Jack was always such a pleasure to have in our dental office.  He brightened our day with his stories and jokes. We will always remember his friendly smile, kindness, sense of humor and our shiny black tires after his visits.  Jack was a great friend and will be missed by all.   Dr. Joel & Merry McCuen

Jack truly was one-of-a-kind and bought joy to many of us. He made sure everyone was acknowledged and you knew him as a friend minutes after you met him. 

I moved from Ohio almost 3 years ago and Jack gave me 2 two dollar bills to remember him by.  Little did he know that I could never forget him. We kept in touch by phone after I left.

My daughter from Virginia saw him whenever she visited and came to the Gerlach center with me.  She called him 'Dapper Dan' because of the way he dressed.  

He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

ROGER USMC
IT CANNOT BE INHERITED NOR CAN IT EVER BE PURCHASED.
YOU AND NO ONE ALIVE CAN BUY IT FOR ANY PRICE.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RENT AND CANNOT BE LENT.
YOU ALONE AND OUR OWN HAVE EARNED IT WITH YOUR SWEAT, BLOOD AND LIVES.
YOU WON IT FOREVER.
THE TITLE
UNITED STATES MARINE
GO WITH GOD MY BROTHER
SEMPER FI

In 1964, I went to work at Rankin & Rankin in Newark.  I was assigned to their up & coming Life agent, Jack Thropp. They gave him a half a day secretary and he had a couple that had not worked out.  I was 23 with a 10 month old son, but we needed the money! That was about the time Jack learned about the adoption. Shh... I caught some errors Jack made in some policies surveys he made for prospects, maybe one was Bill Mitchell, Jon Spahr, can only remember a couple. Then I typed them up and that year or the next, he made Million Dollar Round table! And I was in.  I was there when Jeffrey came along, we got along great.

Joe Collins who was the Agency Manager died and another general insurance agent got the job as manager and he didn't think Jack should have a secretary and gave me a hard time trying to make me do more Rankin work and less for Jack. So Jack left them and so did I.  We were in a couple offices, hired Kendra, went across some bumps along the way, but in May of '67 I broke my leg and was pregnant.  Jack came to my house to tell me, as I was going to be be leaving, he was keeping the office open with the other secretary for a while and then going to Columbus.

I didn't see him again until about 5 years ago, and can't remember how I found him, but we met at Olive Garden.  He told me about his lady and how great she was, but never mentioned his enlarged family!  Because of him, I was never unable to face a challenge and always loved him, almost as if I were his mother, because I mothered him through some rough times.  There WAS no one else like him!  I'm in the book if you have questions!
Carolyn J. Clark, Newark

This is one of the most bitter/sweet moments of my life...... to hear of the passing of Jack literally took my breath away, and yet memories of so many years began to flood back.
i first met the "charismatic" Jack Thropp in 1982 through an introduction of a business associate of both Jack and me.  It was immediate friendship, and after just a few minutes i felt like i knew Jack my entire life.  
We also became business associates at Jack's request, and both Jack and I prospered in our friendship and business together, as we progressed in just one of Jack's many talents, helping others.
i also remember many joyous memories with Jack and Barbara outside our business relationship.  Their love for each other was "magical", and certainly made in Heaven.  She was able to bring a radiance from Jack that simply was not there without her presence.
Jack, you will certainly be missed....and as evident in this brief sharing....words cannot begin to explain how much Jack impacted the lives of those who met him, and those who were fortunate enough to get to know "the man".  Jack exemplified the words of the
remarkable theologian and evangelist, John Wesley:
          "Do all the good you can.  By all the means you can.
           In all the ways you can.  In all the place you can.
           At all the times you can.  To all the people you can.
          As long as ever you can."

And Jack certainly did that.....and now he is able to see all that he did, to all that he did.
God's continued Blessings on you Jack..... and your loving wife, Barbara.

Carpe Diem
Chuck Mers

P.S.  my wife, Ardith was also a recipient of Jack's friendship and unconditional love.

Circle of Love Tear Bottle with Mini Dome was purchased for the family of Jack Adkins Thropp.

My husband Jon and I lived down the street from Jack and Barbara for over 20 years.  I'll never forget one particular Halloween, when they pulled into our driveway on the way to a Halloween party.  Jack was dressed as a Catholic nun in full habit, including a veil and coif, reminiscent of the nuns we had in grade school back in the 1960's.  He looked very authentic.  This is just one of the many fond memories we have.  Jack was truly one of a kind, a personality that one never forgets.  He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.  Our condolences to all his family.
Jon and Laurie DiSabato

My late husband Bill and Jack were lifetime friends, the stories I have heard over the years from both of them would fill a novel,,, He never forgot our birthdays and always visited Bill when he was hospitalized or recovering at home.  Phone calls were frequent Always ending in a fit of laughter.  My condolences to Barb and his family, he will be missed.

