Dr. Kenneth Holt Pohly

POHLY, Dr. Kenneth Holt, age 92, died peacefully on Thursday, April 21, 2016 with his family at his side. He was born November 6, 1923, the middle of three children, to Frank and Mary Pohly of Avoca, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and elder sister, Donna Marie Weeks. He is survived by Marjorie (nee Heininger) Pohly, his wife of almost 71 years, daughter Carol Pohly of Kettering, OH, son Keith (Eva Jo) Pohly of Martinsville, OH, grandson Jesse (girlfriend Brooke Burson) Pohly of New Vienna, OH, grandson Aaron (Kelly) and great-grandson Everett Pohly of Westerville, OH, brother Gerald (Eileen) Pohly, niece Karen Pohly and nephew Douglas Pohly of Grand Rapids, MI, and nephew Robert (Marilyn) Weeks of Horton, MI. Ken graduated from North Central College, Naperville, IL with the Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology, received the Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. While in college, Ken was asked to help create and implement a new comprehensive denominational youth program for the Evangelical United Brethren Church; he became its first president and represented the denomination at the Second World Conference of Christian Youth in Oslo, Norway. He was a delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church three times. In 1947, he became founding pastor of the Master’s United Methodist Church in Euclid, OH and led the congregation through three building programs. In 1964, he became Chaplain of Otterbein College, Westerville, OH and in 1969 was elected to the faculty of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH as Professor of Pastoral Care and Director of Supervised Ministry. During this time, he founded the Kenneth H. Pohly Center for Supervision and Leadership Formation, named for him by the Board of Trustees of United Seminary. Following retirement in 1989, he continued to work with the Center as Director Emeritus. Ken traveled widely, lecturing and leading workshops in pastoral supervision. He wrote two books, published several articles in professional journals, and served as teacher for the Second Mile Sunday School Class at Fairview United Methodist Church. He was known by his friends, students and colleagues as a faithful, engaging teacher and gentle, caring pastor. A memorial service will be held at UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 4501 Denlinger Road, Dayton, OH 45426 on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. Kenneth will be interred at Royal Oak Memorial Gardens, Brookville, OH with arrangements entrusted to the TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME ENGLEWOOD CHAPEL. Kenneth’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to the Pohly Center for Supervision and Leadership Formation at United Theological Seminary. Messages of sympathy and support to his family may be made at: www.tobiasfuneralhome.com.