10/31/2016

Obituary for Noel Underwood

Father and father-in-law to Scott and Holly Underwood, Underwood Funeral Home

Noel Dwight Underwood, age 81, of Marysville, died peacefully Sunday, October 30, 2016 at his home on the farm.

A retired administrator, educator and coach for the Marysville School System, he served as Marysville Middle School assistant principal and the school system’s bus coordinator for many years. Before he became assistant principal, he taught eighth grade American History, physical education, driver’s education and was a Marysville High School gridiron coach.

Following college graduation in 1957, he began his teaching and coaching career in Marysville. During that first year as an assistant under head football coach, Pete McKillip, he helped lead the Monarchs to the Mid-Six league crown with an undefeated season. In 1958, he was named head football coach and head track coach for MHS. Throughout his tenure, he was known for his firmness but fairness to students and devout dedication to the Marysville school system, not only in the classroom, but with building maintenance and grounds improvements.

Early in his career aside from teaching and coaching, he was a Midwest Life Insurance sales rep and managed the Marysville municipal swimming pool.

In 1962, he and his young family moved to Dayton, Ohio for a brief period where he worked as a school book sales representative for Allyn and Bacon and Systems for Education.

He moved back to Marysville in 1968 to teach and coach again. Following the purchase of a ten-acre narrow tract of land from the Dasher family and a 1940 Farmall tractor, he established his family’s homestead, “Narrow Acres,” where summers since then were spent growing plants in his greenhouse, raising garden vegetables and selling fresh produce. During this time, he was also a deliveryman and appliance installer for the Marysville Sears and Roebuck catalog store and worked a few seasons as manager of Marysville Golf Course.

A 50-year member of First Presbyterian Church of Marysville, he was a member of Palestine Lodge No. 158 F & AM, Marysville Elks Lodge No. 1130, Marysville Eagles Aerie 3506 and Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1651.

A 1953 graduate and athletic standout at Cardington High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from Defiance College in 1957 and a master’s degree from the University of Dayton. He was inducted into the Defiance College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. While at Defiance, he played baseball, was a football four-year letterman and ’56 team captain and was a member of Kappa Sigma Kappa fraternity.

Following his retirement from Marysville schools, he continued his love of produce gardening on his farm and operated his own lawn seeding and garden rotovating service. For many of his retirement years, he was “employed” at Mrs. Renison’s Donut Shop where he worked the early morning shift and was known for his storytelling and frequently giving away pastries and coffee for free.

He found great joy on his John Deere and Ford 8N tractors, taking care of his farm animals, building bird houses, watching his purple martins, golfing, socializing with his friends and coordinating college reunions and other various gatherings at Narrow Acres.

He will especially be remembered for his random acts of kindness. He sent thousands of cards of thanks and notes of encouragement to friends and strangers who became friends.

He was born April 14, 1935 in Cardington, Ohio to the late Floyd D. and Dorothy A. Sparks Underwood. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Luke Scipione; his brother, Dale J. Underwood; his sister, Joyce B. Milliron-Weber; and his brother-in-law, Robert Dow.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jacqueline A. “Jackie” Dow Underwood, whom he married June 9, 1956 in Defiance, Ohio; his children, Joni (Jay Thomas) Scipione of Pickerington and Scott (Holly) Underwood, Toni (Chuck) Black and Rick (Kim) Underwood, all of Marysville; his grandchildren, Laura (Adam) Goodwin, Caleb (Kristy) Black, Grant Underwood, Grace (Caleb Sowers) Underwood, Mallory (Raleigh) Ingram, Tara (Eric Quincel) Scipione, Angela (Brandon) Robinson, Chris (Jade Christenson) Backus and David (Sharon) Backus; his great-grandchildren, Hayden, Colby, Karcyn, Kembyr, Heathyr, Morgan, Charlye, Amelia, Abigail, Troy, Danykha, Richard, Ryder, Rhett, Ava, Gracie, Layla, Versace, Aspen, Diamond, Cavonte, David, Jr. and Charlie; two sisters-in-law, Nadene Underwood of Cardington and Barbara Dow of Tonawanda, NY; nieces, Raima (Gale) Ritchie, Vena (Dave) Counts and Deby (Phil) LeFevre; a nephew, Todd (Susie) Snyder; and many other relatives and good friends.

The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Underwood Funeral Home where an Elks memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday. Funeral services will be held 12 noon Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Marysville. Rev. Sally Robinson and Rev. John M. Groat will officiate. Burial will be at Oakdale Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the interment at the Elks Lodge.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Piper, Nate Johnson, Heath Wheeler, Brian Shough, Steve Chamberlain, Steve Stoker, Dale Neer and Bob Cotter.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Loving Care Hospice, Union County Humane Society, Marysville High School FFA or Fairbanks High School FFA.