From today’s Daytona Beach, Florida, newspaper. John pastored Grace Brethren churches in Dayton, Ohio (Patterson Park), Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Johnstown First), Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, and Sunnyside, Washington.
John Ruby Terrell went home to be with his Lord and Savior, on July 20, 2007.
John was born in New Lebanon, Ohio, on June 6, 1933. He attended Dixie High School in New Lebanon and continued his education at Taylor University in Upland, Ind. After his graduation in 1956, he earned a Divinity Degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio.
John married his high school sweetheart, Joanne Blosser, in September 1952. They served for many years together as pastor and wife at churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington State.
Together they raised four children, Rebecca, Jennifer, John, and Betsy. They shared 27 years of marriage which ended in Joanne’s death in 1980.
In 1992, John married Patricia Steffes in Mercer Island, Wash., and he welcomed her children, John, Andrew and Karin into their life together. They resided in Bellevue, Wash., and moved to Port Orange, Fla., in 1998 to care for John’s mother, Betty Mae Terrell.
Together John and Pat loved and served their family, played golf, attended Christ Community Church, and opened up their home for many gatherings that were full of laughter and rich fellowship.
John’s life was filled with the joy of sharing and receiving God’s love. He touched many lives with his Bible teaching, his writing, and his never-ending humor. In 1979, he began selling commercial real estate and was currently with Coldwell Banker, Port Orange.
He was a member of and has served as president of Cypress Head Men’s Golf Association. Golf was his passion and he was an avid reader, loved walks on the beach and enjoyed music – particularly singing with his family and giving ukulele lessons to those who also loved music.
John will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Patricia, his children and step children, Rebecca (Donald) McIntosh, Jennifer (Rodney) Kauffman, John (Lori) Terrell, Betsy (Ruben) Hernandez, John (Kathie) Steffes, Andrew Steffes, Karin O’Hall, their 23 grandchildren and great-grandchildren (whom he affectionately called “his little bums”), his brothers Charlie (Marge), Dale (Anabelle) and Dan (Michelle) Terrell, his sister, Betty Lou (Russell) Mills, and many other family members and friends.
John was preceded in death by his father, James Matthew Terrell, and his mother, Betty Mae Terrell.
A memorial service to honor John will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at Lohman Funeral Home Port Orange, 1201 Dunlawton Avenue, with a reception to follow. Reverend John McIntosh pastor of Grace Brethren Church, Simi Valley, California, will officiate.
A committal service will be held for John in Seattle, Washington, at a later date.
