toledo to George and Marie Vail. His business pursuits began in 1962 when he and his father-in-law, Frank Hinkle, established V&H Body Shop for automobile restoration.This led to a motorcycle-customizing business with Toledo Choppers Inc. and Toledo Motorcycle Accessories Inc., plus another line of work customizing auto interiors and restorations with National Custom Auto Trim, also in Toledo.He patented Vail Enclosed Beds, developed in cooperation with what was then St. Vincent Medical Center to help keep patients with head injuries or cognitive impairments from falling out of bed. Mrs. Vail, who worked at St. Vincent, said her husband refined a concept the hospital already was using in its neurologic ward that came to Mrs. Vail's attention through "a really good friend" who managed that facility.Vail Products Inc., sold about 5,000 of its beds, which were designed as an alternative to using direct restraints on patients.But the U.S. Food & Drug Administration ordered a recall in 2005 after eight patients became trapped in the beds and suffocated, and federal marshals raided Vail Products' East Toledo factory and seized its inventory.While Vail Products maintained the beds could be used safely if their instructions were followed carefully, it ceased production, laid off its 35 employees, and sold off its machinery after the raid, stating that it could not reach an agreement with federal regulators about how to return to market."We only had one product to sell, and we couldn't afford to fight the FDA," Mrs. Vail said Monday.Vail Meadows had by then been founded using profits from the bed company."[If] he made $2, he was going to give $1.50 back," his wife said of his philanthropic philosophy.
He also did quieter charitable works, she said, such as paying the Catholic-school tuition for the child of a friend who couldn't afford it and buying groceries and Christmas presents for another family the Vails knew.Vail Meadows was visited by tragedy last year when a barn fire killed six of its seven horses, plus four other horses that belonged to the Vails personally. The fire "was very traumatic to him," especially the loss of the horses, Mrs. Vail said.Survivors include his wife, Joy; sons, Rick and Ryan; daughters, Robyn Shinaver, Joylyn McGee, and Wendy Heskett; brother, Charles; 10 grandchildren, and a great-grandson.
Visitors will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Rd., Oregon, and 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, followed by a funeral Mass at 11.The family suggests memorial tributes to Vail Meadows, Senior Independence Hospice, or the church. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/toledoblade/obituary.aspx?n=robert-l-vail&pid=173410446&fhid=6444#sthash.HSCNsAtK.dpuf