Mark Arden Overholt

Mark Arden Overholt, age 89, of New Philadelphia, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, in Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, Canton.

Born July 23, 1935, at the family home in North Canton, he was the second of two children born to Russell B. and Cleora F. (Housley) Overholt. Mark’s middle name is the first name of Dr. A. R. Basinger, the physician that delivered him. Mark’s family were life-long Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mark was a fifth-generation Jehovah’s Witness - baptized in 1952. He graduated from North Canton High School, before it was Hoover High School, in 1953. Mark became a Jehovah’s Witness Regular Pioneer in 1957, and, while pioneering, met the love of his life, Barbara E. Ruhlman; the couple were married on August 27, 1960.

Mark and Barbara served Jehovah together in pioneer work, and moved to Holton, Maine. Mark became a traveling Circuit Overseer, doing so for ten years, serving in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Queens and Brooklyn, New York; he ministered in nearly every state east of the Mississippi River, as well as Arkansas. Mark and Barbara entered Special Pioneer work in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1972, and later were invited to serve in Brooklyn Bethel, doing so joyously for two years.

As a side, Mark very much enjoyed music, and played both the trombone and the bass violin.

He and Barbara returned to North Canton in 1980 in order to help care for Mark’s mother who had suffered a stroke; all the while, they continued their work in pioneering. He was employed in a variety of jobs, and served his local Ohio congregations. Mark was faithful to Jehovah to the end of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his nephews, Gary (Renee), Bruce (Pam) and Randy (Kim) Prince; his sisters-in-law, Nancy Jakob and Linda Kitchen; and many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends. 

Besides his parents, Mark was preceded in death by his sister, Marilyn Prince Vargo; his brothers-in-law, Frank Prince and Frank Vargo; his nephew, Brian Prince; and his great-nephew, Robert “Bobby” Prince.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 19, at 2 p.m., in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1212 Kelly St. N.W., New Philadelphia. There will be visitation 1 - 2 p.m. prior to the service. The talk will be given by John Schiller of Amherst, Massachusetts, and there will be a Zoom option for those unable to attend - please contact the family for further information. Following the service, there will be a reception in Memorial Hall, 410 N. Wooster Ave., Dover.

Mark’s family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to everyone at C.C. Mercy I.C.U., as well as everyone at Hennis Care Centre for all they did for Mark and his family - Thank You So Very Much.