Rev. Ralph H. Dovenbarger (May 28, 1927 – March 31, 2012)

Rev. Ralph H. Dovenbarger, 84 of Canton, died at 8:59pm Saturday March 31st at Canton Christian Home, Canton, OH. He was born Saturday, May 28, 1927 in Zanesville, the son of Ralph E. Dovenbarger and Mildred (Fritz) Dovenbarger. He married Dora Jane (Spragg) Dovenbarger on Tuesday, December 28, 1948.

Rev. Dovenbarger served his country during WWII in the United States Navy. Rev. Dovenbarger was a graduate of Ashland College and received his Masters Degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He faithfully served the congregations of Ark Springs Baptist Church, Newcomerstown Baptist Church and the Headlands Baptist Church of Mentor as their pastor. He also volunteered as a pastor at First Baptist Church in Englewood, FL. He loved music and enjoyed playing the trumpet. Rev. Dovenbarger spent many years with Christian camps where he directed camps and canoe trips. He was also a licensed ham radio operator.

Rev. Dovenbarger is survived by wife: Dora Jane Dovenbarger; two daughters: Jayne & Thomas Laursen of Canton and Beth & Allen Keeney of Willoughby; one son: Daniel B. Dovenbarger of Indianapolis; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and sister: Gloria Clossman of Elgin, IL. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

In addition to his parents, Rev. Dovenbarger was preceded in death by two brothers: Kenneth and Byron Dovenbarger and one sister: Mary Spragg.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, April 4th at the Hillis & Hardwick Funeral Home, 935 Forest Avenue, Zanesville, OH where funeral services will be held Thursday April 5th at 11:00 AM with Rev. Paul Lamb officiating. Burial will follow in Zanesville Memorial Park with VFW Post 1058 conducting Full Military Honors. Memorial contributions may be made to Market Street Baptist Church, 140 North Sixth Street, Zanesville, OH 43701 or Camp Koinonia, 6810 Cork Cold Springs Road, Geneva, OH 44041 in Rev. Dovenbarger’s memory. To sign the online register book or to send a personal condolence note, please visit www.HillisHardwickFH.com