Carl Allen Justice

CARL ALLEN JUSTICE

(July 11, 1930 – December 2, 2018)

  Carl Allen Justice, age eighty-eight, died peacefully Sunday, December 2, 2018 in his home surrounded by family, after a long decline due to strokes and heart disease. He died only a few hundred yards from where he was born on July 11, 1930 in Whisler, Ohio, the youngest of eight children of George Arthur and Margaret Frances McKenney Justice.

   As a child, Carl liked to ditch his chores and read adventure novels (Zane Grey was a favorite) in a cherry tree. He graduated from Saltcreek Township High School in 1948 where he was known as a good scholar and better athlete. He was an elegant swimmer and played a mean game of basketball, but was best known for his track accomplishments. He won county, district, and state honors in both the 440 and 880-yard dash. In the 880, he tied for second place in the state in 1946 and took the No. 1 spot in 1947. He shared his training secret with his children: practice wearing heavy farmer’s boots, so when you put on your light track shoes it feels like running on air.

  Carl turned down an out-of-state track scholarship to stay close to home and attend The Ohio State University for a year. While working a summer job at the Container Corporation in Circleville, a pretty blonde caught his eye. Family legend has it, that Carl wooed Mary Ann Lutz by walking on his hands in front of the soda fountain where she worked. Some original love poems and a fire-engine red Model T with canary yellow wheels might have helped. Mary Ann reciprocated with free milkshakes. They eloped and married in Indiana on September 16, 1950. The marriage lasted fifty-five years until Mary Ann’s death from cancer in 2005.

  Shortly after the Korean War started, Carl enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served four years and achieved the rank of Firecontrol Technician second class, responsible for the guidance systems for all large weapons onboard ship. In spite of bouts of sea-sickness, he toured in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, making several life-long friendships among his shipmates.

  After leaving the Navy, Carl bought a house and moved his growing family to Whisler so he could care for his aging parents. He worked for thirty years at the DuPont plant in Circleville as an electrician and supervisor, but he always put family first. Carl turned his acre into the village playground for his four children and their friends. He was an involved father, overseeing homework, helping with Cub Scout and 4-H projects, and cheering at sports events. Every Justice child built an electro-magnet for one of their science projects and every teenager in the village brought their car to Carl when there was a problem.

  Never a religious man, Carl’s favorite Sunday morning ritual was to wake one of his kids early and take them on a motorcycle ride through the Hocking Hills. He cheerfully helped build the community center for the Whisler Presbyterian Church, but only attended church for Christmas services to see his kids participate in nativity pageants. Carl was a good neighbor, swapping skilled labor with the other men of the community to keep their homes sound and property tidy. He was also a sportsman and, once he bagged his ten-point buck, all important family phots were taken under the glassy eyes of the mounted deer head.

  After his son and daughter-in-law’s deaths, Carl retired from DuPont and he and Mary Ann raised their grandsons. Both young men are credits to Carl and Mary Ann’s parenting skills. Ryan and his wife Keri cared for Carl during the seven years since his first stroke. Their children’s daily visits brought him joy—especially during the last year when little else did.

  Carl is predeceased by his parents, wife Mary Ann; sons Bruce Allen (infant), Timothy Allen, and Eric Jay “Bird”; daughter-in-law Debra Reynolds Justice; and seven older siblings: Lewis Lloyd Justice, Dorothy Ellen VanCuren Haynes, Helen Elizabeth Alflen, Vivian Eloise Stump, Mary Eileen Pritchard Davis, Lois Margaret Neff, and Leota Shirl Coe.

  He is survived by two daughters: Faith Lynette Justice (Gordon L. Rothman) of Brooklyn, New York and Hope Marie Justice (Robyn Pask) of Cool, California; three grandchildren: Hannah Justice Rothman of Brooklyn, Ryan Allen Justice (Keri Christy) of Whisler and Nathan Patrick Reynolds (Heather Love) of Leipsic, Ohio; six great-grandchildren: Sophia Lynae, Timothy Jay, James Ryan Justice of Whisler and Jeremy Nathan, Alexandria Mary, Sean Patrick Reynolds of Leipsic; and dozens of cousins, nieces and nephews of several degrees.

  Carl Allen Justice was a loving son, husband, father and grandfather; a good friend and neighbor; and proud veteran. He will be missed by his family, friends and the Whisler community. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, people donate to the Hospice of Pickaway County or your local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. At Carl’s request, the family will hold a private graveside service at a to-be-determined date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home of Ottawa, Ohio.