Eldon E. "Monty" Montague

Eldon E. “Monty” Montague, 96, formerly of 301 Orchard Drive, Saint Marys, died Saturday, February 17, 2018, in Winchester, Ohio.

He was born March 20, 1921, on Lock 14 Road north of Saint Marys, the son of Charles and Flora (Hertenstein) Montague.

He married Mary Freytag on December 2, 1950, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Fort Loramie; she preceded him in death on December 25, 2007.

He is survived by his daughter, Mary (Art) Evans of Winchester, Ohio. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Thomas (Stacy) Hoenie of New Carlisle, Ohio; Edward (Alicia) Hoenie of Dayton; Christina Knittle of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Melinda Hoenie of Saint Marys. He is survived by five great-grandchildren: Mia Hoenie; Hank Hoenie; Lisle Knittle; Logan Knittle; Aiyassah Hoenie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and by a son, John Montague. He was preceded in death by his siblings: Bernard Montague; Gerald Montague; June (Montague) Axe.

Monty graduated from Saint Marys Memorial High School in 1938; from Wittenburg University in 1943; and from the Ohio State University College of Law, 1949, with a Juris Doctorate.

He was employed as a Claims Examiner with the Celina Insurance Group from 1951 to 1960. He was a member of the law firm Noble, Montague and Moul from 1961 to 2016.

He was a member of the Auglaize County and Ohio State Bar Associations, having served a three year term of the Executive Committee of the latter.

Monty was a veteran of the US Marine Corps, having served as a First Lieutenant in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was a life member of VFW Post 9289 and American Legion Post 323.

Monty served 14 years as President of the Board of Trustees of the Saint Marys Community Public Library, including the time of the construction of the new library building in 1989.

He was the founder and organizer of the Walk With Nature along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath in 1970. The Walk With Nature is held each year, and serves to awaken interest in the the entire length  of the canal and towpath.

He was the founder and organizer of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Mercer, Auglaize and Van Wert counties.

Monty was the author of the book “Growing Up in the Great Depression and Beyond," which he wrote in 2007.

He was honored with the Saint Marys Chamber of Commerce “Builder of Bridges” Medal in 2002, and he was selected by the Auglaize County Council of Aging as the Outstanding Citizen in 2011.

Monty was the 12 generation of Montagues since Peter Montague, 18, came to America in 1621 from England on a ship named “Charles”. Monty was the last of his branch of the family to bear the name Montague.

Monty served on the committees for the both the Saint Marys Sesquicentenial in 1973,and the US Bicentenial in 1976. He was inducted into the Saint Marys Memorial High School Hall of Fame for Academic/Professional Accomplishments in 2013.

Private family burial rites will be held Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Elm Grove Cemetery, Saint Marys.

Condolences and memorial gifts to the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters may be sent to Millerfuneralhomes.net