Obituary of Walter DeVinney

Walter Edward DeVinney, 85, of Hudson, Ohio, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2017 at Summa Akron City Hospital.  He was born in Vandergrift, PA on August 28, 1932.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Ellsworth DeVinney and Hazel (Fields) DeVinney, and sister Betty Starry.

After receiving a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, Walt began his career at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in June 1954 on the Production Squad and hired into Tire Technology in Passenger Tire Design eight months later.  After working in several different groups in Passenger tires, he became a race tire designer in 1958 and was involved in the early days of Goodyear’s entry into NASCAR, Sports Car and Landspeed racing.  He transferred into Bias Truck tire design in 1962 and in early 1964, moved to Wolverhampton, England as Chief Engineer, Race Tire Development marking the beginning of Goodyear’s entry into European Sports Car and Formula I racing. 

In 1966, Walt returned to Akron as Assistant to the Manager of Tire Engineering and was involved in the early stages of the DOT Tire Standards.  In 1967, he became Chief Engineer of Passenger Tire Engineering and Manager of Radial Passenger Tire Engineering in 1971 when the department was first established.  He became Manager Aircraft, Farm, Industrial and Race Tire Engineering in early 1974 and transferred to Luxembourg as Director Goodyear Technical Center, Luxembourg later that year.  He returned to Akron in 1977 as Manager of the Test Division and was named Director Tire Evaluation in 1984.

In 1995, he was appointed the Management Representative for Goodyear Technical Center, Americas QS/ISO 9000 certification.  Under Walt’s leadership, the Technical Center received certification resulting in Goodyear becoming the first tire company to receive ISO 9000 Certification.

Walt retired in 1997 having never missed a day of school or work due to illness in his life.  He had the opportunity to visit nearly 30 countries on six continents. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Joan (Ewald) DeVinney, son Brad Ewald (Lori) DeVinney of Loveland, OH, daughter Susan (Charles) Bauck of Hudson, OH; grandchildren Carley Whitton of Loveland, and Ethan and Brooke Bauck of Hudson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends and family from 5 to 8 PM, Friday, September 15th, 2017 at Redmon Funeral Home (3633 Darrow Road, Stow 44224), where funeral services will be conducted Saturday, September 16th, 2017 at 10:00 AM.  Interment will be held immediately after at Crown Hill Cemetery, Twinsburg.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at 110 East 42nd Street, 16th floor, New York, NY 10017, or by going to www.alzinfo.org or to the Palliative Care Unit, Akron City Hospital, 525 E. Market Street, Akron, OH 44309-2090.