Harry D. Kearns

Harry Donald Kearns, 100, of Zanesville, died at 12:04 P.M. on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at the Genesis Good Samaritan Emergency Room. He was born at the family farm on March 26, 1915, at what is now 3850 Kearns Drive. Growing up on the family farm he learned as a young boy to work the family horses cultivating his father's commercial strawberries. He graduated from Lash High School in the class of 1934 where he was a High Jumper. In the summer he played baseball with his brother Frank on local teams after they had finished milking the cows. Harry attended Meredith Business School. He took flying lessons from Foster Lane at the Columbus Airport in the open cock pit airplanes of the 30's. He worked various jobs before settling in for 42 years as a Petroleum Distributor with Farm Bureau and the Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio). During WWII he waived the right to a farm exemption and was drafted into the 290th Combat Engineers. He trained at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and served in England and France. He was active in community and organizational activities. He served on the Falls Township School Board as a member and President. He was active and an 80 plus year member of Timber Run Grange. He was a 65 plus year member of the Masons and a 32nd Degree Shriner. He served as Chaplain and Secretary at the state level of United Commercial Travelers. He and his wife, Jane belonged to a family oriented Euchre Club, Farm Bureau Council, and Holiday Ramblers. Harry was a member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He donated a truck to the Falls Township Fire Department and was a generous blood donor. Harry and Jane enjoyed traveling, visiting most states and a number of countries, with Ireland being their favorite. Harry enjoyed family history. His grandfather, John Kearns, was in the California Gold Rush of 1849, making Harry possibly the last grandchild of a participant of this American event. His Bell ancestors served with Washington at Fort Necessity in 1754 and explored the Ohio River with this ‘founding father' in 1770. Harry's ‘great great' grandfather was captured by the Indians and released to Colonel Bouquet in 1764. As long as Harry was able, he kept busy clearing brush and trees with his chain saw and mowing his yard and fields. He kept an acute interest in investments and watched the business program daily. He kept an active interest in the Cincinnati Reds and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Mr. Kearns attended Finley United Methodist Church as a youth. He was active in Coburn United Methodist Church and a member of Faith Methodist Church but had returned to Finley in recent years. Surviving are two sons, Grant (Jean) Kearns of Marysville and Charles Kearns of Zanesville; a daughter Sue A. (Kenneth) Norris of Marion; four grandchildren, Sean and Dr. Laura Kearns and Emily and Mark Norris; two sisters-in-law, Jean Nettelhorst and Ruby Nettelhorst. There are numerous nieces and nephews surviving, two of which live in Muskingum County, James L. Marshall and Paula S. Todd. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of almost 72 years, Jane Louise (Nettelhorst) Kearns, who died May 8, 2012. Also preceding him were his parents E.E. Grant and Emma (Burgess) Kearns along with his siblings and their spouses, Elmer (Orless) Kearns, May (Herbert) Marshall, John (Dorothy) Kearns and Frank (Helen) Kearns. Friends and family may call from 2:00-4:00 P.M. & 6:00-8:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 14, 2015, with Masonic Services by the LaFayette Lodge #79 F&AM at 5:45 P.M., at the BOLIN-DIERKES FUNERAL HOME, 1271 BLUE AVENUE, ZANESVILLE. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, May 15, 2015, at Finley United Methodist Church, 4455 Pinecrest Drive, Zanesville, Ohio, 43701, with Pastor Charles Norris officiating. He will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Jane at Williams Cemetery, near Zanesville, with full military honors being presented by the United States Army in conjunction with VFW George Selsam Post #1058. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Finley United Methodist Church, at the above address.

Visitation

Thursday, May 14, 2015 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home
1271 Blue Avenue Zanesville 43701, United States

Visitation

Thursday, May 14, 2015 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home
1271 Blue Avenue Zanesville 43701, United States

Funeral Service

Friday, May 15, 2015 2:00 PM
Finley United Methodist Church
4455 Pinecrest Drive Zanesville OH 43701 ,