Coach Charles "Buddy" Laughlin, Jr.

Coach Charles “Buddy” Laughlin, Jr, age 72 of Clyde, passed away Monday, December 13, 2021 at his home. He was born August 19, 1949 in Mansfield, OH, the son of the late Charles, Sr. and Rita (Burke) Laughlin.

Charles served in the United States Army in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970, where he achieved the rank of Specialist 5 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. Until his retirement in 2009, he worked as a Master Scheduler at Crescent Manufacturing in Fremont. Across four decades, he volunteered his time and resources as Head Coach of the Fremont Wreckers Boxing Club, where he served as a role model and a beacon of hope to generations of young people in Fremont and the surrounding communities. Under his tutelage, his boxers won multiple regional and national competitions, including the Silver Gloves, Junior Olympics, Golden Gloves, Ohio State Fair, and Police Athletic League Championships. He was revered by members of the boxing community. His proudest moment as a coach came in 2000, when a panel of the nation’s top amateur and professional coaches from across the sports world awarded him the honor “Most Caring Coach,” for his efforts to keep boys and girls off the streets. In 2019, he was inducted into the Fremont Wreckers Hall of Fame.

Charles is survived by his wife, Debbie Laughlin (Nyburg), whom he married November 9, 2016 in Fremont; sons: Joseph (Jody) Laughlin of Clyde, Chad (Nicole) Laughlin of Clyde, and Chi Laughlin of Brooklyn, NY; step-children: Amy (Chad) Dyer of Perrysburg, OH, and Andrew (Tara) Bahnsen of Portage, OH; grandchildren: Seth Stockmaster, Noah Laughlin, Olivia Laughlin, Zachary Keith, Canaan Wurm, Lance Laughlin, and Braylee Laughlin; great-grandson, Lennix; four step-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Rumschlag of Tiffin; and half-brother, Larry (Maud) Laughlin of Mansfield; his nieces and nephews;  and ex-wife, Marsha Miesle (McGrath) of Clyde.

In addition to his parents, Charles is preceded in death by his sister, Awanda Downing; step-mother, Delma Laughlin (Traxler); and half-sister, Pat Emmer.

Friends will be received Monday, December 20, 2021 from 10:00am until a funeral service beginning at 2:00pm at Grace Community Church, 900 Smith Rd, Fremont, OH 43420.

Memorial donations may be made in Charles’ honor to the Fremont Wreckers Boxing Club, 116 W Grant Street, Clyde, OH 43410. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Coach Charles "Buddy" Laughlin, Jr., please visit our floral store.