Rev. Robert Paul Avers, 79, husband of Joanne, recently of Bluffton, Ohio, died surrounded by his family, at St. Ann's Hospital, Westerville on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012.

Rev. Avers was born on July 18, 1933 in Cleveland to the now deceased Paul H. and Melba L. (Zerger) Avers. He graduated from Clyde High School in 1951; Capital University in 1955; and the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus in 1959. He was ordained in the presence of his home congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church , Clyde in June 1959.

Rev. Avers was a Lutheran pastor for 10 years in Ethiopia and later served for eight years at Zion UCC, Bettsville. Before retiring on July 19, 1995, Rev. Avers and Joanne worked as coordinators for Habitat for Humanity in Utah , West Virginia and Columbus .

On Aug. 20, 1955, he married Joanne Emma Ferkel. She survives along with their children, Mark (Laura) Avers, Colorado Springs , Colorado ; Deborah S.. (R. Kevin) Mohr, Bluffton; Dianne R. (James) Dannemiller, Westerville and Sharon L. (Robert) Arnold, Uniontown , Pa. Eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren also survive. His brother, Rev. James W. (Linda) Avers survives in Fremont , Ohio .

Rev. and Mrs. Robert Avers were members of Trinity United Church of Christ in Tiffin . Rev. Avers was also a member of NW Ohio Association of United Church of Christ.

Visitation will be on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 from 2 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Mitchell-Auxter Funeral Home, 218 South Main St., Clyde , Ohio.  

The funeral will be on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Forest St., Clyde with an hour prior to the funeral for visiting. The Rev. Gerhardt Gosnell will officiate. Burial will be in McPherson Cemetery .

Memorials may be made to Sandusky Co. Habitat for Humanity or Seneca Co. Habitat for Humanity.

Online contributions may be sent to www.auxterfuneralhomes.com