Walter Wells Minnich

Walter Wells Minnich, age 92, of Hebron, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, January 23, 2023. He was born September 1, 1930 in Nashport, Ohio to the late Francis Joseph Minnich and Dora Mae (Evans) Minnich.

Walt was the youngest of eleven children so he left behind not only his four children and many grandchildren, but also numerous nephews and nieces who called him Uncle Walt. Growing up we went to visit his family in Frazeysburg, Ohio where we would visit his sister Freda. She always welcomed us as an extension of their family. There we learned how to ride horseback, chase chickens, and go sledding in the winter on the beautiful hills of the countryside that was his childhood home.  Walt also taught Mark how to shoot guns there (mostly just cans and bottles).

Other fun times we had with dad were when he took us sailing at Hoover Reservoir and then at Buckeye Lake and Lake Erie. Sailing was Walt’s all-time favorite hobby. He also enjoyed skiing with Mark and the OSU Ski Club when Mark was in college and dad was later in his years (he once went on a 28 hour party bus ride with students to Keystone Colorado when he was 65!).

Walt graduated from The Ohio State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology. He was the owner/operator of All State Pest Control in Columbus, Ohio. He also served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Aruba on a submarine. Walt was an avid gardener and was also an inventor with many patents pending. He did have at least one patent he was proud of called Pipe Perfect Windows.

He will be missed by his four children, Carole Minnich and Cindy Minnich of Columbus, Jennifer Marinov and her husband Kevin of Westerville, and Mark Minnich and his fiancée Lori Yugovich of Buckeye Lake; grandchildren, Heather Sims and her husband Kenneth Sims, Zerin and Ayla Minnich, Hassan, Habeeb and Mariya Al-Ghawi; great-grandchildren, Kensen, Kalan, Kayven and Kyler Sims; nieces and nephews, Jack, Robert and Mike Kilpatrick, Jane Devoll, Rose Wilson, Marilyn Mitchell, Bill, Allen and Larry Minnich, John Minnich, Suzanne O’Connell, Sally Melsop, and Joe Minnich; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Walter’s older siblings have already passed: brothers, Donald Edward (Happy), Carl Francis, Robert, Paul, Charles, and Daniel; sisters, Dorothy Brown, Emily Jane Kerr, Betty Ann Romine, and Freda Mae Kilpatrick

At his request, there will be no service observed. However, Walt’s children will have a celebration of his life gathering at Mark’s house on Buckeye Lake in early spring (April-May) and will reach out to family and friends with invites and more details.

Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Walt and his family.