John C. Rill

John C. Rill, age 70, of Salem, passed away at 6:35 a.m., Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at his home.
He was born February 1, 1946, at Salem Clinic, in Salem, Ohio, to Thomas G. and Virginia (Stoffer) Rill.
A 1965 graduate of West Branch High School, John then graduated in 1973 from Youngstown University, in 1976 from West Minster College in Pennsylvania and attended classes at Mount Union College.
He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Alliance serving on the church council several times and on the property committee. He was also a member of the Columbiana County Farm Bureau.
John was a science teacher at Southern Local from 1968 to 1974 and taught physical education at Louisville Middle School from 1974 to 2007. He was an athletic director, coached football for 40 years, and coached wrestling and track for 32 years. He also spent many years farming the family farm.
Coach Rill spent 40 years working with his students. Every year, he would take four or five students on a weeklong camping and canoeing trip on the Clarion River in Cooks Forest, Pennsylvania.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Shirley (Linhart) Rill of Salem, whom he married August 10, 1974; son, Matthew Rill of the home; daughter, Sarah (Zach) Leasure; grandson, Deagan Leasure; brother, Tom (Susan) Rill; nieces, Carolyn (Jerry) Hollback and Micki (Garth) Egli; and nephews, Joey Hollback and Tanner Egli, all of Damascus.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 20, 2016, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with The Rev Timothy Muse officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday at the church and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in John's honor to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 3820, Alliance, OH 44601.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, OH 44601.