John Neff

NEFF John Neff, age 72, of Hilliard, departed this life on Sunday, December 31, 2006. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Grace Neff, and by two sisters Coryn Lehman and Pauline Williams. John is survived by his wife of 52 1/2 years, Hilda; three children, Carol Filkins (Derrick) of Indianapolis, Mark of Columbus and Mary Sinclair McKinney (Kelly) of Columbus; one brother, Richard of Columbus; and a sister, Georgie Wolford of Englewood. John enjoyed his teaching career at Upper Arlington High School, where he taught Sophomore English, Psychology, and Humanities, and was the Alcohol/Drug Educator for the district the last seven years of his career. He was a very hard-working man, throwing himself wholeheartedly into whatever he was doing. While at UAHS, he developed a course "The Bible as Lit" and taught it for many years. John also was very active in his church, for 25 years at the Hilltop Church of God, where he taught a young adult Sunday school class and was active in the State Board of Christian Education for that church. Since 1983, he has been actively involved at First Community Church, where he taught adult education classes, served on the Adult Education Council, and Spiritual Searcher Committee, serving as Chair at different times of each, and was a member of the Board of Church and Ministry for the Central Southeast District of the U.C.C. For 22 years, he was a member of the First Community Church Chancel Choir which was a deep joy in his life. Following his teaching career, he did some light catering and was quite the gourmet cook. He was a man of many talents and was very widely read. John was the first leader of the Alpha Group at Camp Akita, now called the L.I.F.E. Guard (Life Is First Eternal), which is a service group of campers to Camp Akita. The last job he had before his illness robbed him of his health was as manager of the Utzinger Memorial Garden at the Farm Science Review, a job he loved very much. He spent many hours in his own green house planting seeds to be replanted into his own garden and yard. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2007 in the main sanctuary at First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Blvd. Columbus, Ohio 43212, where the family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. and following the service. Reverend James Long officiating. Floral contributions or gifts may be made to First Community Foundation or to The Ohio State Development Fund, Acct. Alzheimer Initiative Research 306246, 660 Ackerman Road, Columbus, Ohio 43218. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Road.