William McGovern

William (Bill) Young McGovern, Sr,
age 89, passed away Fri., Dec. 11, 2020. Born in Canton, Ohio, Feb. 5, 1931, a son of the late Norbert Young and Mary Elizabeth (Sickles) McGovern.  Married Jan. 23, 1954 to Mary Louise Mancini McGovern. Five children Ronald Joseph McGovern, Mary Renae McGovern Tepe, William Young McGovern II, Jonathan Eric McGovern, Gary Lee McGovern (deceased), 23 grandchildren and spouses, 16 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild.  Bill was honored to be of lineage descent of the 1st Kings of Scotland.  He attended Edgefield Grade School, Timken High School, Alabama Engineering, Akron Engineering and Management, Malone Bible School.  Bill was a graduate of Lincoln Bible College, Rosemead Graduate School, Schiff Boy Scout America Management School, and Lee University Ministerial Internship.  Bill was a veteran of the US Army and US Air Force, attended the Aviation Engineering School in Ft. Warren, Wyoming, and served during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War.  He served in the US Army Reserve and the National Guard as Aide to the Commanding General, US Army Chaplin Corps. Bill also served in 182nd, 107th AIRCAV, NCOIC, and was a graduate of the US Army Military Academy NBC, US Army Chaplin School.  Bill was a member of Boy Scouts of America, which he served as a Scout Master and Commissioner, Sandy Valley American Legion Post #432, Toast Masters, Rotary Club, Jaycees, and the Association Pilots and Pastors.  Bill was employed for 23 years and retired from Diebold Research Engineering, which he served as Chairman of the New Products Review Board.  He was elected to Canton City Council four times and served the Magnolia Village Council for ten years, six as President. Bill served six years as Vice Chairman of the Carroll County Republican Party, was a member of the Stark County Planning Commission, served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Navarre and Massillon YMCAs, and was also Vice Chairman of the Loving Heart Foundation, Bolivar, Ohio.  Bill was Assistant Pastor of 15th Street Church of God, Canton, Ohio and was pastor of the Dover, Ohio Church of God, Midvale Church, Johnstown Church, four years as pastor of the Myers Church Massillon, Ohio, two years with the Carpenter Church in Sandyville, Ohio, two years as Assistant Pastor with the Somerdale Church, and served four years with the Christ UCC, Massillon, Ohio.  Retired after 16 years at St. Paul Community Church Smoketown, Ohio. He then served as ordained Pastor and Bishop Ordained Church of God, and was appointed senior’s Pastor of the Arlington Avenue Church of God, Canton, Ohio, from 2012 to January 2018, and was the prayer group pastor.  Services will be held Wed. at 11 am in the Arlington Ave Church of God with Pastor Webb Parsons officiating.  Face coverings and social distancing will be required.  Interment in Magnolia Cemetery.  There will be no calling hours. The Finefrock-Gordon Funeral Home in Magnolia is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the Loving Heart Foundation, 10625 Laurens Dr. NE, Bolivar, OH  44612.  Condolences may be left at:  www.gordonfuneralhomes.com.

Gordon (330)866-9425

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