Justin T. "Bubba" Van Dyke

MARENGO — "A big kid with a huge heart," Justin T. "Bubba" Van Dyke, went to be with the Lord much too soon early Friday morning, July 14, 2017, following complications from a recent back surgery. He was 33 years young and of Marengo.

On May 10, 1984, Justin was born in Mount Gilead, Ohio, the youngest of three children of Holly (Rockwell) Van Dyke and the late Tommy Joe Van Dyke. Growing up, he attended Highland High School.

Following school, Justin worked as an aid with Canterbury Villa of Centerburg, where he cared for and loved on their residents with developmental disabilities. He then went on to work at the Kroger Distribution Center in Delaware, working there for nearly ten years, spending most of his time in their quality assurance department.

Getting a second chance at love, Bubba married Bridget Harris on February 17, 2016, which gave them their sweet red-headed princess, Makenzie.

Deep in faith, Justin was raised in the New Testament Missionary Baptist Church in Mount Gilead. "Enjoying the church environment and wanting to spread the good word," he also church hopped to twenty plus churches over the years, especially enjoying Genoa Baptist Church in Westerville.

Very creative, Justin enjoyed experimenting and creating new things whether it was in the kitchen when he was cooking or restoring vintage items to use to decorate his house.

Bubba will be remembered as a "big kid, with a huge heart." He was always the "fun dad and fun uncle," always monkeying around with all the kids in the Van Dyke family. You always knew where Bubba was, because he was the loudest, clumsiest and goofiest one in the family. He overflowed with love for all of his family, whom he was very protective of, and loved spending all of his time with.

Bubba will forever be missed by his wife, Bridget Van Dyke; five children: Gaven, Andrea, Charlie, Jayce and Makenzie; mother, Holly Van Dyke; two siblings: Tommy Joe "T. Joe" (Mandy) Van Dyke, and Hope Marie Young; brother-in-law, Charles (Sharee) Harris; nine nieces and nephews: Haven and Caden Van Dyke, Pvt. Trent and Kailyn Sloan, Ashley and Curtis Smith, Christopher, Kyle and Lance Harris; lifelong best friend, David Greenawalt III; and many more dear friends and cousins.

Bubba was preceded in death by his father, Tommy Joe Van Dyke; and a nephew, Garett Josiah Seth Harris.

His family will greet friends from 2 – 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Snyder Funeral Homes, Craven Chapel, 67 N. Main St., Mount Gilead. Services honoring his life will be held there at 5 p.m. with Pastor Aaron Beacom officiating. Interment will follow in Butter Cemetery in Marengo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the funeral home to help Bridget and her children.

Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead are honored to have been chosen to serve Bubba's family and your favorite memories and condolences may be expressed with them via www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.