UPDATE: The funeral service for the Rev. Jack Barton Witherspoon will be livestreamed on the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home Facebook page on Thursday, September 9, 2022. at 6:00 p.m. The livestreaming will begin several minutes before the start of the service.
The Rev. Jack Barton Witherspoon, 78, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Monday, September 5, 2022, at 1:48 a.m. at the Court House Manor Nursing Home where he had been a patient since May.
Rev. Witherspoon was born December 14, 1943, at the family home on South Main Street in Washington Court House to Jack Stanley and Olive Kathryn Graves Witherspoon.
He was a 1961 graduate of Washington High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from The Ohio State University in 1965. He subsequently taught eighth grade math for 11 years in the South-Western, Dublin and Upper Arlington school districts.
Following graduation in 1978, with a Master’s Degree in mathematics from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, he edited math textbooks for the next 11 years for the Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company in Columbus, Ohio and Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company in Boston.
After graduating from the Boston University School of Theology in 1992, with a Master’s of Divinity degree, Rev. Witherspoon was ordained an Elder with the United Methodist Church at Lakeside, Ohio in 1996. He served the South Bloomfield and Lockbourne United Methodist Churches from 1993 until 2004. Beginning in 2001, he also served as village minister and chaplain for First Community Village, a retirement community in Columbus, until he retired in August 2013.
Rev. Witherspoon was a member of the West Ohio Conference and attended the Grace United Methodist Church in Washington Court House. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
He enjoyed traveling and visited most of the continental United States as well as Europe, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, the Republic of South Africa and several Caribbean islands. His life journey led him to a great love and respect for people from different races, religions and cultures.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a cousin, Carol Witherspoon Carey.
Rev. Witherspoon is survived by cousins, Jo Ann and Jerry Newton, Doug and Becky Newton and family, Juliana and Russ Boldaser and family, Richard Witherspoon and Jay Carey; longtime friend, Sharon Allen; numerous other special friends and his beloved cats.
The funeral will be Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 6 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Mell Wickensimer, director of visitation at the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating.
Cremation will follow the service and burial of the cremains will be at a later date in the Washington Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday from 4-6 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, 301 East Market Street, the Washington Court House City Schools, 306 Highland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Pastor Jack was our First Community Village minister from 2001-2013. He was kind, caring, helpful and had a great sense of humor as he connected with residents, families and staff. He was excellent with being flexible in working with the Alzheimer’s residents which could be a challenge. One lady just kept singing Jesus Loves Me and he just went in with his message with a smile. He wore his long cross around his neck and long robe for Church. He was the very first staff person I met when I interviewed 20 years ago and a friend always after that. His other interests were his beautiful home, gardens, trains, Facebook, and going to church services and out to eat with friends. Thank you, Ted, for the much valued friendship with Pastor Jack. He worked with Bobbi Riddle and Marylou Cline preparing for the Church Services at FCV. He will be missed by many as he made a difference in many lives! Always in our thoughts and prayers, Pastor Murphy! Love. Char Christensen, Life Enrichment Director at FCV Healthcare