Rev. Bob Hamilton

Jessie Heid

Glenn Liles

Jack Ritter

Rev. Bob Hamilton

NEVADA - Rev. Bob Hamilton, of rural Bucyrus, died at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 at home surrounded by his family. He was 59.
Born Oct. 25, 1949 in Marion, he is a son of Col. Frank and stepmother Judy Hamilton, Columbus, and the late Mary and stepfather William Walter. On May 15, 1976, he married Donna Kissling in Waldo and she survives.
Mr. Hamilton also is survived by three daughters, Sarah (Tom) Dornbirer, Nevada, Leah (Joe) Latshaw, New Albany, and Megan (Shane) Schifer, Bucyrus; four grandchildren, Bradley Watkins, Austin and Samantha Dornbirer, and Jacob Latshaw; a brother, Frank Hamilton II, Delaware; a sister, Sandy (Jon) Burnside, Findlay; and a stepbrother, Dana (Terry) Walter of Hemet, Calif.
He graduated from Marion Catholic High School and went on to receive a bachelors degree in marketing from Ohio State University. Later, he received his masters of divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
Mr. Hamilton was the pastor at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in rural Bucyrus and Nevada Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nevada. He previously served both St. James Lutheran Church, Payne, and St. John Lutheran Church, Briceton.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Hamilton was passionate about sharing the gospel, which included ministering to both his congregations and individuals in the community. He also was active in various committees in the Northwestern Ohio Synod.
For hobbies, he enjoyed woodworking, gardening and canning, making candy, weight lifting and riding his motorcycle. Mr. Hamilton also enjoyed singing and writing short stories and poems.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Good Hope Lutheran Church, Bucyrus, with the Bishop Marcus Lohrmann and the Rev. Gene Luidhardt, SAM, officiating. Burial will follow in Martin Luther Church Cemetery, where military graveside rites will be conducted. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Nevada Evangelical Lutheran Church, from 4-7 p.m. Friday at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Bucyrus, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at Good Hope Lutheran Church.
Memorials may be made to Homecare Matters Home Health and Hospice, Martin Luther Lutheran Church or Nevada Evangelical Lutheran Church in care of Lucas-Batton Funeral Home, 401 S. Main St., Nevada OH 44849.
(Pd. 100709)
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Jack Ritter

CAREY - Jack F. Ritter, of Carey, died at 8:22 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 at the home of his daughter, Shari Hablitzel, Carey. He was 76.
Born Oct. 29, 1932 in Carey, he was a son of the late George and Gertrude (Shine) Ritter. He married Nancy H. Keckler on June 1, 1956 in Angola, Ind. She died on January 21, 1999.
Mr. Ritter is survived by a son, Randal (Paula) Ritter, Carey; two daughters, Tammy (Tim Skidmore) Morris, Upper Sandusky, and Shari (Gerald) Hablitzel, Carey; eight grandchildren, Nikki, Josh and Seth Morris; Jason, Noah and Dale Hablitzel; and Troy and Alexandria Ritter; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Richard (Paula) Ritter, Upper Sandusky; and three sisters, Shirley Rife, Sycamore, Carol (Gary) McKee, Greenville, and Linda (Henry) Weatherholtz, Carey.
He also was preceded in death by two infant children, Jack Jr. and Brenda Ritter; five sisters, Marguerite Beidelschies, Dorothy Stansbery, Florence Stansbery, Jane Harding and Mary Duffin; and two brothers, Paul and infant David Ritter.
Mr. Ritter retired from the sanitation department in Upper Sandusky in 1986 after 34 years. He then was a custodian for Commercial Savings Bank in Carey and painted houses.
He attended Lighthouse Pentecostal Church of God, Carey.
Mr. Ritter was an avid sports fan, especially the Carey Blue Devils and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home, Carey, with the Rev. Bob Turner officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery, Carey. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Pentecostal Church of God or Carey Athletic Boosters in care of Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home, 225 W. Findlay St., Carey OH 43316.
(Pd. 100709)
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