Gerald L. Stebelton

Gerald L. Stebelton, age 87, went home to be with the Lord Weds., Oct. 14, 2026 at Violet Springs Health Campus in Pickerington, Ohio after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Born in Columbus, Ohio Sept. 13, 1939, he was raised by a strong, single mother who worked three shifts as a selector at Anchor Hocking Plant One in Lancaster, Ohio.

Jerry spent eight years as a student at Lancaster City Schools' South Elementary School, where he was a member of the boys' choir. He then attended Lancaster High School, proudly graduating as a member of the LHS Class of 1957. His love for Lancaster Schools ran deep. A loyal Golden Gale until his passing, he chaired his class reunions, corresponded with classmates from coast to coast, and was instrumental in establishing the Fairfield County Foundation's LHS Class of '57 Scholarship, which has provided college scholarships to dozens of deserving LHS seniors. He was the first chairman of the LHS Alumni Hall of Fame, and was later inducted into the Hall of Fame. He co-chaired the LHS Fulton Field Improvement Committee and was instrumental in successfully raising private donations for the estimated $875,750 project. He also served as a member and president of the LHS Band Boosters. He loved few things more than attending LHS music and theater events, as well as Golden Gale athletic competitions.

As a child, Jerry regularly climbed High St. hill to attend First Methodist Church weekly services, Sunday school, and confirmation classes. He and his future wife, Rebecca "Becky" Smith, struck up a conversation while ushering during Christmas Eve services at the church and Jerry asked Becky out for New Year's Eve the next week. They were married at First Methodist on June 22, 1963 and celebrated their 63rd anniversary in 2026. Together, they enjoyed traveling to 49 states and 11 foreign countries.

Jerry worked his way through college and graduated with a five-year degree in aeronautical engineering from The Ohio State University. He was employed for three years by Grumman Aircraft on Long Island, New York, where he decided that rather than building war planes, he would prefer to work with people. He and Becky and their daughter, Laura, relocated to Bexley, Ohio, where Jerry attended night law school at Capital University for four years, while also working full-time at North American Rockwell and Battelle as a contract negotiator. He traveled to Tehran, Iran to negotiate a contract with the Iranian government. Their son, David, was born at the conclusion of Jerry's law school graduation.

Having graduated from law school, Jerry established a private law practice in Lancaster, where he became a founding partner of Stebelton, Aranda and Snider. As senior partner, he was key to the firm's efforts to purchase and revitalize Anchor Hocking Corporation's headquarters at the corner of Main and Broad Streets, where the law firm has resided for more than 30 years. He served as a member and past president of the Fairfield County Bar Association and recipient of the George Martin Award. He was awarded the Ohio State Bar Association's inaugural Lawyer Legislator Distinguished Service Award. He was selected as a member of Primerus, an international society spotlighting "the world's finest boutique law firms," adhering to the highest standards of the legal profession. He was also selected as a Super Lawyer, one of the top 5% of attorneys for outstanding achievement and peer recognition. He was a proud member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, serving as past president. He was a member of the Capital University Law School Alumni Association Board. His law firm was honored as the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.

Jerry was a member of the Lancaster/Fairfield County Symposiarchs, He was also a member and past president of the Lancaster Sherman Rotary Club, and was selected as Rotarian of the Year. He was a champion of Rotary's annual Christmas wreath fundraiser.

Jerry was an exceptionally engaged public servant. He served two terms as Lancaster City Council's second-ward councilman, and was elected to the Lancaster City Schools Board of Education, where he served as president. In 2006, he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly as state representative and served four terms in that capacity. Most notably, he served as chairman of the House Education Committee. He was instrumental in the passage of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, as well as in the passage of H.B. 96, designating dyslexia as a specific learning disability in Ohio. He was instrumental in securing funding for new school buildings throughout Lancaster and Fairfield County. He was a sponsor of H.B. 247 in the 130th General Assembly, a measure removing the requirement that operators of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) be CPR certified. This bill opened the door to placing life-saving AEDs in schools and other locations throughout the state. He was a member of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, traveling the country to present workshops designed to encourage bipartisan legislative cooperation. He was also a member and chairman of the Fairfield County Republican Executive Committee.

Jerry and family began attending First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster in the fall of 1973. His membership in the church extended to 53 years. He served as an Elder, chair of the pastor nominating committee, numerous stewardship campaigns, the church's Building Renovation Committee, and was also a Sunday school teacher.

Jerry's passion was his family. His only grandchild, Caroline, was the light of his life, and together they enjoyed bike rides, hikes, tinkering and creating in the "little garage" on East Allen Street, sharing Mickey Mouse pancakes at the White Cottage and Traders Café, planting Jerry's renowned tulip bulbs, and discussing government, finances and politics. He steadfastly supported Caroline's alma mater, Marburn Academy in New Albany, Ohio. Caroline was Jerry's biggest fan and he was a guiding light in her life.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Becky; his daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Jeff Mason; his granddaughter, Caroline; sister, Barbara Mitchell; brother, Mark Stebelton; brother-in-law and and sister-in-law, Steve and Linda Smith; nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his son, David, on Sept. 15, 2025; mother and step-father, Escalene and Herman Bowsher; father and step-mother, John and Betty Stebelton, and sister, Sherry Derickson.

Calling hours will take place Mon. Oct. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. at Lancaster First Presbyterian Church, 222 N. Broad St., where a funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Nathan Loudon officiating. Burial will occur in Amanda Township Cemetery at the conclusion of the funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Lancaster First Presbyterian Church music fund, the Lancaster Festival and Allen Chapel Church, Lancaster. Taylor-Theller Funeral Home in Amanda is caring for the family.

"Two roads diverged in the woods and I, I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." --Robert Frost