Edward William Sensenbrenner

Edward William Sensenbrenner, age 92, of Columbus, Ohio, passed into The Church Triumphant on February 3, 2024. Born in Los Angeles, California on January 6, 1932, beloved son of Columbus Mayor M.E. (Jack) and Mildred; devoted husband for 69 years to Lois Farrand who preceded Ed to heaven in 2022; father of Patti Sensenbrenner-Leeke, Doug Sensenbrenner, Judi (Tom Kibbey) Sensenbrenner, Shirli (Bill Aldridge) Sensenbrenner, and Richard (Janet) Sensenbrenner; grandfather of Jenny Butts, Michael Leeke, Jackie and Laura Sensenbrenner, Elinor Kibbey, Jessie, Eddie, Catie and Louie Aldridge; great-grandfather of Makayla and Hunter Butts; brother of Richard (Dick) and wife Sandy, who preceded him in death.

A 1950 graduate of Columbus West High School, Ed and his wife were members in the Alumni Association for which, on October 4, 2002, they were inducted into the West High Alumni Hall of Fame - the first to receive this honor as a pair! From OSU, Ed graduated in Business Admin in ‘54 summa cum laude, followed with an MBA in ’55. Ed spent two years in Alaska with the US Army before starting his business career in Pittsburgh with PPG. Ed quickly realized a higher calling and thus attended and graduated magna cum laude from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in ’62 after which he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

In his early years, Ed’s love of friends and fellowship led to summers volunteering with his cousins at Camp Perry during WW2, Sunday school at Hoge Memorial, Boy Scouts, OSU usher at games, West High Football and Hoge Memorial basketball. As a die-hard fan of the Buckeyes, Ed spent many happy Saturdays at home games or traveling to see many Bowl games (including 2 Rose Bowls), and cheering on many men's and women's OSU basketball teams (including attending a Final Four).

Ed’s motto was ‘to leave the world a better place than you found it’ and his life of service attested to this: Boy Scouts, president of his West High Sr. class, coach for volleyball and basketball teams in the Army, pulpit exchange in 1965 civil rights program, initiator of Columbus inner city camping experiences for African American youth, leading Troy congregations’ Vietnamese refugee sponsor, spearheading support for reading tutors, low-income housing, interracial services. Within the church, he participated in many added activities such as the Synod of the Covenant, College of Wooster, Broad Acres Youth Camp in Morrow County, Miami Presbytery Sr. High Camps, Kirkmont's 'Kids Kamps', and WV Mountain Work Camps, Coal River Valley, Presbytery and local church activities in both Columbus and Troy, Ohio.

Ed’s true love and partner in all these happenings was his wife Lois who spent 70 years by his side. A special honor was when they were selected as Grand Marshals of the Troy Strawberry Festival Parade in 1998. And while his accomplishments and services were key to Ed’s life, he will be remembered for his sense of humor, love of fun, deep commitment to social justice and generous donor to causes that will ‘leave the world a better place’.

Public Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 pm Thursday, February 8, at Advantage Funeral Home by Schoedinger–Hilltop, 3030 W Broad St, Columbus, Ohio 43204; a family committal service will be at Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Ohio; a "Witness to the Resurrection" celebration service will be held at Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church, Columbus on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 11am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the following churches: Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church, 2930 W. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43204; Highlands Presbyterian Church, 6909 Smoky Row Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43235; Neebish Presbyterian Church, C/O 9847 E. 17 Mile Road, Barbeau, MI 49710; or First Presbyterian Church, 20 S Walnut Street, Troy, Ohio 45373.