The Reverend Laurence Edward "Laurie" Feaver, 81, of 11520 Dove Lane, St. Marys, Ohio, died peacefully early on Thursday, July 15, 2010, at Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community. Beloved husband of 58 years to Marilyn (nee Schneider): dearest father of Nancy (Michael) Radke of Woodruff, South Carolina; Debra (David) Comodeca of North Olmsted, Ohio; Tim (Dewi) Feaver of Louisville, Colorado; Jon Feaver, of Iowa City, Iowa: devoted grandfather of Nathan, Kristin and Ben Feaver, and Lyn and Jenny Radke. Dear brother of Stanley (Virginia) Feaver of Urbana, Ohio and the late Raymond Feaver (Gladys) of Stockton, California; dear brother-in-law of Shirley (Bob) Bruns of Boulder, Colorado, and the late Olive and Earl Hill, of Louisville, Kentucky. Cherished cousin and uncle to many. Laurie also leaves behind many devoted friends and colleagues.  

Laurence was born August 5, 1928 in Fremont, Ohio to Charles and Elsie (Bowes) Feaver, the youngest of three boys.  He graduated from Marion Harding High School in Marion, OH in 1946 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy V5 Pilot Program.  He first studied engineering at Purdue University, then continued training at Pensacola Naval Base.  Following a calling to ministry, Laurence received an honorable discharge from the Navy and enrolled in North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.  After graduating in 1951, he  went on to Evangelical Theological Seminary and was ordained a minister of the Evangelical United Brethren (now United Methodist) Church in 1954.  Reverend Feaver followed his calling for the rest of his life, moving back to Ohio and serving churches in Celina, West Independence, Bucyrus (Woodlawn), Toledo (Zion E.U.B./Hope U.M.), Westerville (Church of the Master), Wilmington, and Fostoria (Wesley).  As a pastor and preacher, he was known for his sense of humor, as well as for his inventive and memorable (and often spontaneous) sermon points. 

Laurence was also a talented and skilled craftsman who designed and built his St. Marys home nearly single-handedly.  He  took an interest in local history at home (particularly Ohio’s 19^th century shipping and transportation canal system) and wherever else he went.  Laurie loved to travel, and especially enjoyed road trips: he and his family toured 48 states by car or  motor home in earlier years,  and after retiring in 1991, he and Marilyn visited  England, his parents’ homeland, several times, as well as traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, the British Isles,  Europe, Norway, and the Panama Canal.   His favorite trip was to the “Horseshoe” in Columbus, Ohio; Laurie was an enthusiastic Ohio State fan and attended at least one game a year to cheer on his Buckeyes and enjoy the great O.S.U. marching band. 

A lifelong music-lover, Laurence was an accomplished  trumpeter and singer.  While a member of  the Purdue Marching Band, he was chosen for the honor of playing 'Taps' at the Indianapolis 500, and continued playing trumpet and singing in choirs throughout his life.  In retirement,  he was a mainstay of the Otterbein Community Choir’s bass section.   

Friends may greet the family at the Meyer Community Chapel, Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community, State Route 364, St. Marys, Ohio, on Friday, July 23, beginning at 10:00 AM.  Memorial services at 11:00 AM, the Rev. Dennis Gaertner officiating, with a luncheon to follow.  Inurnment Saturday, July 24, at Noon, at the Union Cemetery, Road D, Pettisville, Ohio, 43553, with the Reverend Robert Bruns officiating.

Condolences and remembrances may be sent to the family at Laurence’s  memorial website and guest book:   http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/LaurenceFeaver/homepage.aspx.   Memorial contributions may be made in Reverend Feaver’s name to the Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Center or the Salvation Army.     

Arrangements by Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, Ohio, 419-394-4632.