Our Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Charles M. Billow
President & CEO
Charles serves as President and CEO of The Billow Co., Inc., a sixth-generation family owned business serving Northeast Ohio since 1875. In his role as President, he manages the day-to-day operations of both Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory in Akron as well as Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory in Kent. An Akron native, Charles graduated from Firestone High School, the University of Akron and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
He currently serves as a member of Akron General Health System's Finance Committee and Board Member of Visiting Nurse Service & Affiliates, Inc., Hospice Care Ohio, Better Business Bureau of Akron, Summit County Historical Society and the St. Paul's Endowment Foundation. He is also an active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Diocesan Council- Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, Commerce Club of Akron, Leadership Akron Alumni Association, Tallmadge Rotary, WKSU Community Advisory Council and Bluecoats, Inc., and he resides in Tallmadge with his wife.
Richard T. Bissler
President Emeritus & Funeral Director
A lifelong Kent resident, Rick has served as the owner and President of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home since 1988. Rick is a 1972 graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School and a 1976 University of Minnesota graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science. He received both his Funeral Directors and Embalmers license in 1976. In 1995, he became a Certified Crematory Operator through the Cremation Association of America (CANA). Rick and his wife, Jane, have 2 daughters, Stephanie (Shawn) Arden and Carlie Bissler.
He is a member of numerous civic organizations including: Kent Rotary Club and PARTA Board Member. He is also a Board Member of Hometown Bank in Kent where he serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board.
Email: rbissler@bisslerandsons.com
Timothy Francisco
Funeral Director & Embalmer
A resident of Brimfield, Tim is a 1985 graduate of Morehead State University with a B.S. in Biology. He received his A.S. in Mortuary Science from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1991.
Tim is a member of the Ohio Embalmers Association and is a certified Crematory Operator. He attends Lake Brady United Methodist Church. In his spare time, Tim enjoys skiing, trapshooting and hunting. Tim and his wife Chris have 2 daughters, Natalie and Miranda
Pierce Drobney
Funeral Director & Embalmer
A native of Massillon, Pierce is a 2013 graduate from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science with a B.S. in Mortuary Science. An avid Cleveland and Ohio State sports fan and most spare time found catching up on the teams, enjoys running, all alongside his wife Jenni.
Email: pdrobney@bisslerandsons.com
Nathanael Billow
Executive Vice President & Treasurer
Nathanael serves as Executive Vice President & Treasurer. Prior to working in the funeral profession, Nathanael worked for Ford Motor Company as a Senior Financial Analyst at Ford's Global Product Development Center in Dearborn, MI. He, along with his sister Stacy, are sixth-generation members of the family to serve at Billow's and Bissler's. Growing up in the family business helped shape his personal belief that working as a funeral director is not only a career but a life-dedicating vocation.
In 2018, Nathanael sucessfully led the merger of his family's 143 year-old business, The Billow Co. of Akron, OH, with Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory of Kent. The move will ensure that citizens of Kent will continue to receive local family-owned care when faced with the loss of a loved one.
He is a graduate of Tallmadge High School, Grove City College (B.S. Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude, '11) and the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University (Master of Business Administration, '13). He is a parishioner at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Pediatric Palliative Care Center at Akron Children's Hospital, the Rotary Club of Akron, the Akron Executives' Association, and Bluecoats, Inc. When time permits, he can be spotted on local golf courses with his brother Chris or out running the trails of Akron's Metro Parks.
DeAnna Reed
Funeral Assistant
DeAnna Reed lives in Garrettsville on a small farm. DeAnna graduated from James A. Garfield High School in Garrettsville.
She is very proud of her three children. Her boys Kenny and Eddie both serve with the United States Coast Guard and her daughter, Tami, is a cosmetologist. Tami has two boys, Joshua and Jackson. DeAnna loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, working on her farm and tending to her horses and dogs.
Rick Sepi
Funeral Assistant
Jake Knapp
Funeral Assistant
Caiti Overholt
Funeral Assistant
Jon Anderson
Funeral Service Assistant
Jen Skvarch
Funeral Assistant
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