Russell Adams served Morristown, Waltz, Hathaway, and Western Reserve UMCs during 36 years of ministry. The highlight of his ministry was experiencing church growth and developing disciples.
In retirement, he and his wife Kathryn will live in Canfield where he plans to be involved in ministry in the community.
Karen Drotar served Melmore, Atwater, Chesterland, Lake Brady, Randolph, and Stow UMCs during 38 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include being with people and walking with them through important life changes of birth, baptism, illness, aging, death, and divorce.
In retirement Karen and her husband Thomas will live in Kent and spend time with family. Karen plans to audit some classes at Kent State University, volunteer, and sit on a swing drinking coffee without watching a clock.
Ronald Heasley served Dellroy, Leavittsville, Louisville Christ, Twinsburg Faith, Rittman, Mt. Gilead Trinity, and Roxford UMCs during 39 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include praying that he has contributed to the nurture, spiritual growth, and vitality of those he served in the same way that the churches have done for him.
In retirement, he and his wife Janet look forward to what God has in store for them next.
Thomas Jones served the Greenwich, Delphi, Orangeville, Vernon, Bellaire First, Millersburg, and Thoburn UMCs during 38 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include getting to know people and communities, leading Disciple Bible study, preaching, teaching, and experiencing life’s valleys and mountaintops with God’s saints.
In retirement, he and his wife Sally will live in Millersburg where they will enjoy spending time with family and grandchildren.
Karen Oehl served Wooster, Marshallville, Easton, Apple Creek, Brecksville, and Mt. Vernon Gay Street UMC and served as superintendent of the Mid-Ohio District during 28 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include serving on the Conference Leadership Committee and the Board of Ministry, being a provisionary cluster mentor, being elected dean of the Cabinet, and being elected first clergy alternate to General Conference 2016, delegate to Jurisdictional Conference 2016, and delegate to the 2019 Special Session of General Conference.
In retirement, she and her husband Chris will live in Karen’s dream location, the mountains of Vermont.
Donald Richards served the congregations of Morristown, Lloydsville, Bannock, Marshallville, Easton, Montrose Zion, North Canton Grace, and Rootstown UMCs in the East Ohio Conference and Junction City UMC in the Kentucky Conference during 41 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include serving as chair of the EOC Evangelism Committee, bringing the Alpha Course to East Ohio, and raising over $800,000 for missions through Pedaling Parsons (now called BikeHopeLove).
In retirement, Don and his wife Tammy will live in Alliance from which they plan to travel and explore national and state parks. Don intends to further his cycling ministry and get more involved in Habitat for Humanity.
Clark Stein served the congregations of Shreve, Boardman First, Aurora, Granger, Concord Hope Ridge, Brecksville, and Hudson UMCs during 33 years of ministry. In each of those appointments he found joy in teaching and preaching and experiencing the Spirit moving in the beloved community of faith. He counts among the highlights of his ministry being appointed out of seminary back to his home church of Boardman First, a building project at Aurora, incredible vision-casting and a building project at Hope Ridge, youth group experiences, leading through the COVID pandemic, and much more.
In retirement, Clark and his wife Kathy will live in Malvern enjoying time with family and friends, fishing, reading, writing, and looking forward to what God has in store for them.
Roger Warnes served Holmes & Bisel UMCs during 17 years of ministry. The highlight of his ministry has been seeing peoples’ lives being transformed by God’s amazing grace.
In retirement Roger and his wife Dianne will live in their current home and he will “keep on preaching until God tells me to quit.”
Frank Woodrum served Copley, Burton City, and East Greenville UMCs during 16 years of ministry.
In retirement, Frank will live in Doylestown.
Allan Bevere served the congregations of Elyria Zion, Mentor, Smithville, Cambridge First, Akron First, Ashland Christ, and Ashland First UMCs in the East Ohio Conference and Pisgah and Seagrove UMCs in the Western North Carolina Conference during 37 years of ministry. His ministry was shaped by using Discipleship Bible Study to develop small groups, one-on-one mentoring, teaching missions in Cuba and Zimbabwe, and overseeing the building of additions to churches he was serving.
In retirement, Allan and his wife Carol Lynn will live in Ashland. They plan to spend time with children and grandchildren and travel and Allan plans to write and teach missions overseas.
Thomas Fish served Fitchville, Morristown, Lloydsville, Bannock, West Farmington, Brimfield Faith, Alliance Vine Street, Coalburg, Moreland, Winfield, and Chapel of the Cross UMCs during 34 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include working with the youth, vacation Bible schools, and various mission trips, being a member of Rotary for 13 years, and serving on boards and agencies for the mentally challenged in Youngstown.
In retirement, he and his wife Janet will live in Clinton from which they will travel, sight see, and visit relatives out west.
Mitchael Hennessey served Westlawn, Wadsworth, Mt. Tabor, East Fairfield, and Greenburg UMCs during 40 years of ministry.
In retirement, he will continue to live in Burleson, TX, where he has lived during his medical leave.
Michael Mack served Green Spring Calvary, Pavonia, Olivesburg, Franklin, Ashland Faith, Sunbury, and Mansfield Trinity during 31 years of ministry.
In retirement, he and his wife Laura will live in Ashland and “see how it goes.”
Neil Orchard has served the congregations of Herrington-Bethel, Mt. Zion, and Alliance Salem UMCs in the East Ohio Conference. He has also served Allegheny Center Christian and Missionary Alliance in Pittsburgh, PA, North Olmsted Evangelical Friends Church, Frazier Creek Evangelical Friends Church, Canton First Friends Church and served in extension ministry at United Methodist Stewardship Services in the North Alabama Conference, RiverTree Stewardship Services, and Church Growth Services during 52 years of ministry.
