Van's Tire & Service founder L. Wayne Vanaman recently died at the age of 79.
Vanaman started Van's Tire & Service in the 1970s by selling tires out of the back of his van in the Akron, Ohio area. He later grew the business into a multi-location chain with stores throughout Akron and its suburbs.
“Wayne was a tremendous man – a very smart businessman,” says Greg Jackson, customer development manager at American Tire Distributors Inc.
“He passed down a good work ethic to his children and set a good example by doing his best to have fair and honest business practices,” according to his obituary.
Vanaman is preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and his children; Laurie (Dan) LaChappell; Wayne (Dillene) Vanaman; Michael (Beverly) Vanaman; Rebccas (Marcus) Barnes; and Mark (Brody) Vananaman; as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be held on Sept. 11 in the Grand Ballroom at The New Center at the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), 4211 State Route 44, Rootstown, Ohio 44272 beginning at 5:00 p.m.
