Rev. Amos LeRoy McGinnis, 96, formerly of Flora, passed away at Aster Place in Lafayette, on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. He was born October 26, 1921, in Eau Claire, Pennsylvania, to David Z. and Jessie (Dunkle) McGinnis. Amos’ step-mother, Veda Cotton McGinnis, survives. On June 9, 1943, he married Evelyn Bechtel; she passed away on August 26, 1987. Amos later married Celia Hoogeveen Bothof Funkhauser on March 16, 1996; she preceded him in death on August 23, 2011.
In 1939, Amos graduated from Eau Claire High School. Amos served in the United States Army in the 1st Army Engineers during World War II; he is a survivor of the landing on Omaha Beach where thousands lost their lives. He later attended Butler University, Cleveland Barber College, and then Garrett Seminary with Butler University in Indianapolis. Amos was a barber in Eau Claire until 1965. After being ordained as a Methodist minister, Amos served churches in Criswell and Robison Chapel, PA, before moving to Clarks Hill in 1965. He ministered in Hamilton from 1969 to 1978 and then Rossville until his first retirement in 1990. Amos was recalled to the pulpit with Idaville from 1994 to 2000 before retiring again. Amos was a lifelong member of the Methodist church and enjoyed hunting and helping others. He had also written a book of his life titled “Just in Time.”
Also surviving Amos are his children, Carole J. (Howard) Clements and Randy (Brenda) McGinnis; step-children, Dale L. (Janice) Bothof and Steven (Pamela) Bothof; brother, David “Mac” (Mae) McGinnis; half-brothers, Terry (Shirley) McGinnis and Luwellyn McGinnis; half-sisters, Karen (David) Terwilliger and Abby (Russ) Reeder; eight grandchildren, Claudia Wolf, Gary Clements, Rachael Clements-Maiden, Joel Clements, Jennie Russell, Tonya McGinnis, Tammy McGinnis, and Tabitha Impton; four step-grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren with one more on the way.
In addition to his wives, Amos is preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Brenda McGinnis; brothers, Lowry Milton McGinnis and Thayle McGinnis; sister, Doris Dunkle; half-sister, Cynthia Campbell; and half-brother-in-law, Russ Reeder.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Rossville United Methodist Church from 1:00 p.m. to the start of the funeral service at 3:00 p.m. Pastor Kevin Marsh will officiate. Burial will follow in Rossville Cemetery with military honors. Memorials in Amos’ name may be made to the American Cancer Society or Rossville United Methodist Church Building Fund. Arrangements are entrusted to Genda Funeral Home Rossville Chapel with online condolences directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.