John Franklin Stilts

John Franklin Stilts, 87, of Davidson County, passed away Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice.

John was born on December 28, 1934, in Guernsey County, Ohio, to the late Claude Alfred Stilts and Lillian Gibbs Stilts. For most of his life, he was a minister for the Methodist Church. After retirement, he worked for Copeland Oaks United Methodist Retirement Community, in Sebring OH. John was Head of fundraising for the Oaks Foundation, which helped raise money for those that couldn’t afford the cost of care. John loved to visit lighthouses, was an avid reader, and a history buff. He attended Center United Methodist Church in Welcome and loved his church family. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by one son, Stephen Stilts.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, Carol Stilts, of the home; son, Jason Rice and wife Suzanne, of FL; three daughters, Mary Ciccone and husband Joseph, of NJ; Jennifer Kurtzman and husband Michael, of Lexington, and Sarah Welch and husband Andrew, of PA; one sister, Norma Grady, of CA; one niece, Erin Grady; and six grandchildren, Amanda, Antonio, Julia, Cora, Ann-Marie, and Ella.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oaks Foundation, www.oaksfoundation.com.

He will be remembered and loved by all who knew him.