Obituary of Dwight L. High

Dwight Leroy High, 76, of Punta Gorda, Florida, and formerly of Van Wert, passed away unexpectedly in his home Friday, January 10, 2020. Dwight was born October 28, 1943, in Kenton. He was the cherished son of Dorris Joseph and Erma Mae (Van Buskirk) High, who both preceded him in death. He was blessed with two loving women in his life. On April 24, 1965, he married the former Janet Eileen Conkle, who passed on November 18, 2005. On January 30, 2017, he married the former Gloria Louise Doty of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who survives. He was a beloved father to Michael (Deborah) of Lillington, North Carolina, Kevin (Kari) of Orange County, California, and Jason (Jeneane) of Van Wert; and stepfather to Kirk (Diane) Doty of South Whitley, Indiana, Kaylynn (Brian) Bolinger, of Leesburg, Indiana, Kari (Jim) Shockley of Waller, Texas, Kendra Wheeler of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Kalisha Doty of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was a doting grandfather to Korey (Angel) of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Nicholas of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and stepgrandfather to 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful brother to Delores (Dean) Sherman of Fredericktown, Marvin, Glenn (Joan) High of Lexington, Ruth (Wayne) Miller of Cary, North Carolina, and Keith (Micki) High of New Hill, North Carolina. He was a wonderful uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. Brothers Marvin and Glenn preceded him in death. Dwight had a great laugh, a great smile, and, if you were blessed to have known him, he cherished you as a friend. Dwight lived in Kenton until he was 10 years old, his family moved to Mount Gilead in April of 1953 and he graduated from Mount Gilead High School in the class of 1961. In 1962, he joined the Ohio National Guard. When he completed his training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he worked various jobs until he found his life passion. On April 3, 1968, he joined the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He started his 27-year career at the Marion Patrol Post and transferred to Upper Sandusky. He was a resident trooper at both locations. He received a promotion to sergeant and was transferred to Van Wert, where he served until he retired June 27, 1995. After Dwight retired, he worked at Otis Write Trucking Company as a safety director, Vantage Career Center as a teaching assistant, Jobs for Ohio (JOG) teaching classes to youths that were released from youth prisons and helping young pregnant women to obtain their GEDs. He was a bus driver for Van Wert County Schools and a substitute for Parkway Local Schools. Dwight was one of the founders of the Van Wert Baseball Parents Association and was president of the organization for seven years. He was instrumental in Van Wert becoming an official member of Little League of America, as well as the local Pony League becoming part of the Senior League program. He created the Gold Medal Invitational and he worked hard and successfully to get a baseball diamond for children. When he was president you could always find him helping with the concessions, announcing games, keeping score, working on the diamond, or putting up a fence. Dwight loved the Van Wert County Fair and everything about it. He served for 12 years on the Van Wert Fair Board (1994 to 2005), serving two terms as vice president and two terms as president. Dwight also raised, bred, and sold prize-winning Toggenburg and LaMancha dairy goats. His wife, Janet, and their boys traveled to county fairs and state fairs, where he showed dairy goats in many parts of the United States. He was a long time and proud member of the American Dairy Goat Association. A celebration of Dwight’s life will be held Saturday, January 25, at the Junior Fair Building on the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. A private gathering for immediate family will be from 9 to 10 a.m., with a public gathering from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and a memorial service from 2 to 3 p.m. Following the memorial service, the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post 81 will escort Dwight on his final ride to IOOF Cemetery in Convoy. Dwight will be honored as a veteran of the Army Ohio National Guard during graveside military honors rendered by American Legion Post 178 in Van Wert. In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials to www.ohiocops.org.