WOOSTER – Stanley Carleton Gault, 90, of Wooster passed away peacefully at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, surrounded by his loving family.
Stan was born in Wooster, Ohio on January 6, 1926 to Clyde and Asenath Stanley Gault and was the younger of two children.   He graduated from The College of Wooster in 1948 with a major in geology.   His college years included service in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, where he was a tail gunner on a B-29 Superfortress in the Pacific Theatre.   Also while attending college, he met his future wife, Flo Kurtz. Together they lived in Brecksville, OH, Louisville, KY, Wheaton, IL and New Canaan, CT, before returning to Wooster in 1979.  He was a devoted husband for 63 years until Flo ™s death in 2013.
In addition to his parents and wife, Stan was preceded in death by his sister, Donna Jeanne Bauman.   Surviving are his sons, Stephen C. Gault of Louisville, KY, Christopher C. Gault (Cynthia) of San José, Costa Rica and a daughter, Jennifer G. Marsh (Charles) of Louisville, KY; grandchildren, Andrew C. Gault, Lacey A. Gault, Joseph S. Gault, Daniel M. Gault, Elizabeth B. Marsh and Ellen G. Marsh; along with eight nephews and one niece.
Mr. Gault served as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Avon Products, Inc. from 1999-2001, continuing as the Board ™s presiding director through 2006.   He retired in 1996 as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company after five years of service.   Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Rubbermaid Incorporated from 1980 until his retirement in 1991, enabling Rubbermaid to earn the rank as #1 Most Admired Company by Fortune magazine. His service at Rubbermaid was preceded by a highly successful 31-year career with General Electric Company, which included seven years as vice president and group executive of the Louisville-based Major Appliance Business Group.     At the time of his departure, he was Senior Vice President and Sector Executive, GE Industrial Products and Components.
He served on the boards of the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Avon Products, Inc., The Timken Company, The New York Stock Exchange, PPG Industries Inc., International Paper Company, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Rubbermaid Incorporated.   Mr. Gault served as chairman of the board of trustees at his beloved alma mater, The College of Wooster, from 1984-2000 and as the 1987 Chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).   At the time of his death, he was Chairman Emeritus of The College of Wooster as well as Trustee Emeritus of the Burton D. Morgan Foundation.
Mr. Gault ™s service in the national arena included an appointment by President Nixon to the National Business Council of Consumer Affairs, where he served as Vice Chairman of Product Safety.   He was later appointed by President Reagan and President George H.W. Bush to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, serving as chairman of the Special Task Force on Industrial Subsidies.
In 1992, Financial World magazine named Mr. Gault CEO of the Year.   In 1994, he was inducted into the Junior Achievement National Business Hall of Fame.   In 1996, the National Association of Manufacturers honored him with its inaugural NAM Excellence in Manufacturing Leadership award.
Stan and his wife, Flo, sponsored countless projects, programs and scholarships that have benefitted organizations and individuals in the Wooster community and far beyond. He was a lifelong member and supporter of the United Methodist Church.  Stan enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing at his cottage in Canada, reading multiple newspapers, playing the piano, and avidly cheering for anything Ohio.
The family expresses their deep gratitude to Mr. Gault ™s executive assistant, Judy Mowrer, for her unwavering optimism and tireless dedication to his personal endeavors. Special thanks are also extended to the health care staff at both the Cleveland Clinic and Wooster Community Hospital for their thoughtful and compassionate care.
Friends and family will be received Friday, July 8, from 3-7 PM at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill Street, Wooster.Memorial services will be Saturday, July 9 at 10:30 AM at the Wooster United Methodist Church, 243 N. Market Street with the Rev. Charles E. Tobias officiating.   Interment will be in Wooster Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Flo K. Gault Scholarship Fund in care of Wayne County Community Foundation,517 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691 https://www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org/donate/502

Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Flo K. Gault Scholarship Fund in care of Wayne County Community Foundation, 517 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691

Service
Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wooster United Methodist Church, 243 N. Market St., Wooster

Visitation
Friday, July 8, 2016 from 3-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home