Our History
The Westbrock Funeral Home was founded in 1892 by Ben Westbrock. The Wayne Avenue Funeral Home location was the first to be opened in Dayton. In May of 1988 Westbrock Funeral Home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The funeral home operates inside a 1865 Italiante/Second Empire style house that was built by Samuel D. Edgar as a wedding present to his daughter. Today, the funeral home is still proudly family owned and operated by third and fourth generation Westbrock's.
Ben Westbrock received his early training as an undertaker following the days of the Civil War. He came to Dayton in June, 1887. In January of 1892, Ben began a business as an undertaker for himself at an establishment at Wayne Ave and Pearl Street. He continued in the business at this place for 10 years and then purchased an establishment of Peter Meyers, an old employer.
In 1923 Ben acquired an imposing residence atop a hill at 1712 Wayne Ave and transformed it into a modern funeral home. The 1865 Italiante/Second Empire style house was built by Samuel D. Edgar as a wedding present to his daughter, Margaret and her husband, Ezra Herrman. Westbrock Funeral Home, is Dayton's first funeral home.
In April of 1988 Westbrock Funeral Home was awaraded the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.
In 1992 Westbrock Funeral Home, opened a second location in Kettering, at 5980 Bigger Road. Today the funeral home is ran by the 4th generation.
