John O Meloy

The pastor emeritus of First Presbyterian Church, Defiance, the Rev. John O. Meloy died February 6, 2017. He was born in New Brighton, PA on May 6, 1922, the oldest son of the Rev. John W. and Lena Ogden Meloy. His school years were in Bloomington, IN and Wichita, KS, then graduated from the College of Wooster, class of 1943. His Theological training was at Pittsburgh-Xenia Seminary and McCormick Seminary, Chicago. He married Janet Reid August 17, 1945, in Buffalo, NY. John is survived by Lynn Meloy (Lyle) Cain, Cincinnati; Dr. John Reid (MJ) Meloy, and granddaughter Olivia, San Diego, CA; and Rachel Meloy (Tim) Hopple, Tiffin. His brothers, George and Robert, preceded him in death. He was a Presbyterian minister for 52 years serving churches in Lockport and Caledonia, NY, before coming to First Pres. Church, Defiance, in 1965. Retiring from the local pastorate in 1987, he was adjunct instructor at The Defiance College, a frequent summer pastor in N. Barnstead, NH, Moderator of Maumee Valley Presbytery, and Trustee of McCormick Theological Seminary. He had been commissioner to three national General Assemblies of the Pres. church and on numerous committees of the Synod (statewide) and Presbytery (NWO). In Defiance he had served as labor mediator, president of the Clergy Fellowship, Lions Club, and Council of Social Service Agencies. He had written occasional letters and articles for the Toledo Blade, the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, and the Defiance Crescent-News, including a post-retirement series on a dozen local churches titled "Let's Go to Church". He had also written a series for the national devotional magazine, "These Days". He and his wife were frequent summer residents at Chautauqua Institute (NY) where he had preached in the Presbyterian House on the grounds. After his wife, Jan's death in 2002, he moved to Ohio Living, Swan Creek in Toledo. He was married to Betty Kridler from 2003-08. Lois Grasser, also a resident at Swan Creek, has been his loving companion for the past 9 years. He was very active at Swan Creek, continuing with occasional guest preaching and also serving on a number of committees internally and in the community. A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Ohio Living at Swan Creek on March 11, 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Toledo Symphony or Hospice of NW Ohio. Please leave a condolence message for the family at CoyleFuneralHome.com.

John O Meloy

May 6, 1922 - February 6, 2017