Keene Lebold

LEBOLD

Keene Randall Lebold, 89, passed away peacefully in his sleep in his home at Westminster Thurber Community, on Saturday, October 3, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio, surrounded by his loving family.  In his 89 years of living and loving, Keene touched everyone around him with his kindness, compassion and love of life, setting a firm example of acceptance, openness and love for all.  A life-long learner, he was always curious, always eager to discover, understand, and embrace new ideas, and he loved being surrounded by diversity.  In word and deed, he demonstrated grace, gentleness, strength, perseverance, and unconditional love.  Keene adored his wife Joan, and throughout their 64 years together they provided a loving home where everyone was always welcome.  A devoted father and grandfather, Keene cherished spending time with his family.  He loved camping, hiking, fishing, gardening, photography, and working with both his hands and his mind.  Always busy, he never tired of finding new ways to improve the world around him.  In the face of declining health, he showed family and friends how one can adapt and continue living a full and positive life in spite of the struggles along the way.  Above all, Keene was a tireless champion of making the world a better place, who never met a person he didn’t like.  He was devoted to peace, acceptance, and expanding God’s circle of love wherever he happened to be.  A true gentleman, he is missed by many, in a world much in need of his kind.  Keene was born on August 21, 1926, to William and Mabel (Garber) Lebold, in their home on Sunny Acres Farm at Boliver, Ohio.  He completed grade school and high school in Bolivar, and graduated from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, and Eden Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.  In June 1951 Keene married Joan Marguerite Larson of Fredonia, New York.  Keene and Joan first settled in Clarington Ohio where Keene was the pastor of the Emmanuel and St. James churches, and where he developed a life-long passion for ecumenical work.  In 1959 they moved to Merom, Indiana where Keene continued that passion at the Merom Institute and the Ecumenical Center for Renewal and Planning.  He served as the pastor of Second Congregational Church in Ashtabula Ohio for 6 years, before moving to Columbus where he was the Associate Director of the Ohio Council of Churches until his retirement.  Keene is survived by his wife Joan; son Sam (Jean), daughters Carol (David Knowles) and Susan (Jay Stoerker), and son Daniel (Simona Farcas); 7 grandchildren, Elizabeth (Ovidiu Corneanu), Matthew and Joshua Lebold, Thea and Galen Knowles, Conrad Stoerker, and Gabriel Lebold; 2 great grandchildren, Oliver and Levi Corneanu; brother Bill (Lucile) Lebold, sisters Martha (Lee) Schneider and Jane (Allen) Franks, and sister-in-law Martha Lebold; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Don Lebold.  A memorial celebration of Keene’s life will be held at 11:00am on November 21, 2015 at First Congregational Church, 444 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio.  In remembrance of Keene, those who wish may make a contribution to the “Good Samaritan Fund” at First Congregational Church (444 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43215) or the Southern Poverty Law Center (400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104), or a charity of choice.  Arrangements by Shaw Davis Funeral Homes (shaw-davis.com).