Rumer-Loudin Celebrates 50 Years
October marked 50 years of Rumer-Loudin serving the Ohio Valley with heating, cooling and more.
The business got its start when Larry Rumer became interested in the heating and air conditioning industry. He enrolled in an adult vocational program in Jackson in 1964. Now, his daughter and son-in-law, Kellie Loudin and Sid Loudin, own and operate the business.
Loudin said she remembers her dad traveling back and forth between the demands of his business and family obligations for his wife, Jeneane, and daughter.
After completing his education, Rumer worked for Wheeling Heating and later, Hitt Heating before striking out on his own.
Rumer started the business out of his garage in 1975 on Clark Road in St. Clairsville. Several years later, he purchased a commercial building with an office, sheet metal shop, garage and storage about a quarter mile away.
The company’s first expansion came in 1987, when the Rumers purchased Rogers Hardware at 110 East Main Street in Barnesville and Sid became manager of the expanded heating-cooling business, Rumer-Loudin.
A few years later, the hardware store was converted into an appliance store.
Rumer sold the Barnesville branch to Sid in 1998 that was relocated to Route 800 North of Barnesville the same year. In 2006, the Sid also purchased the Clairsville operation.
Meanwhile, Kellie departed the company in 1994 and rejoined the company in 2008. In the interim, she obtained two associate degrees in business and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management followed by a master’s degree in strategic leadership.
In addition to managing the business, she is active in the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Earlier this year she was named 2025 Small Business Champion for Ohio as reported by Barnesville Area News.
The Barnesville business relocated to its current location at 823 East Main St. in 2012, while the St. Clairsville location remains at 67679 Clark Rd.
A third location opened in 2023 in Moundsville, WV with the purchase of Whipkey Heating and Air Conditioning.
Larry Rumer retired from the business not once but twice in 2008, returning in 2015, and “finally and fully retiring” in 2017.
Today, the third generation of the family is active with the firm. Sid and Kellie’s son, Brandon Loudin, works as the service manager for the business, while their daughter, Amanda (Loudin) Hession, works as payroll administrator and sales coordinator.
Rumer-Loudin offers installation and repair, residential and commercial heating and air conditioning equipment, regular air conditioners, heat pumps, and geothermal systems, in addition to oil, gas, natural gas, propane gas, tube heating, garage heaters and more. The firm was the first in the Ohio Valley to install geothermal systems.
To insure customer satisfaction, Rumer-Loudin provides training for their employees and conducts thorough background, drug, and driving record checks. “We’re pretty choosy who we hire,” stated Kellie. “They have to have a good attitude toward work and get along with each other and our customers.”
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