Judy Mitchell

My husband was in a nursing facility recovering from an infection in his back and Jack came to visit him on a very rainy day dressed in a yellow slicker complete with hat.  He said he came to see the widow.  He had sold by husband life insurance previously.  Him coming was like a sunny day.

Both of my parents are now gone. My mom’s date was Sept 8, my dad Sept 9. Toward the end, my dad had defied odds each day that he continued to “live”, so we kind of held our breaths on Sept 8. His wife even telling him, “You need to wait another day for Tina”. That he did. Fitting with his character, he has his own day. 

My dad, Jack, died after 5 weeks at Ohio State Univ Med Ctr. He was a young 87 1/2.  What he died of is a little bit of a mystery to tie up neatly, but he had many medical minds on the case.  It wasn’t simply “old age”. 

He didn’t quite make it to his 2nd wedding anniversary to Barbara whom he’d been with for 45 years. 

A one of a kind man, you’d notice him first in any room, and his offbeat sense of humor would leave you shaking your head. Other than Sean, who is hard to rival, my dad was my biggest cheerleader- missing no opportunity to remind me how proud he was of who I’d become. He’d often joke with seriousness that he couldn’t drive as far as I could run. 

He was quite proud of his Eagle Scout badge and his service in the U.S. Marines. 

My dad made it through trying times, spending the first 9 months of his life in an orphanage, then thankfully being raised by his grandparents.
As a proud US Marine, he was one of 5 to receive top security clearance to guard scientists and the first hydrogen bomb on a Navy ship during a secret test mission. After the bomb was assembled on the island of Eniwetok, they traveled just miles offshore to watch the detonation from on deck.  It was reportedly up to 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. My dad had only had his hand to cover his face from radioactive fallout and saw his skeleton radiate through his skin. It’s likely he was the last of the ship to survive. 
He more than overcame a gambling addiction and became the President of Gamblers Anonymous for the State of Ohio, a shining example of positive change. With determination and leadership, he offered others the support he received. 
He never drank or smoked. Though he required quadruple cardiac bypass surgery early in life, and another quadruple bypass later, plus the addition of a pacemaker...his heart continued to tick along well throughout his final illnesses, irrelevant  to his death. 

For work, he became a successful life insurance agent and would tell you he was a member of the million dollar round table back in the early days when most policies were simply $5,000 and $10,000. To help fill the later years, he became a professional driver for businesses and individuals. He was in his element dressed up, seizing the opportunity to delve into his massive, real bow tie collection.  Whether driving the deceased for a funeral home or the owner of a chain of department stores, he radiated panache. 

After seeing a pile of doughnuts in the dumpster, he initiated a multi-year relationship with Krispy Kreme and Whole Foods in which he’d fill his car with end-of-the-day food and happily deliver to homeless shelters and other locations. 

He had a passion for cars and clothing! One of his mottos was “It’s better to look good than to feel good!” and would say it with humorous, dramatic flair. His tires, shoes and nails were always shined! 
From one day to the next you wouldn’t know if he’d be dressed like a rapper, a sharp GQ model, or any number of “costumes” as we called it. Just for one, he’d wear hats with the tags still on them enjoying the reactions he’d get, and would respond that he was Minnie Pearl’s nephew. One time at a nice brunch, my dad wore a cap with a realistic looking long grey braid that went to the middle of his back (Willie Nelson-esque).  I was particularly mortified, but he owned it. He relished a little bit of shock value. Always a trip. 

My dad was the most sensitive man I’ve ever known. He genuinely cared about people, wanted to hear the “real stuff” and maintained many deep friendships. He gave me the true sense that openly sharing feelings, emotions and thoughts is what we do! 
I’ll miss the love notes and cards he sent me for every reason and no reason at all, always with a crisp $2 bill enclosed.  My sons are already missing their “cheerful, happy, funny” Papa Jack. 

I am so thankful for the precious time spent with him while he was succumbing to his final illnesses. I was there for the best of him, his last words and to hold his hand and talk to him when all that was left was a few more breaths. We placed a different one of his wacky shirts on him in hospice every day and took pictures. My favorite, a pink one that says “Stop Laughing. This is your girlfriend’s t-shirt!”  I relished giving him a manicure and pedicure, reading him poetry, playing 1950’s music in his ear, but having the sacraments of baptism and final rites administered were the most unforgettable of all. Though seemingly unresponsive, my dad reacted strongly to being anointed! Believe it. It was beyond serindipty that the Priest who came knew my God-Father well. He turned to me and said “That was the help you asked for. This was all part of God’s plan”.  I know it was. 

I am comfortable ... grateful to have had this much more peaceful experience than with my mom’s death... and that stones were not left unturned. 

Love always, Dad/Papa Jack XOXO 

:heart: Tina

OBITUARY

Jack Adkins Thropp

April 15, 1933 – September 9, 2020

Schoedinger Midtown

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services