Huron Methodist church grew under pastor's guidance
5/13/2001HURON, Ohio - The Rev. L. Ross Carothers, a retired pastor emeritus of the Huron United Methodist Church, died Friday in Firelands Community Hospital, Sandusky. He was 83.
Mr. Carothers, who was in the hospital for four weeks and had been in declining health for about a year, died of congestive heart failure, his son Michael said.
Mr. Carothers was pastor of the United Methodist Church for about 15 years, retiring in 1983.
He moved to Huron in 1956 and became pastor of the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
Mr. Carothers became pastor of the United Methodist Church when it was merged with the United Brethren Church in 1968.
“He read the Bible everyday and he liked history books,” his wife Marjorie said.
Mr. Carothers was proud of his accomplishments at Huron United Methodist Church.
During his tenure, the church sanctuary was remodeled, the church fellowship hall was expanded, land was bought for more parking.
His son said the church was “debt free” when his father retired.
“He was apolitical. He didn't want to get involved in the local politics. He always did what was right for the church,” his son said.
“I was impressed with his sense of right and wrong. He always pursued what he believed was the right thing. He usually overcame the obstacles he encountered.”
Mr. Carothers was chairman of the board of directors of the Huron Salvation Army from 1959 to 2000, served 27 years on the board of directors of the Huron Public Library, and was a member of Sandusky School of Practical Nursing board for four years in the 1970s.
Mr. Carothers was a past president of the Huron Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and possessed a record of perfect attendance that spanned 17 years.
He also was a member of American Legion Post No. 83, Sandusky. He served 27 months in North Africa during World War II as a U.S. Army Air Corps supply clerk.
Mr. Carothers was ordained into the ministry in Canton in 1946, and became minister at a church in Wellsville, Ohio, where he served until 1956.
He received a bachelor's degree in history from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa., in 1951.
He received a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954, his son said.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Marjorie; son, Michael; daughter, Cindy Wilken; brother, Manley; sisters, Ruth Goeller and Cenith Millirons; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in the United Methodist Church. The body will be in the Foster Funeral Home, Huron, after 2 p.m. today.
The family requests tributes to the Huron Salvation Army, the scholarship fund of the Huron Rotary Club, or to the church.