Carl J. Subler age 94 of Versailles, Ohio, began his longest journey, into eternity on Monday, July 6, 2009 at 10:35 P.M. Born in a farmhouse near Brock, Ohio, on January 15, 1915 to the late Felix and Estella (Bulcher) Subler. Mr. Subler was a traveler and entrepreneur from an early age. At 12 he became the chauffeur for his grandmother, at 14 he hitchhiked to Western Illinois to pick corn for $2.00 a day and at 16 rode his motorcycle 1500 miles to Western Kansas to assist a relative harvest wheat. This trip was made through the Great Dust Storms and over 1000 miles of gravel roads. This piqued his interest in transportation and a career was born. At 18 he purchased his first truck transporting grain to Southeast Ohio and coal back to Darke County. Carl Subler Trucking inc. later grew into the 10th largest truckload carrier in the U.S.A., operating in all 48 states with over 600 trucks. He pioneered firsts in many areas including intermodal, transporting fresh orange juice from Florida in refrigerated tankers and the first truckloads of blueberries and sardines from Maine. Safety was first and foremost as he mandated speed recording devices in all power units, the first carrier to do this. At the same time he built a fresh fruit business in Versailles that was one of the largest in Western Ohio, selling retail and wholesale to customers in Ohio and Indiana.
He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Krista (Long) Subler, seven children, Tom, wife Nancy L., Marilyn Richters, Denis, wife Nancy A., Linda Borchers, husband Charles, all of Versailles, Kay Sandri, husband Darryl of Piqua, Steve, wife Charlene of Valrico, Florida and Mark of Richmond, Virginia; 17 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren. Also surviving are his brothers Kenneth Subler and Basil & Annabel Subler; sister Alverda Bohman; half brother John & Isabella Subler and a half sister Doris Monnin, all of Versailles. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his first wife of 40 years, Pauline Marie (Barga) Subler in 1975; grandson Curt Subler in 1984; son-in-law, Hal Richters in 2003 and a half sister Mary Ann Berger.
During his years in business he was a quiet benefactor of the Versailles Community in improving its infrastructure. After retiring in 1982 he stayed busy planting a 900 tree orchard and then in 2007, at 92 completed a book on his life’s history. It is available at Worch Memorial Library. At 94 he was recognized by the Versailles Chamber of Commerce as “Citizen of the Year” for his many contributions.
He was also honored by the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate for those contributions to Versailles and to the commerce in Ohio. He will be remembered and missed by all.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Denis Catholic Church in Versailles, with Rev. Fr. David Vincent & Rev. Fr. Angelo Caserta celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Valbert Cemetery in Versailles. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. and Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to State of the Heart Hospice or to Versailles Emergency Medical Services.