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OBITUARIES
George Gerald (Jerry) DeWine
George Gerald (Jerry) DeWine of Borrego Springs,
Calif., and Xenia died on Aug. 12 at Greene Memorial Hospital in Xenia,
following a massive stroke. He was 73.
Jerry was born on May 15, 1935, to George W. and Alice (nee Budd) in Yellow
Springs. He was born next door to their feed store in the family home
on Xenia Avenue, which is the present-day location of the Winds Café
Wine Cellar.
Jerry grew up in Yellow Springs, where he attended elementary school.
He attended high school and graduated from Elgin Academy in Elgin, Ill.,
and then attended the University of Kentucky. He received a degree in
education from Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.
Jerry was baptized at St. Paul Catholic Church in Yellow Springs. He married
his best friend, Polly Ann McNutt, in a ceremony on Sept. 7, 1957, also
at St. Paul’s.
Drafted into the U.S. Army, Jerry was called back to duty during the Berlin
crisis in the early 1960s. During his professional career, Jerry’s
passion was teaching. For 28 years, he taught American history and world
history at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky. He was a remarkable
teacher who found great joy and satisfaction in sharing stories with young
people about our past. Students liked him and respected him. He cared
about his students and took a genuine interest in their individual lives.
For the last 20 years of his life, Jerry courageously battled multiple
sclerosis (MS). He did not, however, let his physical impairments slow
him down. Jerry was an active member of his church — St. Richard’s
— in Borrego Springs. He also was a strong advocate for and supporter
of efforts to fight MS, including membership in the Greene County MS Society.
Jerry and Polly enjoyed spending the summer months in Xenia. Jerry loved
the outdoors and especially enjoyed going out on his motorized scooter
to nature areas or volunteering at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
in Borrego Springs.
Jerry also loved to travel. One of the trips that was most special to
him was the Alaskan cruise which he took with Polly. He also looked forward
to their semi-annual cross country train trip.
Jerry DeWine was sweet, kind, and generous. He was a devoted and loving
husband, brother, uncle, teacher, and friend, who will be missed dearly.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Judy Tropp;
and niece, Becky DeWine.
He is survived by his wife Polly; brother and sister-in-law, Dick and
Jean DeWine; sister and brother-in-law, Mickey and Dick Harwood; nephew
and his wife, Mike and Fran DeWine; brother-in-law, Ted (Ann) McNutt;
sister-in-law, Sue Moeser (Maria Bowser), sister-in-law Nancy (Don) Welch;
niece, Deborah Welch; nephew and his wife, David and Karen Welch; niece
and her husband, Kimberly and Richard Brull; nephew, Robert McNutt; nephew,
Travis Tropp; niece, Jill Tropp; five great-nephews; seven great-nieces;
and a host of great-great nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian burial was held at St. Paul Catholic Church on Saturday,
Aug. 16. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the National
MS Society, Box 4527, New York, NY 10163.
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