John H Wyant

A memorial service for John H. Wyant, 86, will be held Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 115 N. 6th Street, Hamilton with the Rev. Paul E. Daggett officiating. A graveside service will be held Friday at 3:00 p.m. at Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville with the Rev. Dr. David O. Woodyard officiating.

Mr. Wyant died Monday. He was born Feb 11, 1922 in Newark to the late Foster E. and Ida Blanche (Brown) Wyant.  He was raised in Granville and lost his hearing to an illness at age one.

Mr. Wyant graduated from the Ohio School for the Deaf where he was class president and basketball team captain.  He was a frequent traveler who took trips throughout the world with family until last month.  In spite of his handicap, he was an extrovert and showed great interest in the lives of others, frequently striking up written conversations with strangers on scraps of paper and napkins.  He was devoted to family and inspired others through his example and his passion about education and the lessons of sports.  In 1971, the Wyants adopted a South Vietnamese family of six who resided in their home and learned English and sign language despite a double language barrier.  Mr. Wyant retired from Diebold after a 39 year career, and never missed a day due to illness.

Surviving are his four children, Jack (Peg) and Kent (Michelle) of Cincinnati, Rita (Tom Herskovits) of Cincinnati and Boca Raton, and Andrew (Kelley) of Phoenix; 10 grandchildren, Jack and Chris of Philadelphia, Tim of New York City, Missy (Yvo Smit) of San Francisco, Julia, Emily, Anna, Matthew Wyant and David Herskovits of Cincinnati, Kathryn Herskovits of New York City, one great-grandchild, Finny Smit of San Francisco; brother, Richard of Columbus; sisters-in-law, Mary Crane of Boston, Patti Ellenbogen of Fayetteville, NC and Louise Delano of Hamilton, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Margaret.  They lived in Hamilton for 50 years after which he lived four years at Columbus Colony in Westerville.

Arrangements are in the care of McPeek Funeral Home in Granville. Visit www.mcpeekfuneralhome.com to sign an online register or send an email condolence.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43214 for the Wyant Project to Renovate the Playground, where he and Margaret met.