John D. Derr

Coach John Derr, age 55, of Kettering passed away Thursday, November 6, 2014. An avid Ohio State football fan, John grew up in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Marion Franklin High School, where he played football and wrestled. He continued his education at Wittenberg University, in Springfield, Ohio and received his B. S. in 1981. He then began his teaching career and his lifetime passion coaching high school football. As a result, he has touched the lives of countless young men throughout the Miami Valley. He left a legacy at many area high schools including Northwestern, Southeastern, Greenon, Springfield North, Yellow Springs, Boone (Florida), Kettering Fairmont, Jefferson Township, Patterson and Belmont. Despite his many health challenges, John continued to be the life of the partyalways ready with a joke, a laugh or a song. We ask that you celebrate and remember his life in a way that represents the person that he was. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nathaniel Lawrence and Phyllis Lee (Gaines) Derr, his sister, Linda Lee Jackson Derr, his brother, Lawrence Nathaniel Derr, and his sister-in-law, Patti Dillon. He is survived and will be sorely missed by his wife of 28 years, Caroline (Dillon) and his pride and joy his three sons, John Jr., Aaron and Griffin, his nephews, Darrell, and Billy Derr, Brandon Derr , Danny Dillon and Matthew Dillon. He will also be missed by his extended football "brothers" --all the guys who coached and played alongside him for the past 40 years. Family will receive friends from 4:00 7:00 on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at the Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering, Ohio. A Memorial Service will follow at 7:00. Burial in David's Cemetery. "Coach Derr, Out"

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429