By KAREN MUNDY

The Press-News

The Sandy Valley community has been saddened by the untimely death of Noah Timothy Malavite, age 9, of Magnolia. Noah died Friday, May 2 in Akron Children's Hospital.

Noah was born Dec. 4, 1998, to Keith B. and Barbara J. (Ziegler) Malavite. He had lived through illnesses and several surgeries since an infant. However, his health problems never stopped him from being an active young boy who loved life on the farm and loved being with family and friends.

Noah, who was a life resident of the East Sparta and Magnolia areas, was in the third grade at Waynesburg Elementary School. He had participated in basketball and attended Asbury United Methodist Church.

Noah's greatest interest in life, however, was being outdoors. He loved four-wheeling, farming, animals and every aspect of country living. In fact, he had recently said to his father that it "was time to start bailing hay."

His family said Noah was a very loving and caring boy who loved life and his family. He liked to spend time with his relatives, including his sister Leila, who is a seventh-grader in Sandy Valley Schools, and his cousin Dakota.

Sandy Valley Superintendent David Janofa said the school district has been working since Friday to make this week a little easier for the students, teachers and staff who had grown so fond of Noah over the years. Meetings were held during the weekend and teachers were brought in early on Monday for further crisis-management planning. Janofa said ministers in the Sandy Valley Ministerial Alliance have been at the school, along with extra school counselors to talk to students and help where needed.

"We are grateful for the ministers who have visited a number of our schools today," Janofa said on Monday. "The community has come together to help the kids and staff get through this tough time."

Janofa said letters have gone out to all parents informing them about the death and telling them what is being done to help the community through this time of mourning.

With great difficulty and emotion, Waynesburg Elementary principal Brian Garrott talked about Noah.

"Every time you saw him he had a smile on his face," Garrott said. "He was a little spark plug. He was a little guy but his spirit was 10 times his size."

Garrott said the staff has put up a large yellow poster in the hallway, near the office, so students could write their names and tell how much they miss their classmate. Letters and cards also are being written by students to send to the Malavite family.

"We are somehow dealing with this," Garrott said. "The teachers all will miss Noah. They said they always knew when he was in the room."

Noah was preceded in death by his grandparents, Thomas Malavite Sr. and Leonhard and Maryjean Ziegler.

He is survived by his mother, Barbara Malavite of Magnolia; father, Keith "Tim" Malavite of East Sparta; sister, Leila Malavite of Magnolia; grandmother, Jeannette Malavite of East Sparta; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 7 in Asbury United Methodist Church, with Rev. Merlen Levering officiating. Interment is in Melscheimer Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to Akron Children's Hospital at One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308. Condolences or fond memories may be sent online at www.sandersfuneralhomes.com. Kreighbaum-Sanders Funeral Home, 330-484-2525, was handling arrangements.