Esh, Glenn (1919-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Nov 10 p. 9

Birth date: 1919 jan 6

text of obituary:

GLENN ESH

Glenn Esh, 89, died Oct. 11, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born Samuel Glenn Esh on Jan. 6, 1919, to Samuel Huey Esh and Katharine (Yoder) Esh in Belleville, Pa.

He spent his childhood in that small Amish-Mennonite community. He was a member of Maple Grove Mennonite Church.

He graduated from Goshen (Ind.) College with a degree in chemistry and went to work as a chemical engineer for Sylvania. During World War II he was education director/ director of Civilian Public Service camps in Maryland and Virginia. After the war he worked for Mennonite Central Committee in Akron, Pa., from 1946 to 1959.

He attended seminary and became the pastor of Monterey Mennonite Church from 1948 to 1965. When Akron Mennonite Church was formed, he was also their pastor for their first two years. He moved his family to Columbus in 1965 to become the first pastor of Neil Avenue Mennonite Church, now Columbus Mennonite Church.

After many years as a pastor, he became the director of Volunteer Action Center in Columbus. He was deeply involved in making changes in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He was active in promoting humanitarian and social causes. In retirment [sic] he set up a woodworking shop, became a master cabinet maker and made many pieces of beautiful furniture. He enjoyed gardening, cooking and reading.

Survivors include his wife, Janet (Grieser Gautsche); a sister, Susan Esh Gibbons of Ingomar, Pa.; two sons, Samuel Esh of Savannah, Ga., and Steven Esh and his wife, Susan, of Columbus; a daughter, Ellen Wiseman and her husband, Kenneth, of McArthur; stepdaughter Nancy Gautsche and stepson-in-law Ivan Emke of Newfoundland; two stepsons, Gary Gautsche and his wife, Kim, of Santa Fe, N.M., and Randy Gautsche of Columbus; five grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Louise Esh; a brother, Robert Leland Esh; a son, Jonathan Smucker Esh; granddaughter Elizabeth Ann Esh; step-grandson Daniel Gautsche Emke; and his first wife, Virginia Smucker Esh.