Kermit Westbay

KERMIT LESTER WESTBAY, 99, of Plantation, Florida, formerly of Lima, Ohio, died at 3:15 a.m. October 17, 2004, at his daughter's residence, with whom he lived. He was born May 31, 1905, in Cridersville, Ohio to Cloyd Lester and Bessie Ellen Saddler Westbay, who preceded him in death. On November 23, 1927, at the Grace Methodist Church Parsonage in Lima, Ohio, he married Mary Catherine Moyer, who survives in Plantation, Florida. Mr. Westbay retired in 1954 as chief of police of Lima, Ohio, after 23 years. He had also retired from the National Detective Agency, Columbus, Ohio, after 16 years. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He was a charter member and served two years as the first president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 21 and was a member of FOP Lodge 8. He had also served as president of the Ohio Police Chiefs. He was a member of Fort Amanda Lodge 706 Free & Accepted Masons for more than 50 years and a 32nd degree member of Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton. He was member of the former FBI Agents National Association and the South West Gold Coast Chapter. He was a member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 54 and Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 370. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275 and its Military Order of Cooties. He was a former member of Knights of Pythias Temple 91, where he had served as chancellor commander, and the Model Railroad Club in Lima. He was a graduate of the sixth class of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Police Academy, Washington, D.C., which was under the direction of J. Edgar Hoover. At the time of his death he was the oldest living former FBI agent in the United States and abroad. Following Pearl Harbor, he took a leave of absence from the Lima Police Department when he was called to serve as a special agent with the FBI, from 1942 to 1943. He was a Marine Corps veteran serving as a corporal during the Haiti and Nicaragua uprisings of the early 1920s. He had lived in Pine Island, Fla., for 26 years, where he worked with the Chamber of Commerce. He lived life to its fullest and enjoyed being with family and friends. He enjoyed his poker and golf games. He loved telling people about his experiences in the Marine Corps, as a police officer and as a FBI agent. From the day they met until the time of his death, he and his beloved wife where a hand-holding couple. Survivors also include two daughters, Marina Jo (John) Jett-Swaney of Lima, Ohio and Corrina Jne (Raleigh) Arnett of Plantation, Florida; a brother, Vernon (LaVerta) Westbay of Bellefontaine; a sister, Edna Fisher of Wapakoneta, Ohio seven grandchildren, Jane (Walter) Smith of Lima, Amy (Michael) Romey of Bluffton Jonathan (Charlene) Jett of Hilliard, Ohio Marna (Michael) balogh of Davie, Florida, Joy (Bruce) Arnett-Arthur of Deltona, Florida; Jill (Roland) Rnager of Franklin, N. Carolina; and Cheryl Arnett of Columbus, Ohio; and 19 great grand children and four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Kenneth Westbay, Edwin Westbay, Edgar Westbay, and Berlin Westbay; and a sister, Vondale Jacomet. Services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. The Revs. Michael V. Westbay and Richard Steigleder will officiate. Burial will be in St. Matthews Cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 1275. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where a Masonic service will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday and a FOP service at 8 p.m. Thursday. Memorial contributions may be made to FOP Lodge 21 or Grace United Methodist Church , 125 W. Kibby St., Lima, Ohio 45804. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com