William Hodge Hermann Jr.

William Hodge Hermann, Jr. (Billy), 75, died August 19, 2026 at Westmoreland in Chillicothe, Ohio following an extended illness. He was adopted in 1950 by William Hodge Hermann, Sr and Helen Lynch Hermann. He adored his parents and always said how grateful he was to have been adopted by such wonderful people.

Billy grew up in Chillicothe, attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church and attended Catholic school until he transferred to Chillicothe City Schools and graduated from CHS in 1968. He attended Ohio State University ,accepted as a veterinarian medicine major. He left after 2 years when his first child Natalie was born. He began working for Petland, Inc. where he had a long and happy career and owned and operated a Petland franchise store with his wife Karen (nee Charney) in Lancaster, Ohio. They would eventually sell the franchise back to corporate Petland before moving to Florida.

Everyone who knew Billy, knew of his love for animals, especially dogs and exotic fish. His most recent Irish Setter, Tara, had given birth to a large litter right before he moved into Westmoreland. Anyone who came to his house in Chillicothe, remembered Billy’s aquariums. He loved breeding fish and aquarium plants. Throughout his life he had many pets,including dogs, horses, and rescued turtles. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of all kinds of animals to anyone who would listen.

Billy loved sports, especially the Cincinnati Reds and the Bengals, and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was fully involved in his sons’ lives coaching baseball and soccer throughout their school years. He was also a Boy Scout leader of his sons’ cub and Boy Scout troops, having been an Eagle Scout himself Billy attended “Dude Ranch” camps as a child and loved telling people about it. He had been most recently talking about getting some horses again.

He was a good swimmer and taught his boys to fish and snorkel. As a child, Billy spent his summers at the Chillicothe Country Club swimming, and later in life met his dad at the Club for regular dinners. As a child, he would walk home to Brewer Heights or have “Topper,” an employee of his dad’s drive him. He developed a close fatherly relationship with Topper and always spoke of him fondly.

Billy loved to tell stories, and would help any one who needed it. Billy never showed any favoritism and all were welcome in any activity in which he participated . He never met a stranger and was always smiling and wanted everyone to have a good time.

Billy was diagnosed with a rare form of inoperable cancer in late 2023 and fought a long and valiant battle with the disease. He spent the last two years of his life at Westmoreland where he was attended to by the wonderful staff on the second floor Dementia unit.

Billy leaves behind his daughter Natalie of Columbus, sons Hodge and Austin (both of Florida),sister Joan (Chillicothe), and numerous nieces, nephews and many, many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, his grandparents, Karen Hermann Carr (the mother of his children), aunts, uncles, cousins, and niece, Alicia.

In accordance with his wishes, cremation will take place and a graveside service will be named at a later date.