GONGOLA - A memorial service for Leonard V. "Pastor Lenny" Gongola, 87, of Newark, will be held on Friday, June 22, 2012, at 2 PM, in the Fireside Room of the Heath Church of Christ, 1331 Chapel Way, Heath, Ohio with Greg Robbins officiating. Burial in Bee Gum Cemetery near Mannington, West Virginia will take place at a later date.
He was born August 28, 1924, in Wheeling, West Virginia, a son of the late Joseph and Sophia Gongola and passed away Sunday, June 16, 2012, at the home of his daughter in Newark, under the loving care of hospice, following complications from two recent surgeries.
A committed Christian and servant of Jesus Christ, Pastor Lenny's life was dedicated to sharing God's love through active Christian service. He was a pastor and teacher of the Gospel as an ordained minister, Director of the Brotherhood and Sunday School teacher of First Baptist Church in Satellite Beach, Florida and had served at the Resurrection Ranch in Melbourne, Florida. He had written copy, did programming and was a daily announcer on Christian radio as well. He was founder and president of Son Beam Ministries, Inc. was an author, was named Outstanding Volunteer Chaplain in Florida and had served as a missionary in Africa. Always looking to advance the Word to those less fortunate, Len was active in promoting nursing home, prison and jail ministries and had been an advisor to Ohio correctional institutions. In recent years, he embraced digital media and created a website, www.chaplainlen. com. He was a member of the Gideon's International, Perry County Camp and had been a past president of Moundbuilders Kiwanis. For many years he was vice president and general manager of F.O. Schoedinger Co. in Columbus.
Surviving are his daughter, Judy (Ron) Debevoise of Newark; grandchildren, Brandy Debevoise, Amanda Barclay (Charlie Jr.) Reed, Doug and Grant Barclay; great grandchildren, Tyler and Jackson Reed; a sister, Regina Gongola Mecca of Wheeling, West Virginia and several nieces and nephews; two step-daughters, Debbie (Woody) Hurley and their children, Buddy and Adam of Satellite Beach, Florida, Donna (Ed) Ness of Sarasota, Florida and a son-in-law, Larry Pegerson of North Carolina.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Rhea (Oberle) Gongola on June 24, 1982, his second wife, Polly (Hennen) Gongola in 2004; a daughter, Kathleen Barclay Pergerson, a sister, Theresa Chaplin and a brother, Henry Gongola.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio, PO Box 430, Newark, Ohio 43058.
The Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N. 21st Street, Newark, Ohio, is assisting the family.
