John Dennis

John T. Dennis 80, died at 7:25 p.m. July 17, 2009, at Lima Memorial Health System. He was born November 17, 1928, in Braznell, Pennsylvania, to John B. and Elizabeth Twyford Dennis, who preceded him in death. On June 18, 1977, he married Joy Smith, who survives in Lima, Ohio. Mr. Dennis was a member of South Side Christian Church and served in God?s name as church deacon for more than 25 years. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 370 in Lima. He was a graduate of the Lima Police Academy. He served in the U.S. Navy from May 31, 1946, to March 26, 1948, on two aircraft carriers, the USS Salerno Bay and the USS Siboney. He worked as a coal miner; car salesman; factory worker; managed a restaurant and owned a bar; spent many years in the construction field (heating and air plus kitchen planning for Sears; Space Homes as salesman, manager, and sales manager in five offices for the state) as well as being president and general manager of Rigid Frames Homes and owner of Dennis Construction Co. in Lima; served with the Allen County Sheriff?s Office as deputy sheriff and detective while also running for sheriff as a write-in candidate earning 11,000 votes; retired from Water Equipment in Lima. Mr. Dennis has lived the life of a very happy man since marrying Joy and raising a family. Survivors also include a daughter, Deborah (Dave) Buettner, Lima, Ohio; a son, Jeffrey (Kim Powell) Dennis, of Lima, Ohio; a brother, Ronald ?Chick? (D.J.) Dennis, of Lima, Ohio; two sisters, Garnet Throckmorton, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and Rosalie Dennis, of Stowe, Ohio; six grandchildren, Camey, Cody, Rian, Kirstie, Wyatt, and Elliott; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Dorcas Dennis and a brother-in-law, Daryl Throckmorton. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at South Side Christian Church. Wanda Werking will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Lima, with military rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at South Side Christian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association/Ohio Valley, P.O. Box 634445, Cincinnati, OH 45263-4445 or to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.