Henry Erwin

Henry Vern Erwin, age 98, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Vern was born in Bradford, Ohio, on August 9, 1927, to the late Desser and Mary (Essenmacher) Erwin. He grew up in Columbus, Ohio, graduated from Holy Rosary High School in 1945, and attended The Ohio State University. Vern married Evelyn Mae Parker on March 31, 1951, and has been a resident of Columbus for many years. Vern was a charter member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church and was active in the Men's Club. He retired from The R. T. French Company after 33 years in food sales. Vern enjoyed playing Euchre at various senior centers and at The Worthington American Legion Post 239. For many years, he golfed with his boyhood friends, the “Monday Golf Monsters”. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy in 1945-1946 and in active reserves from 1954-1958 as well as a participant in the Honor Flight for Veterans. Vern was very supportive of his children and grandchildren at their many sporting events and enjoyed their family vacations at the beach in North Carolina and Florida as well as trips to Las Vegas. Survived by wife of 75 years, Evelyn, daughters Beverly (Mike) Lynch of Granville, Marti (Mike) Jones of Huntington, Indiana, Sue (Denny) Dew of Sunbury, Barbara (Mark) Landefeld of Woodsfield, Patty (Rick) Conti of Westerville, and son Joe (Kris) Erwin of Westerville. Seventeen grandchildren: John Lynch (Liz Church), Kathy (Matt) Honold, Adam (Jennifer) Jones, Julie Jones, Rebecca (Barrett) Ehgoetz, Jennifer Griffith, Craig (Heather) Landefeld, Kelly Thoman, Cris (Kayla) Landefeld, Maria (Owen) Elger, Nico (Natalie) Conti, Michelle Conti, Katie (Jake) Laska, Jake (Jennifer) Erwin, Trevor (Erin) Dew, Ashley Dew, and Mary Beth (Mikar) Em. Twenty-one great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, extended family, and dear friends. Vern was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Willard, William, and Robert, sisters Polly Kitzmiller, Alberta Bruno, Frances Mason, two infant sisters Helen Ruth and Anna Erwin, great-granddaughters Kennedy Rose Griffith and Eden Michelle Em, and great-grandson Santino Richard Conti. Calling hours at Rutherford Funeral Home, 513 High Street, Worthington, Ohio, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 2-6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 20 East Dominion Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, June 24, at 10:00 a.m. Entombment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery of Delaware, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, online at stjude.org/donatetoday.

Henry Erwin

August 9, 1927 - June 20, 2026