FINDLAY - William C. Hattendorf, 70, a retired vice president and treasurer of Cooper Tire & Rubb... Cooper Tire exec diligent,

FINDLAY - William C. Hattendorf, 70, a retired vice president and treasurer of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., died Sunday in the Birchaven Retirement Village. Mr. Hattendorf, who was in the nursing home about a week, died of cancer, his son, Kurt, said.

Mr. Hattendorf's 37-year career at Cooper Tire began with his hiring in 1963 as a tax accountant. He became tax department manager in 1966, manager of taxes and insurance in 1969, and assistant treasurer and assistant secretary in 1977. The Cooper board elected him treasurer in 1982 and made him a vice president in 1994.

His son said Mr. Hattendorf was a diligent, goal-oriented worker who had a softer side people outside his family rarely saw. "He was a very determined and focused person, had a strong work ethic, but yet he was a big family person," Kurt Hattendorf said.

He took his children fishing and canoeing near a family cottage in Catawba Island and, in later years, dedicated much time to his grandchildren.

A Fort Wayne, Ind., native, Mr. Hattendorf graduated from Fostoria High School in 1952, then enlisted in the Army in 1954. After reaching the rank of sergeant, he was discharged in 1957 and began studying accounting at Bowling Green State University, from which he graduated in 1960 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He worked for the Arthur Andersen accounting firm's Toledo branch before joining Cooper Tire.

He was a member of the Findlay and Ohio chambers of commerce, a past trustee and budget committee member for the United Way of Hancock County, and a current member of the investment committees at the University of Findlay and the Associated Charities of Findlay.

He was also a past treasurer of the board of trustees, a past chairman of the investment committee for the BGSU Foundation, and a past member of the advisory boards for the Black Swamp Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the Salvation Army of Hancock County.

Mr. Hattendorf's wife of nearly 50 years, Doris Hattendorf, survives, as do a son, Kurt; daughters, Gayle Mitchell and Jennifer J. Hattendorf; brother, Dick; sisters, Ruth Whitta and Jean Rook; and five grandchildren.

The body will be in the Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home, Findlay, where the family will receive visitors after 2 p.m. today. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in the mortuary.

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