Paul Myers Obituary

Rev. Paul Edward Myers

Rev. Paul Edward Myers, 87, of Fostoria, passed away peacefully Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Good Shepherd Home in Fostoria. Paul was the oldest of four children born to Paul Raymond and Rhoda Ellen (Snyder) Myers. In birth order, he was joined by Joan Arlene (Mrs. Terry) Clark, Darrold Dean, and William Leroy. Paul started his long journey in 1948 on his way towards his eternal life, as he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in this worldly life, and in the next then he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and now has taken the next step to join other brothers and sisters with the Lord to reign with Jesus Christ and God our Father. What a journey that will be!

Paul graduated from Fostoria High School in 1955. He entered Brethren Volunteer Service, working with Church of the Brethren in New Windsor, Maryland and Nappanee, Indiana, from 1955-1958. He fulfilled his obligation by serving Alternative Service instead of serving in the military. It was during that time that he met Ella Jane Lambert. They married Dec. 28, 1957, at Fostoria Church of the Brethren by the Rev. Paul Haworth. From that union came three children, Cheryl Ann (Myers Grimes) Loo, Aaron (Heather) Myers and Brenda Lee (Delbert) Henderson. He was also blessed with five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Paul went to McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas. He graduated with a B.S. degree in Sociology in 1963. He studied at Bethany Theological Seminary in Oak Brook, Illinois from 1963-1964. At the Seminary, he was hired by Mt. Calvary Methodist Church in Lombard, Illinois, as a visitation and teaching pastor. His son, Aaron, had gotten ill, so they left and accepted his first pastorate, Allison Prairie Church of the Brethren, Lawrenceville, Illinois. He started preaching March of 1964 and was ordained at that congregation by District of Southern Illinois on Oct. 2, 1966. He then served churches in Maryland, Piney Creek Church of the Brethren Taneytown, Maryland and Thurmont Church of the Brethren in Thurmont, Maryland. He then came to Ohio in 1973 serving several churches. Pleasant View Church of the Brethren in Lima, Freeburg Church of the Brethren Paris, Maple Grove Church of the Brethren near Ashland for over 12 years and then his last pastorate was his home congregation, Fostoria Church of the Brethren in Fostoria from 1994-1999.

After his retirement in 1999 he did interim pastoral preaching while churches were searching for and calling a new pastor. His interims were Lick Creek Church of the Brethren in Bryan, New Covenant Church of the Brethren in Powell, Lakewood Church of the Brethren in Millbury, Marion Church of the Brethren in Marion, Heatherdowns Church of the Brethren in Toledo and a second interim at Lakewood Church. In February 2008 he started as the interim pastor at Grace United Church of Christ in Fostoria until they closed in 2019. He served 11 years and 5 months with that church and was active in ministerial associations and service organizations. He was very active in his denomination serving as Moderator in 1980 and 1996 of Northern Ohio District Church of the Brethren Northern Ohio District Conference. He served many years on the district board as secretary and committee chair and served on the Brethren volunteer service committee and ethics committee. He and Ella served as district conference manager for seven years and, served as the moderator of several churches and was a mentor for several pastors.

He worked for Gilbert-Van Hove Funeral Home in Ashland as a grief counselor, as a chaplain as Seneca county began their hospice program, worked as a chaplain for Ashland Memorial Hospital and in Fostoria worked for Mann-Hare Funeral Home.

He served on Inspiration Hills Camp Board near Wooster, where he was Summer Dean and Camp Counselor and served on the Master Plan Committee of Camp. He served on District Board of the Northern Ohio Church of the Brethren, representing the district as their standing committee member at annual conference meetings. In that capacity he served on the Nomination Committee for the Annual Conference and 2/3 committee. He was on the ethics committee of the District. He served on the Good Shepherd Home Board in Fostoria, where he was vice-chair, secretary of the board, chair of nominating and membership committee, land growth and development committee, and served on the campaign committee where he raised funds for the Therapy Wing. Paul was also a chair of the HUD 202 Home, "Poplar Ridge", which is part of Good Shepherd Home Campus and served as chair of the joint Wesley Commons/Wesley Village/Good Shepherd Home in Fostoria. He also served on ResCare, Seneca County Residential Group Home in Fostoria.

Paul and Ella were involved in and loved the work the Lord had called them to do. Paul always thought of his work as part of his journey through life. He loved preaching and reaching out to people. From the early 80s, he did what was called a restaurant ministry and made many stops at restaurants and truck stops. Ella was liked by many people wherever they were called to serve.

Paul enjoyed life and his family as they journeyed across this great land of America. He loved his Lord as he stayed involved in ministry, preaching and serving others at memorial services for loved ones. He was a positive person who looked for the best in anyone he came in contact with.

This journey of ministry started when he heard the call of God as he was working as a hired hand in northern Illinois in 1958 near the Mississippi River. On this journey he recalled many challenges, good and bad. Mountain Top experiences and then the trip in the Valley, God guided him, God opened doors, God closed doors. When Paul turned 80, Paul looked to Moses, as he was called to lead God's people out of Egypt into the Promised Land, for 80 years and new challenges.

A hymn we always sang in the church when he was growing up was: "Leadeth Me".

He leadeth me! O Blessed thought! Oh words with heavenly comfort fraught! What e'er I do, where e're I be, Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me! He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me: His faithful foll'wer I would be, For by His Hand He leadeth me."

As a youngster growing up I thought the words the congregation was singing was: "His faithful flower I would be…"

Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, and 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at HOENING & SON FUNERAL HOME, 133 W. Tiffin Street, Fostoria, Ohio 44830. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at the funeral home with the Rev. James Sharrett presiding. Burial will follow at Knollcrest Cemetery in Arcadia. A funeral luncheon and gathering will follow the burial in the reception area of the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Fostoria Flag Fund in care of the funeral home.

Online expressions of sympathy and shared memories may be made by visiting www.hoeningfuneralhome.com