George Frederick Compton, Jr., (Fred), passed away peacefully on August 3, 2024, in Orkney, Scotland after a brief illness. Fred was born on March 25, 1948, in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1970 and the University of Akron School of Law in 1973. He practiced law in Akron, first with Whalen & Compton, L.P.A. and then with Roetzel & Andress representing public boards of education for 50 years until he retired in March 2022. Fred was admitted to the practice of law in all state courts in Ohio and Florida, the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio in the Federal Court system and the United States Supreme Court.

Fred truly loved the practice of law, getting to know and helping to guide School Board Members, Superintendents, Treasurers, Principals, teachers and support staff members. He successfully defended the Kent City School District Board of Education in Rettig v. Kent, heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1984 that shaped the interpretation of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. When not spending time with children and grandchildren, Fred loved cruising with his wife Helen to places around the globe, including Alaska, the Panama Canal, Australia and New Zealand, the Mediterranean Sea, taking Atlantic crossings and most recently, visiting Iceland and the British Isles (Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England).

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, George F. and Edna Compton, his brother Robert W. (Bob) Compton and Helen's service dog, Titus. He leaves behind his beloved wife Helen (Carroll) Compton, sister Hope McCully (Kerry), daughter Corinne Bunce (Marty), son George Compton, III (Shari), stepsons George (Erin) Helwagen, Paul Helwagen, stepdaughter Jane Phillips, sister-in-law Susan Compton, nieces Megan (Margaret) McCully, Rachel (Jason) Reed and nephews Sean (Chay) McCully, Adam McCully, Aaron (Emily) Compton and Able Compton. Fred and Helen blended their families on July 28, 2000. Together, they have thirteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held in the Dunn-Quigley Funeral Home, Stow Chapel, 3333 Kent Road, Stow, Ohio on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held in the Dunn-Quigley Stow Chapel immediately following the calling hours, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Donations may be made in Fred's name to the George Frederick Compton, Jr. and Helen S. Carroll Scholarship at the University of Akron School of Law or Canine Companions for Independence, the charity organization that raised Titus and provides service dogs, free of charge, to the many children and adults with physical, auditory and cognitive disabilities.

To donate to the Scholarship, make checks payable to The University of Akron Foundation, then mail to:

The University of Akron School of Law

150 University Ave.

Akron, Ohio 44325-2901

Attention: Development (George Frederick Compton, Jr., and Helen S. Carroll Scholarship)

To Give Online:

www.uakron.edu/law/giving/

Select: Give a gift

Select: Designate my gift to:

Type: George Frederick Compton, Jr. and Helen S. Carroll Scholarship

To donate to Canine Companions, you can donate by sending a check to:

Canine Companions for Independence

North Central Region

7480 New Albany-Condit Road

New Albany, OH 43054 or online at https://canine.org