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George Gerald (Jerry) DeWine
- Published: August 21, 2008
George Gerald (Jerry) DeWine of Borrego Springs, Calif., and Xenia died on Aug. 12 at Greene Memorial Hospital in Xenia, following a massive stroke. He was 73.
Jerry was born on May 15, 1935, to George W. and Alice (nee Budd) in Yellow Springs. He was born next door to their feed store in the family home on Xenia Avenue, which is the present-day location of the Winds Café Wine Cellar.
Jerry grew up in Yellow Springs, where he attended elementary school. He attended high school and graduated from Elgin Academy in Elgin, Ill., and then attended the University of Kentucky. He received a degree in education from Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.
Jerry was baptized at St. Paul Catholic Church in Yellow Springs. He married his best friend, Polly Ann McNutt, in a ceremony on Sept. 7, 1957, also at St. Paul’s.
Drafted into the U.S. Army, Jerry was called back to duty during the Berlin crisis in the early 1960s. During his professional career, Jerry’s passion was teaching. For 28 years, he taught American history and world history at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky. He was a remarkable teacher who found great joy and satisfaction in sharing stories with young people about our past. Students liked him and respected him. He cared about his students and took a genuine interest in their individual lives.
For the last 20 years of his life, Jerry courageously battled multiple sclerosis (MS). He did not, however, let his physical impairments slow him down. Jerry was an active member of his church — St. Richard’s — in Borrego Springs. He also was a strong advocate for and supporter of efforts to fight MS, including membership in the Greene County MS Society.
Jerry and Polly enjoyed spending the summer months in Xenia. Jerry loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed going out on his motorized scooter to nature areas or volunteering at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs.
Jerry also loved to travel. One of the trips that was most special to him was the Alaskan cruise which he took with Polly. He also looked forward to their semi-annual cross country train trip.
Jerry DeWine was sweet, kind, and generous. He was a devoted and loving husband, brother, uncle, teacher, and friend, who will be missed dearly.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Judy Tropp; and niece, Becky DeWine.
He is survived by his wife Polly; brother and sister-in-law, Dick and Jean DeWine; sister and brother-in-law, Mickey and Dick Harwood; nephew and his wife, Mike and Fran DeWine; brother-in-law, Ted (Ann) McNutt; sister-in-law, Sue Moeser (Maria Bowser), sister-in-law Nancy (Don) Welch; niece, Deborah Welch; nephew and his wife, David and Karen Welch; niece and her husband, Kimberly and Richard Brull; nephew, Robert McNutt; nephew, Travis Tropp; niece, Jill Tropp; five great-nephews; seven great-nieces; and a host of great-great nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian burial was held at St. Paul Catholic Church on Saturday, Aug. 16. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the National MS Society, Box 4527, New York, NY 10163.
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