Rev. Dr. Arden E. Gilmer 79, of Ashland, passed away early Wednesday evening August 3, 2022, at Summa Health Barberton Hospital.

He was born March 28, 1943, in Huntington, Indiana to the late Herbert R. and Evelyn (Bollinger)

Gilmer.

He was a 1961 graduate of Roann High School, Roann, Indiana. Arden graduated from Ashland College in 1965 and from the Ashland College Theological Seminary in 1968. Later he received his doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. While he attended Seminary he served as the youth pastor for the First United Methodist Church in Ashland and had also pastored at the Church of the Master in Steuben, Ohio. Following Seminary Arden became the pastor of the Pleasant View Brethren Church in Vandergrift, PA. from 1968 to 1975. He returned to Ashland as the Director of Home Missions of the Brethren Church from 1975 to 1979. In 1979 Arden became the head Pastor of the Park Street Brethren Church, a position he held until his retirement in 2009. Following his retirement, he was named Pastor Emeritus of Park Street Brethren Church, a position he held until his passing.

Arden kept himself busy outside to the walls of the church. He was a basketball official for 20 years not only in Ohio but also in Florida. He was a member of the Ashland Noon Kiwanis, was a 20-gallon Red Cross blood donor, had served on the board of trustees for Ashland University, enjoyed spending his winters in Sebring, FL., reading his Bible, but his favorite time was being with his family, his sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren and their events were very important to him.

On January 29, 1962, during a semester break, Arden was married to Roberta (Bobbi) Miller. The couple celebrated 57 years of marriage together before her death on August 2, 2019. On September 7, 2020 Arden married Ann DeVeny who survives him. He is also survived by three sons, John (Stephanie) of Ashland, Joseph (Jacqueline) Gilmer of Tiffin, OH; Jeff (Cindy) Gilmer of Greenwood, IN; 11 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren; and his siblings, Sharon Monroe of Springfield, OH; Jim Gilmer of Warsaw, IN; and Beth (Steve) Barber of Plymouth, IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Roberta (Bobbi) Gilmer and a daughter-in-law, Pam Gilmer.

Funeral services will be held Saturday August 13, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. from the Park Street Brethren Church with the Reverend Nate Bebout officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Friday August 12, 2022, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home and again on Saturday August 13, 2022, at the Park Street Brethren Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be in the Ashland Cemetery.

The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Park Street Brethren Church Building Fund, 619 Park Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805

For those who cannot attend, condolences may be made to the family by emailing denbowfh.com

Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Rev. Dr. Arden Gilmer.