John P. “Coach” McCoy
John P. “Coach” McCoy, 89, of Plain City and formerly of Avon Lake, Ohio died Friday
morning, December 24th, at The Gables following an extended illness just 17 days before
his 90th birthday. He was a retired school teacher and coach from Avon Lake.
John was a veteran of WW II and belonged to the VFW and American Legion.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Education at West Liberty College, West Liberty,
WV. He continued his Masters of Education at Kent State University.
His teaching and coaching career began in Avella, PA where he taught school and
coached football. He then went to Lakeview, Ohio as a teacher and coached baseball &
basketball and started the 6-man football program. He moved to Mt. Blanchard where
he coached all sports and finally to Avon Lake where he taught Ohio History, coached
football & baseball and was a driver’s education instructor. While in Avon Lake, he
served on city council and worked as a part-time police officer and in his retirement
years, after moving to the Plain City area, served on the Unionville Center Council and
helped as an assistant football coach under Frank Spurlock at Fairbanks High School,
Milford Center, Ohio.
John was born January 11, 1921 in Weston, W.VA to the late Roy and Selma Pauline
Stumpf McCoy. He was also preceded in death by 3 brothers and 2 grandsons.
He married the former Martha A. Kidder on November 24, 1949 in N. Canton, Ohio.
She survives as do his children, Selma “Sammie” (Ray) Selby of Colorado Springs,
CO, Linda “Sue” (Robert) Middleton of Middleburg, FL, Nancy McCoy Wozniak of
Port Jefferson, NY, Carole (Danesh) Karamian of Plain City; James (Sharon Mitchell)
McCoy of Marysville, Ohio; a grandson raised by John and Martha, J.R. McCoy of
Nashville, Tn and a son-in-law, John Wozniak of Avon Lake. Ohio; 17 grandchildren;
10 great grandchildren; a brother, Calvin (Beverly) McCoy of Wooster; and the family
dog “Milo”.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday at 2:00 pm at the United Church of Christ, 32801 Electric Blvd, Avon Lake with the Rev. Kelly Brill officiating. Entombment will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ice Cream Machine Fund at The Gables or
The Union County Humane Society in care of the Ingram Funeral Home, 975 N Maple
St., Marysville, OH 43040, who is completing the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to ingramfuneral.com
