Judge Gerald J. Rone, Jr. age 94, of Cridersville and formerly of Waynesfield, passed away Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 at Otterbein-Cridersville. He was born Aug. 23, 1923 in Lima to the late James Gerald and Emma Hicks Rone. He married Patricia Ann Butler Sept. 14, 1947 and she survives in Cridersville.
Gerald graduated from Lima Senior High School and went on to Otterbein College to study pre-med and then went off to serve in the US Navy during WW II. He served in the South West Pacific. Then studied at Oberlin College and North Western University in Chicago, Otterbein, University of Michigan and Ohio Northern University where he received his juris doctorate. He was a member of Waynesfield United Methodist Church and former member of Waynesfield Lions Club, Auglaize County Bar Association, Ohio Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He retired in 1987 after being a trial judge for 23 years in Auglaize County.
Additional survivors include children: Tasha (William) Marshall of Lewis Center, Liza (William) Hemphill of Huntington, West Virginia and Jayme (David) Muncie of Canal Winchester and Jerod (Veronica) Rone of Springboro; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by 2 daughters: Nelanne Whetstone in 1971, Leslie McKinney in 2011 and 2 brothers: Roland and Marc Rone.
Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 17 at Waynesfield United Methodist Church with Rev. Vera Welker officiating. The family will receive friends from 9 to 11 at the church. Private burial will be in Wesley Chapel Cemetery at Blank Pike and Wrestle Creek Roads.
Memorial contributions may be given to Auglaize County Veterans, Waynesfield United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.