Barton Ronald Derby

Barton Ronald Derby of Kent, died Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center. He was 89.

Bart was born May 3, 1933, in Buckhannon, West Virginia, the eldest child of Clarence Aubrey Derby and LoVere Eloise Stanley. He lived most of his early years in nearby Folsom, WV, and moved to Greenwich, Ohio, in 1945. He graduated from Greenwich High School in 1951 and attended Ashland College in Ashland, Ohio, where he met Christine Helen Hriesik. The two were married September 21, 1952, in Ashland, welcoming their first child the following year. During that time, he had also joined the US Navy and served in the Korean War on the USS Cacapon, serving for two years. Following a move to California in 1954 and the birth of their second child, at the completion of his service, Bart and Helen returned to Ohio where he completed his bachelor’s degree at Ohio University. While in Athens, Ohio, two more children were born.

After short stints at TV stations WDTN in Dayton and WTHR in Indianapolis, Bart and his family came to Kent in 1960 after he was hired as chief engineer of the new teleproductions department at Kent State University. At KSU, Bart was a key figure in establishing KSU’s teleproductions department, particularly in the establishment of today’s PBS Western Reserve. He retired from KSU in 1989.

Bart enjoyed studying and writing about his family history, as well as local, canal, and Civil War history. Beginning in 1975, he was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, mainly in the Rootstown congregation, serving as Bishop on two occasions and several other callings and positions. He and Helen served a year-long mission to Toronto, Canada, in 1994-1995 at the church’s Toronto Temple and another mission a few years later as managers of the church’s local welfare services storehouse in Brecksville, Ohio.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helen; younger sister, Jan; and grandson, Bruce, Jr.; Bart is survived by his youngest brother Ken (Janet) of Roswell, Georgia; daughter Linda Ridinger of Kent; son Bruce (Tracine) of Yelm, Washington; daughter Brenda (Rick) Porter of Clifton, Idaho; son Brian (Audrey) of Spanaway, Washington; along with 10 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 12:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2776 Hartville Rd. Rootstown, OH. 44272 and the funeral service will immediately follow at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent..

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