Ted Stepleton

1929 - 2025

LIMA -- Ted Stepleton, age 95, of Lima passed away at Lima Memorial Hospital in Lima on Sunday, January 19, 2025. He was born on July 9, 1929 in Bluffton, Ohio to the late Theodore Elsworth Stepleton and Rosina Idella (Gratz) Stepleton.

Ted graduated from Lima Central High School in 1948 and went on to attend Ohio State University for one year before he was drafted into the Army. He served two years in the 101st Airborne Division in the Korean War on the front lines where Ted attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. After serving in the Army, he returned to earn a business degree from Bluffton College. The majority of Ted's career was spent at the Fisher Cheese Company in Wapakoneta, Ohio where he worked as Vice President in charge of purchasing for 22 years. He then went on to start his own business, Diet and Health Products, one of the first distributors of low-cholesterol and low fat cheese in the country.

On September 10, 1955 Ted married his high school sweetheart Kathryn (Kate) Stepleton at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lima, Ohio. After their marriage they lived in Hilliard, Ohio for three years but then returned to Lima where they lived together for 65 years before Kate's passing in 2023. Ted was an active member at St. Luke's where he played the piano for Sunday School for many years. He also served on the Bluffton College Board of Trustees.

Ted was an avid tennis player through most of his life, starting in high school and college and continuing until he was 90 years old. He loved to play tennis at Westside Swim and Racquet Club, Shawnee Country Club, and Orchard Hill Racquet Club in Lima. He participated in many local and senior citizen tennis tournaments throughout his life, winning a silver medal as a national runner-up in doubles for the 75 and over division of the Senior Olympics. He also loved following his children and grandchildren as they played tennis in high school and college and he was even able to serve as an assistant tennis coach at Lima Senior High School and Shawnee High School when they played. Ted truly enjoyed spending summers with his family at Lakeside on Lake Erie where he played tennis and operated his Hawaiian Ice cart with his grandchildren for many summers.

Ted was also a great supporter of Lima Senior high School basketball where he sat in the front row with his twin brother Jim for many years rooting on the Spartans through thick and thin. As a result, Ted and Jim were inducted into the Lima Senior Athletic Hall of Fame for their contributions as fans over the years. Ted and Jim were also very proud of the fact that they attended over fifty Ohio high school basketball tournaments in Columbus where they were well known for their hospitality to fans and coaches around the state.

Ted is survived by his three children: Cheryl (Rob) Cusick, Theodore P. (Jennifer) Stepleton, and Cathy (Jeff) Mart, who all reside in Lima. In addition he is survived by nine grandchildren: Eric (Brittany) Cusick, Sarah (Steve) Recio, Andrew (Jenn) Mart, Jessica (Tim Boland) Stepleton, Teddy (Katie) Stepleton, Julie (Patrick) Bonifas, Elizabeth (Kyle) Bull, Emily (Garrett) Black, Christopher (Shae) Mart and 12 Great Grandchildren: Carson Cusick, Connor Cusick, Caden Recio, Abigail Mart, Hannah Mart, Sammy Recio, Arthur Bonifas, Andrew (AJ) Mart, Calvin Bonifas, Gracie Bull, Logan Bull, and Evren Stepleton Boland. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Peggy Allen, sister-in-law Barbara Fisher, and 33 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years Kathryn Stepleton, his parents Theodore and Rosina Stepleton, his in-laws J. Paul and Margaret Fisher, two brothers: James Stepleton and Robert Stepleton, his sister Roberta Miller, five brothers-in-law: John C. Fisher, James P. Fisher, John Tebben, Bill Allen, and Tom Miller , and five sisters-in-law: Rosemary Stepleton, Nancy Stepleton, Marilyn Fisher, Lillian Schnabel, and Sally Tebben.

Contributions in Ted's memory may be made to the Lima Rescue Mission (216 E. Wayne Street, Lima 45801) , St. Luke's Lutheran Church (209 W. North Street, Lima 45801), or the Lima Senior Athletic Department (1 Spartan Way, Lima 45801).

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 1, 2025 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, with Pastor Dave Westphal to officiate the service, where military rites will be conducted by V.F.W. Post 1275 and the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be Friday, January 31, 2025 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., at the Shawnee Chapel of Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services and again on Saturday at the church, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.