John Robert Montgomery

John Robert Montgomery, 70, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2026 after an intense and debilitating struggle with multiple myeloma. He was born Dec. 6, 1955 in Chillicothe, Ohio, to parents William L. and Alberta Brickey Montgomery, who preceded him in death. John is survived by his brother, L. D. Montgomery (Linda Holbrook Montgomery) Cookeville, Tennessee and his sister, Julia Montgomery Conley (Ellis E. Conley), Hurricane, WV. His nephews and nieces include Matt Montgomery (Nicole), Lexington, KY, Mark Montgomery (Erin), Norfolk, VA, Melinda Johnson (Carl), Cookeville, TN, John Conley (Marla Zubel), Bowling Green, KY, and David Conley (Hannah), Scott Depot, WV. His great nephews and nieces are Lawson and Ainsleigh Montgomery, Siena Montgomery, Emerson and Eliot Conley, Julian Zubel Conley and Ian Johnson.

He graduated from Clay High School, Portsmouth, Ohio in 1974, received a Bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University in 1978, and achieved his law degree from Capitol University in Columbus in 1981. He began his career with the Social Security Administration in 1981as an attorney and was appointed as a Federal Judge in 2009, serving in both Columbus and Cincinnati. For several years he led regional seminars for new judges, training them in dealing with disability cases. He was a decades-long member of Dwell Community Church, serving as a home group leader and as a board member of Harambee School. After his retirement from the SSA in 2016 he became an inspirational leader in the church’s Grief Ministry, touching hundreds of lives as he cared for folks walking through the shadow of the valley of death. John was a beloved neighbor in the Woodbine/Midgard neighborhood in Clintonville, organizing parties, picnics and service projects. He loved to travel, especially to London, and was the family tour guide. He was the family historian, and made scrapbooks of letters and photos our father sent home from WWII. Most of all, he was devoted to his savior Jesus Christ and was a faithful witness to God’s grace and forgiveness. We will miss his quiet wit and stories of his travels around the world, his strong hugs and ready support.

Services will be held at the Warehouse, Dwell Community Church on May 9, 2026. Beginning at 2 pm, his family and his home group will host a gathering where folks can greet the family, mingle, share “John” stories and have a snack. The memorial service will begin at 3pm in the auditorium. In memory of John, donations may be made to Dwell Community Church Cambodia mission, 1390 Community Park Dr., Columbus, Ohio, 43229, or Harambee School, 1000 Bonham Ave. Columbus, Ohio, 43211. His ashes will be interred at Montgomery Cemetery, Lost Creek, Kentucky on Sunday, May 10, 2026.