Obituary of Reverend John Wanamaker

Reverend John Wanamaker passed away on March 10, 2020. He was born February 24, 1928, in Villa Park, Illinois. He grew up in Wisconsin and Ohio, the son of Reverend John and Evelyn Wanamaker. He graduated from high school at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio. He served in the United States Army. He graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and from Northern Baptist Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. On May 22, 1952, John was married to Joann Stratton at Bethel Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. He served as pastor of churches in Illinois and Ohio and on the staff of American Baptist Churches of Maine. He retired after serving as an Area Minister for the West Virginia Baptist Convention for seventeen years. Alderson Broaddus University presented him with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1990. John loved most kinds of music and played the piano and organ, mostly self-taught. He was a skilled wood-worker and gave gifts of hand-made bowls, candle holders, lamps, clocks and many others to family members and friends. John is survived by his wife Joann. They had celebrated sixty-seven years of marriage; three daughters Cindy Wanamaker of Morgantown, West Virginia, Cheryl Testa of Purcellville, Virginia and Cathy Davis and her husband Lennie of North Huntington, Pennsylvania; a grandson Justin Chase; a granddaughter Chelsea Spiegel and her husband Brian and two great grandchildren Vaughn Chase and Gabriella Spiegel. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations may be made in Reverend Wanamaker’s memory to the West Virginia Baptist Convention, 1019 Juliana Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101 or to the charity of one’s choice. A graveside service will be celebrated at Mt. Zion Cemetery at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2020 with Reverend Dick Hepler presiding. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com. The Wanamaker family has entrusted the care and arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, WV.