- Date Of Birth: January 23, 1942
- Date Of Death: May 21, 2021
- City: Sulphur Springs
- State: Ohio
John Martin Sturtz, 79
John Martin Sturtz died May 21, 2021. He was born January 23, 1942, to Fredrick “Fritz” Sturtz and Jemima (Scott) Sturtz in Sulphur Springs, Ohio. John graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1960. He was a devoted husband and cherished father to his family.
He retired from PPG Industries, Crestline Ohio in 1998 after 36 years. He was drafted into the Army in 1964 and served until 1966. He was stationed in Panama, with the Anti-Aircraft “Hawk” missile unit. He also played baseball in the Army and was a two-time All-Star for the US Southern Command. John was the first pitcher to pitch (and win) in the R.F.K Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, South America vs. Puerto Rico. His love of baseball led him to try out for the Cincinnati Reds, who felt he might be too old at 24 years old! He played softball for many years.
He loved to garden and enjoyed fishing and boating from an early age. He fished in Canada, New York, Michigan, Ohio (Lake Erie), Virginia, and Tennessee. In 2007, he and Silvia settled in Florida to fish on Lake Okeechobee. He was a quiet man but could bring the house down with laughter from his quick wit and joke-telling.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Kathryn (Sturtz) Friend and Laurie Sturtz; and his son-in-law, Rex Frye.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Silvia (Quesinberry); his children, Tom Seif, Theresa (Seif) Riley and Andrea (Sturtz) Frye; grandchildren, Josiah (JoDee) Seif, Cailan Seif, Ethan Seif, Jessica (Mark) Eidman, Travis Riley, Elizabeth Riley; six great-grandchildren; three brothers, Charles (Judy), Melvin (Joan), and Randy (Nancy) Sturtz.
