John B. “Jack” Bighouse, 90, of Galion passed away Sunday, December 6, 2020 from complications of the virus at Magnolia Terrace in Galion.
Born September 6, 1930 in Columbus, he was the son of Bernard J. and Agnes (Frey) Bighouse. He married Arlene (Case) Bighouse on March 12, 1966 and she survives.
He attended St. Peters grade school, graduated from Aquinas High School and attended The Ohio State University. In 1949 Jack served in the United States Navy as an Aircraft Electronics Technician and Airborne Radioman for 11 years. In 1952 he started working for North American Aviation as an electrical engineer which then became Rockwell International (now known as Boeing) in Missile Systems Divisions, retiring in 1987 at age 57 after a 35 year career. After his retirement he continued to meet his work friends going out to lunch and reminiscing about the good old days. Jack was a life member of American Legion Galion Post 243. He had previously been a member of North American Management Club, Columbus Maennerchor, Columbus Snow Ski Club, Pandora Dance Club (where he was past president), Galion area Renaissance Foundation, Galion Historical Society and Kingwood Center Gardens. Jack volunteered many hours at St. Mark Methodist Church preparing dinners, peanut brittle and sauerkraut.
Jack was blessed with a gift for making friends, never meeting a stranger, and enjoyed socializing. He had a good sense of humor, a big smile and was often caught pulling your leg. Jack had a kind and gentle nature, congenial personality and rarely complained. When he was asked “how are you?” he always said “can’t complain, no one would listen anyway.” Jack was known for his hard work and generous nature. He enjoyed traveling both for business and pleasure, enjoying camping and snow skiing vacations. Jack enjoyed tinkering with broken electronics and repairing them. Kim’s friends would say “I just love your dad; he’s so sweet and cute.” He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
After his father had a heart attack at the age of 27, Jack, who was little, had a paper route giving his earnings to his mother to help with family expenses. One hot day he felt guilty when he took 5 cents of his earnings and bought a Coke. He always thought of others before himself. As a teen in order to help his family he worked at Mendelwitz’s Grocery and later Timkin.
In addition to his wife of 54 years, Arlene, he is survived by daughter and son-in-law Kimberly (Bighouse, Titus) and Chris Adkins; granddaughter Jackqueline Adkins; step grandson Darian Adkins; God child Susan (Barry) Walsh of Reston, Virginia; special friends, Ruth Stavely and daughters Louisa and Cecilia and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers Edmund (Rosemary) Bighouse and James (Louise) Bighouse and sister Agnes (Bighouse) Williamson, Sopko.
Thank you to all of the staff at Magnolia Terrace for the care Jack received.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 10, 2020 with Pastor Heather McLeod officiating at Fairview Cemetery in Galion.
Full military honors will be conducted by the Galion Crestline Veterans Military Funeral Detail.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist church in care of the funeral home.
Richardson Davis Chapel of Snyder Funeral Homes in Galion is honored to serve the family of Jack Bighouse, and condolences may be made to them at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.