John “David” Whittington

John “David” Whittington, 66, died at 1:47 p.m. Feb. 11, 2013, at Lima Memorial Health System, from a massive heart attack.

He was born March 22, 1946, in Lima to John and Norma Notter Whittington, who proceeded him in death. He married Linda Jane Renner, who survives in Gomer.

Mr. Whittington had been a teacher at Perry Local Schools and Delphos Jefferson High School, teaching science, biology and anatomy and was a guidance counselor. He taught adult education courses at Vantage Vocational School on Indian relics and had taught science methods at OSU-Lima, where he had also been a student teacher supervisor. He had been a harness racing clerk at Sidney, Ottawa and Lima fairs. He had been a volunteer juvenile probation officer and teacher and had been a probation officer for Lima Juvenile Court.

He was a member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, the Allen County Go Bucks Club and the Welsh Society of Northwest Ohio, where he was the current president. He had been a member of the Lima Emergency Planning Commission, the National Association of Biology Teachers and the Ohio Academy of Science Olympiads at OSU local, regional and state science fairs. He had directed marine biology camps on Andros Island, Bahamas. He was awarded the Northwest Ohio Science Teacher of the Year, the National Association Biology Teacher of the Year, was inducted in to the Lima Senior High School Hall of Fame and received the Honorary Wildcat Award at Delphos Jefferson High School. He was a 1964 graduate of Lima Senior High School, a 1968 graduate of The Ohio State University and received his master’s degree in guidance in 1972 from the University of Dayton. He was a member of Gomer United Church of Christ. He enjoyed reading, gardening, harness racing, Indian relic history and collecting, traveling, boxing, gambling and antiquing.

Survivors also include a daughter, Cynthia Lynn Whittington (Scott) Neubert, of Delphos; a sister, Nancy (Larry) Miller, of Lima; two grandsons, Evan John Neubert and Alex David Neubert; a sister-in-law, Jill (Arnold) Renner; and three nieces and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Thomas and Mabel Ballard Whittington, great-grandparents, Thomas and Sara Whittington, who were from Penegoes, North Wales, and Richard and Bernice Notter; and a brother-in-law, Allen Keith Renner; .

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Gomer United Church of Christ. The Rev. David Howell and the Rev. Brian Knoderer will officiate. Burial will be in Pike Run/Tawelfan Cemetery, Gomer.

Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Harter & Schier Funeral Home, Delphos, and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Welsh Society of Northwest Ohio.