In retirement, Neil and his wife Judith will live in Louisville where he will continue to serve Alliance Salem UMC and continue work as a stewardship consultant.
Thomas D. Snyder served Savannah, Johnson Federated, Norwich, Sonora, Salem, Shelby First, Newton Falls, and Pricetown UMCs during 30 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include working with two lay persons in Shelby to found a second chapter of the Starfish Project which raises funds to send persons fighting addictions to long-term, residential Scripture-based recovery programs, and working with 12 churches in Shelby to begin a Thursday evening meal hosted at Shelby first supported by the Cleveland Food Bank.
In retirement, he and his wife Becky will live in Ashland where he will expand his ministry with the Starfish Project and Alpha 12-step recovery support group, lead Sunday school, be tech support at UMC Savannah, and occasionally provide pulpit supply.
Jeffrey Stoll served Masury, Blooming Grove, Ebeneezer, Galion First, Andover, Milan, Saybrook, and Plymouth Community UMCs during 32 years of ministry. The highlight of his ministry was its diversity: getting to work with couples for premarital counseling and with parents for pre-baptismal counseling, being with families during times of joy and sorrow, and serving in ecumenical ministries in the communities in which he served.
In retirement, Jeffrey and his wife Katie will live in Ashtabula where he will work with some churches, a local funeral home, and a local nursing home, do some clowning, and continue to serve on area boards and associations.
Ashwin Welch served the congregations of Iberia, Sixteen, East Conneaut, Conneaut First, Boardman First, and Galion St. Paul UMCs in the East Ohio Conference and was a General Board of Global Ministries missionary in the United Kingdom and India during 38 years of ministry. While serving in India he began a vocational training program for high school students with severe hearing loss to make them employable, a program that is still active 37 years later. During his ministry he helped five people over addiction, and he began police chaplaincy programs in Boardman and Galion.
In retirement, Ashwin and his wife Peggy, a retired UMC Elder, will live in Massillon. They plan to spend time watching their grandchildren grow and traveling. Ashwin looks forward to ministering to people struggling with addiction and flying the two-seat aluminum plane he is building.
Karen Cico served Lighthouse UMC during the 18 years of her ministry. Highlights of her ministry include watching youth grow in faith and in life’s journeys, having the honor of walking in faith with members and those in the church, using technology to enhance worship and small groups, and being part of the community both inside and outside the walls of the church.
In retirement Karen will be a supply pastor at Lighthouse UMC and will continue to work for UH Geauga Medical Center as pastoral care, volunteer services coordinator.
Jeffrey Gindlesberger served Fitchville, South Amherst, Magnolia, and Lakemore UMCs during 40 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include serving as a pastor to the people and sharing richly in their lives, being blessed to study God’s word with people, preaching, serving, and extending the good news of Christ to others.
In retirement, Jeffrey and his wife Mary will live in Magnolia looking for new opportunities to live out their faith, and traveling to see their sons and their families.
Patricia Humphress served York and Chatham Community Federated Church UMCs during 12 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include building projects at both churches, serving in district leadership roles, and bringing more people to know the love Christ offers and the path Jesus wants us to follow.
In retirement, she and her husband Howard will live in Vermilion where they will catch up with family and friends, find home and yard projects to do, camp, travel, and see where God leads them.
Jonathan McCleery served Mt. Carmel, Mansfield Trinity, Coshocton Park, New Philadelphia Broadway, LaPorte, and Bay UMCs during 40 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include being a channel of God’s grace to make an eternal difference in the lives of others.
In retirement, Jonathan and his wife Joyce will live in Sheffield Village.
Joan Purnell served Braceville, Champion Otterbein, and Cortland UMCs during 11 years of ministry. Highlights of her ministry include the blessing of coming alongside others on their journeys of faith and witnessing their spiritual growth as they came to know Jesus in new and deeper ways.
In retirement, Joan and her husband Bud will remain in their current home and spend more time with family.
DeWayne Smith served East Glenville, Brighton, Rochester, Melmore, Cory, Faith, Willoughby, Maple Heights, Community of Living Hope, Windermere, Mansfield Main Street, Newton Falls, and Pricetown UMCs during 33 years of ministry. The highlight of his ministry was teaching the basics of Christianity and trying to love the people as Christ loved.
In retirement, DeWayne and his wife Linda will live in Eastlake.
Erwin Urschitz served the congregations of Wooster, Caldwell, Orangeville, Vernon, McDonaldsville, and Middlefield UMCs during 31 years of ministry. He enjoyed working with many faithful followers of Christ over the years, raising their son in the church, forming many wonderful life-time friendships, and sharing Christ with others and seeing their growth.
In retirement, Erwin and his wife Wendy will live in North Canton where they look forward to enjoying time with family.
Douglas Winner served Chandlersville, Claysville, Willard Grace, Sandusky Trinity, and Jefferson UMCs during 26 years of ministry. Highlights of his ministry include being named pastor of the year in two different districts, serving in leadership roles of several Conference boards and committees, and serving the Lord faithfully through multiple baptisms, weddings, funerals, confirmation classes, visitations, teaching the Bible and proclaiming the Gospel.
In retirement, Doug and his wife Debbie will live in the Firelands District where they will hike, camp, travel, and do whatever the Lord calls them to do next.
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