Rev. Robert L. Sherrell

Rev. Robert L. "Bob" Sherrell, age 84, of Dover, entered into the joy of the Lord, Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Bob had battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for the past several months.

Born July 9, 1930, at Midvale, he was a son of the late Rev. Enoch and Lena (Chandler) Sherrell. Bob attended Midvale High School and played basketball for the school's Blue Devils team. He graduated in 1950, and entered the United States Army serving honorably with its 1485th Artillery Division during the Korean War. Upon his discharge, Bob returned to Tuscarawas County and married the former Jacqueline L. "Jackie" Houston on March 26, 1955. He was employed by the Robinson Clay Company, Midvale, the flour mill at Dover, and Gradall, New Philadelphia, from which he retired as a materials handler, after thirty years of service.

A man of deep faith, Bob was ordained a minister by the New Era Missionary Baptist District Association in 1974. He went on to pastor the Trinity Baptist Church at Newcomerstown for twenty-five years, and presently served as associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Dover. Additionally, Bob was active in the Christian jail and prison ministry, and sang with the local gospel group, The Kings of Harmony. He was a member of the NAACP and the Tuscarawas County Democratic Party. Bob was community-minded, and always willing to do what needed to be done.

Survivors include his loving wife, Jackie; his daughter, Mitzi L. Sherrell of Hackettstown, New Jersey; his sons, Richard L. (Bonita) Sherrell of Round Hill, Virginia, and Roderick L. "Rod" Sherrell of San Francisco; his five granddaughters, Alicia, Amber, Ashley, Cameo and Cayla Sherrell; his grandson, Cairo Sherrell; his great-grandson, Louis James Dill; his brother, Rev. Joseph Sherrell of Akron; his mother-in-law, Wilma H. Houston of Dover; his sisters-in-law, Marjory Sherrell of Dennison, and Sene Sherrell of Dover; and his many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his son, Robert L. Sherrell; his sisters, Ollie Mae Myricks and Mildred Davis; his brothers, Lester Smith, Elijah, James, Roosevelt and Willie Sherrell; his father-in-law, Major G. Houston; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George W. and Naomi Houston; and his life-long friend, Eddie L. "Spark" Mills.

A home-going service will be held Wednesday, June 17, at 12 p.m., in the First Baptist Church, 140 Regent St., Dover, with Rev. Chris Lowery officiating. Burial will be in Dover Burial Park, where military rites will be conducted by the Dover post of the VFW. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard at Dover. Family and friends are invited to call at the First Baptist Church on Tuesday, June 16, 5 8 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Bob, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family suggests that contributions in Bob's memory be made to the First Baptist Church, at the above address, or Community Hospice. 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.