Rev. Richard Demott

Rev. Richard "Dick "Harold DeMott, age 95, died at Hoosier Village in Indianapolis, Indiana August 28, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. Dick was born January 15, 1916 in Allentown, PA, the eldest son of John Franklin "Frank" and Naomi Bertha Eckman DeMott. Dick was an ordained pastor of the American Baptist Churches, USA. He served in many churches throughout the Midwest. Dick was a veteran of WWII where he served in the Navy's Atlantic Fleet. He was stationed in North Africa as an aviation mechanic. Dick met his wife Ruth Evelyn Loesch before his Naval deployment. He married her shortly after the war on August 10, 1946. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. Dick attended Moody bible Institute in 1946 and graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary five years later. Dick pastored several American Baptist churches in Ohio, including Pomeroy, Jefferson, Greenfield, and Martins Ferry. After retiring in 1981, he served as an interim for ABC churches in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. With his wife Ruth he moved to Hoosier Village in 1998. Dick thoroughly enjoyed gardening, finding peace and joy doting over both vegetables and flowers. His love for nature made him a bird watcher and, in his younger years, an avid family camper. He was rarely found without a book in his hand and believed books to be his "friends". He enjoyed classical music as well as the annual Army-Navy Football game. Dick will be remembered for his humble Christian faith, his dedication to the Bible, his commitment to God's call into Christian ministry, and his hope in eternal life. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Naomi DeMott, a sister, Mary Buxton, and a brother, Alfred DeMott. He is survived by his wife, Ruth of Hoosier Village, Indianapolis, and six children: Phyllis DeMott of Round Lake, IL; Dr. Nancy DeMott of Fortville, IN; Sherrill (Rick) Hultgen of Darien, IL; John Richard "Rick" (Paula) DeMott of Martins Ferry, OH and one step granddaughter and two step great grandchildren; Dr. David (Sheryl) DeMott of Grand Junction, CO and three grandchildren; Janice (Mike) Hector of Tinley Park, IL and three grandchildren. A funeral service for Rev. DeMott will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at the Hoosier Village Chapel, 5300 W. 96th Street, Indianapolis with visitation from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church 306 Locust St, Martins Ferry, Ohio on Friday, September 2, 2011 at 11 am. Burial will be at Weeks Cemetery, Bridgeport, Ohio. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or to the Green Lake Assembly (www.glcc.org) W2511 State Rd 23, Green Lake, WI 54941. On-line condolences may be made at www.flannerbuchanan.com Arrangements entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Center, Zionsville, Indiana and to Heslop Funeral Home, Martins Ferry, Ohio. You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan