Orin L. Mearse

Orin L. “Odie” Mearse, age 71, of Edon, Ohio, passed away at 7:23 P.M. on Saturday, October 28, 2023, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness.  Mr. Mearse was a 1970 graduate of Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Indiana, and was employed at Metaldyne, retiring with more than forty years of service.  In retirement he worked for Edon Farmers Co-op for several years.  He was a member of the Florence Township Fire Department for forty-seven years and served as Captain.  He was also a charter member of the Florence Township EMS unit, which became Medic-4, for more than forty years, serving many years as Chief.  Odie was passionate about his service with the EMS and Fire Departments and also thoroughly enjoyed time spent with his family, especially his grandkids. 

Orin L. Mearse was born on March 29, 1952, in Paulding, Ohio, the son of Billie A. and Helen I. (Thompson) Mearse.

Survivors include one daughter, Haley (Troy) Rodriguez, of Edon; three sons, Adam Mearse, of Edgerton, Ohio, Eric (Chelsi) Mearse and Seth Mearse, both of Edon; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one brother, Paul Mearse, of Angola, Indiana.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Jay Roger Thompson and Gene Charles Mearse.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023, from 2:00-8:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 204 West Indiana Street, Edon, where there will be a firemen’s walkthrough at 1800 hours, paying tribute to Odie’s years of service.  Private grave side services will be held in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, near Blakeslee, Ohio, with Pastor John MacFarlane, fire department chaplain, officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials are requested to Florence Township Firefighters Association.