The Rev. Arnold W. Meckstroth, 101, of St. Marys, died at 4:25 p.m. June 3, 2010, at Otterbein Retirement Community, St. Marys, where he was a resident.

He was born May 25, 1909, in St. Marys, to Benjamin and Anna Maneke Meckstroth. On Oct. 12, 1930, he married Martha E. Katterheinrich, who died Feb. 27, 2005.

Surviving are two sons, Ned (JoAnn) Meckstroth, Plymouth, Ind., and Marcus (Meta) Meckstroth, State College, Pa.; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Deceased are four siblings, Louise Hespe, Lydia Eschmeyer, Clarence Meckstroth and Ferd Meckstroth; and two grandchildren.

He was ordained a minister at First Evangelical and Reformed Church, now called United Church of Christ, in New Knoxville. He served in Apple Creek, Cleveland, Akron, Chillicothe and Indianapolis, Ind. He visited the churches mission in Ghana and preached in Scotland and Germany. He also served the Charleston Church of the Brethren near Chillicothe and did interim work at other churches. He was honored by the First Church in New Knoxville by being named Pastor Emeritus. He also led tours of the Holy Land, Europe and Alaska and was honored with a Citizen's Ring when visiting Ladbergen, Germany, during its 1050th anniversary. He served on the founding committees of the St. Marys-Lienen, Germany Twin City Partnership, and the Wapakoneta-Lengerich, Germany Twin City Partnership. He was a graduate of New Knoxville High School, Wittenberg University in Springfield, Eden Theological Seminary in Webster Groves, Mo., and did graduate work at McCormick Seminary in Chicago, Ill., and Union Seminary in New York City, N.Y.

Services are 3 p.m. Sunday at First United Church of Christ in New Knoxville, the Revs. David Williams and Daniel Busch officiating. Burial is at Pilger Ruhe Cemetery near New Knoxville.

Calling is 2-3 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Contributions can be made to the New Knoxville church, Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community, or the New Knoxville Historical Society.

Condolences can be left at Millerfuneralhomes.net.