Mark Dove

Mark transitioned from life to death on September 21, 2024. He was 91 years of age. He was born on October 4, 1932, to Walter and Lucile Dove (Truman) at Mt. Carmel Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. He was raised mostly in Bellefontaine, Ohio along with his brother, Bob. Bellefontaine High School was the place of his graduation in 1950.

It was during his later high school years that he decided to become a Methodist minister. He was very active in the Methodist youth fellowship and became president of the District Youth Fellowship.

After High School, Mark enrolled in The Ohio State University with a major in Psychology. While attending OSU he was a member of Alpha Sigma Chi Fraternity. Four years later he traveled to Boston University as a Pre-Ministerial student at the Boston University School of Theology.

On June 18, 1955, he married Jenelle Rochelle and together finished his studies in Boston. Two years later he was ordained an elder in the Methodist Church.

His first assignment in 1957 included three rural churches in Southern Ohio- Maineville, Cozzadale, and Zoar. For his second assignment, he became an associate minister to Westwood Methodist, Cincinnati in 1962. From Westwood he stayed in Cincinnati by serving Friendship Methodist Church in Wyoming, Ohio starting in 1965. Washington Court House was his next assignment serving Grace Church starting in 1973. He then returned to Columbus and became Linworth UMC’s new minister in 1978. In 1981 it was during this assignment that Mark was called to the Franklin Uniting Church of Australia. After six months as an interim minister, he returned and finished his work at Epworth. In 1987 he was called to service as a District Superintendent of Springfield District, Springfield Ohio. His final work was at Linworth UMC in Worthington, Ohio starting in 1992 and retiring in 1998 after spearheading the building of the new Linworth UMC on Bent Tree Blvd in Columbus.

It was during his time as a district superintendent that he received his doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton Ohio. In addition to church work, Mark was able to occasionally teach weekday classes in religious studies for the Ecumenical Institute in Chicago. They wanted him to join their staff full time, but he chose to remain a local church pastor.

Later in his retirement, he did accept a position as an adjunct professor for field education at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio.

When outside activities were on the calendar, Mark enjoyed the summer months fishing and sailing on our island in Northern Canada and golfing in the winter at our home in Hilton Head. Any kind of music was also important to him. He sang with the OSU Men’s Glee Club and led many parishioners through Israel, Greece, and Egypt. For fun it was the coastline of South America and the Caribbean. Of course, six months in Australia was a meaningful time.

Along the way he helped raise three children, Tim, Shelley, and Todd. Father, Mother, and Brother are all gone plus daughter, Shelley who died at age 24 of Leukemia but both sons survived him along with his loving wife, Jenelle, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at Friendship Village of Dublin October 11th, 2024 at 3:00pm. Love gifts may be sent to Friendship Village, 6000 Riverside Drive Dublin Ohio 43017. Please mark for the Benevolent Fund.