Dr. John M. Delphia

Obituary
John M Delphia passed away peacefully March 26, 2023,in his home surrounded by family. Born to Emery Delphia and Eugenia Senecal on March 29, 1925, on a farm in Zurich, Kansas, the second of five boys, he was a World War II veteran having served as a US Navy medic in the Pacific. He graduated from St Benedict's College, Atchison Kansas, completed graduate studies at Kansas State University, and received a PhD in zoology from the University of Nebraska. After a six-year affiliation with North Dakota State University, he accepted a position at The Ohio State University in the department of anatomy in 1961 teaching developmental anatomy (embryology)to medical and dental students. In 1992 he retired after 31years of dedicated teaching and research.
He and his wife of 63 years, Patricia Kidder, of Norton, Kansas, married in 1949 and together raised six children. For more than 40 years, they were active members of the St Thomas More Newman Center where they put their deep faith into action volunteering in the soup kitchen and assisting a refugee family settle in Columbus.
He was a loyal member of Boy Scout Troup 80beginning with his sons, then grandsons and continuing many years. He never lost his love for the land that he learned as a child and found joy in planting and caring for a large vegetable and flower garden every year. After retirement, he became an accomplished wood carver. When wood working became difficult, he turned his attention to drawing instead. He never lost his intellectual curiosity and encouraged his children and grandchildren in their academic and professional studies, fostering a lifelong love of learning. As he aged his sense of humor only grew, playfully teasing and joking with his family and friends even in his final days. His loving, open-minded, and welcoming nature was evident in the way he welcomed new friends into the family throughout his life.
The family wishes to express our gratitude to the caregivers who helped him live comfortably in his own home until his recent passing for their dedicated and loving care: Jan Stevens, Issa Kambwanya, and Soung Yoon.
Preceded in death by wife Patricia and granddaughter Melissa Deno. Survived by children Michael (Elizabeth), Maureen (Steve Mellor), James (Barbara Gregory), Carolyn (Donald) Berry, Paul, Brian (Alex), grandchildren Rachel (Casey Helfrich),Joseph (Cara Rufenacht), Nicholas (Rebecca), Jonathan Deno, Stephen Deno, Adrienne (Brenden) Leard, Alysse (Zachary) Littleberry, Will (Jerica), Lydia and eight great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday, March 31, from 5 to 7 pm at Egan-Ryan Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 4661 Kenny Road. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, April 1, at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 20 E Dominion Blvd. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Paulist Fathers, 415 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019
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