John Paul Kerns

October 23, 1944 - March 25, 2016

KERNS, John Paul, 71, of Waynesville, Ohio, passed away on Friday, March 25 at Hospice of Dayton after a year long and valiant battle with ALS. He was born on October 23, 1944 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Paul E. and Odella Miller Kerns. He grew up in Gallipolis, Ohio; graduated from Gallia Academy in 1962; served honorably with the U.S. Army from 1962-1965 with the 3rd Infantry Division; received a BA degree from Rio Grande University in 1971. After a short time working as a mailman and a Sears department manager, he enjoyed a 30-year career as a marketing teacher at Greene County Career Center in Xenia before retiring in 2005. Along the way, he expressed his creativity in a variety of hobbies including model railroading, fishing, collecting, bluegrass music, reading, and crosswords. After his retirement in education, he had a passion to make Shaker boxes – a difficult and painstaking pursuit. He even created a jig to make his boxes. He appreciated the work of the Shakers and hoped others would enjoy the beauty of what the Shakers had created. He was the owner of a shop in Waynesville: The Shaker Box. John Paul was a devoted husband and father and is survived by his wife of 38 years, Angela Kerns, Waynesville, Ohio; his son, Andrew John Kerns, Waynesville, Ohio; his mother, Odella Miller Kerns, Waynesville, Ohio; his brother Michael (Joyce) Kerns, Memphis, Tennessee; brother-in-law Larry (Judy) Parker, Springfield, Ohio; sister-in-law Bonnie Parker, Pelzer, South Carolina; sister-in-law Judy (Larry) Domigan; Urbana, Ohio; brother-in-law Robert (Lynda) Parker, Jacksonville, Florida; brother-in-law Jack Parker, Sarasota, Florida; sister-in-law Melonie Parker, Springfield, Ohio; step brother-in-law Gary (Missy) Parker, Miamisburg, Ohio; step sister-in-law Linda Cochran Conway, Springfield, Ohio, plus numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. John Paul was preceded in death by his father, Paul E. Kerns in 1986; father-in-law Robert E. Parker; mother-in-law Thelma E. Holaday Parker of Springfield, Ohio; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Darlene and Donald White, Melbourne, Florida; niece Lisa White, Melbourne, Florida; brother-in-law, Lanny Parker, Pelzer, South Carolina; and step mother-in-law Janet Parker, Springfield, Ohio. A celebration of life service will be held on April 9, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Lytle United Methodist Church, Waynesville, Ohio. Pastor, Brian Blankenship officiating. Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home, Waynesville is serving the family. Condolences at www.stubbsconner.com.