It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of the Reverend Dr. Jack L. Dearth, 82, of Ormond Beach, Florida, formerly of Mount Vernon, Ohio. He was a brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, minister, counselor, colleague and friend.
Though we mourn our loss of this godly man, we also celebrate a wonderful life and ministry that touched many, many people. We take great solace in knowing he has received his final reward, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21)
Jack's journey with the Lord started when he was called into the ministry at age 15. After graduating from Continental (Ohio) High School, he attended and graduated from God's Bible School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met his partner in life and ministry, Carol Hazeltine. His first pastorate was at the New Lexington (Ohio) Free Methodist Church. He then continued his education at Roberts Wesleyan College, and received his Master's and PhD degrees from Ashland Theological Seminary. Over six decades, he pastored many congregations in Ohio, New York and Michigan. Jack also served as District Superintendent for the Maryland/Virginia Conference of the Free Methodist Church and District Superintendent for the United Methodist Church in Central Ohio.
Jack had a wonderful sense of humor, and true to his life calling, was a giving and caring soul to his entire community. He had many friends, colleagues and acquaintances in every corner of the country, but he mostly called Ohio his home. Jack would strike up conversations with strangers and discover, more often than not, they had mutual friends. He was active in many charitable organizations, including Kiwanis, and served in several city government positions, including the Bangor (Michigan) City Council and Chaplain of the Bangor Police Department. He and his wife loved to travel and visited all 50 states. Upon retirement he enjoyed snow-birding between Ohio and Florida. He loved nature.
He was married to his loving wife Carol Jean (Hazeltine) Dearth, for 61 years. Together they raised five children, Jack Jr. (Marilyn), Daytona Beach, FL; Timothy (Karin), Middletown, NJ; Stephen (Betty), Winnipeg, Manitoba; Dorothy, St Augustine, FL; and Phillip, Daytona Beach, FL. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Matthew (Anna), Katherine (Nathan) Buhler, and Joel Matthew Wolf, Karla (Ed) Braunesreither, Adam Braunesreither, Genny Braunesreither, Clifford (Sarah) Fejfar and three great-grandchildren, Caleb and Josiah Buhler, and Paige Fejfar.
Jack had a great love of sports, always rooting for Ohio State Buckeyes and experiencing the joy and agony of being a Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns fan. In his youth and then as a young pastor and even into his mid-sixties, he enjoyed church basketball, softball and bowling events. He had a lifelong passion for playing mediocre golf with his sons and many friends, while rescuing lost golf balls.
He was born in 1939 in Hardin County, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack M. and Alta, sister and brother-in-law Marie and Roger Spangler, and sister-in-law Faye Darr Dearth.
He is also survived by siblings Carolyn (James) Kindle, Bedford, OH; Gary (Shirley) Dearth, Cincinnati, OH; Dale Dearth, Continental, OH; Dennis Dearth, Defiance, OH; and Sandra (Darryl) Martin, Ft. Wayne, IN and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate your support of Gods Bible School and College, 1810 Young Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. https://www.gbs.edu/give/give-now/
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
