John Wayne Caddey

The Rev. Dr. John Caddey, passed away on February 2, 2023. John was born on July 26, 1936 to the late William and Frances Caddey. In 1960, he married Rochelle and they enjoyed 53 years of marriage before her death in 2013. John and Rochelle loved vacationing with their family and took annual trips to Holden Beach, NC with their kids and grandkids. Volunteering was a big part of their life together and they could be seen supporting many organizations and events in Berea including the Berea Arts Festival, Berea Historical Society and the North End Foundation. Most of all, they loved being parents, grandparents and great grandparents. He is predeceased by his brother William, sister Enid Mears, and son-in-law Jon Whipple.

John is survived by his children; Amy Whipple, Eric (Stacy) Caddey, Melissa (Tom) Kleptz, nine grandchildren; Kyle (Lindsay), Lauren (Matthew), Emily (Pat), Drew, Grant (Kristin), Nicholas, Rachel (Brian), Maddie, and Nathan; sister-in-law Susan(Michael) Lancaster, nephew Brandon (Katelyn) Lancaster, niece Sarah (Charles) sister-in-law Janet Caddey, niece Karen (John) Doscher, nephew Bill; great grandchildren, Colton, Brady, Landon, Ellie, Adison, Henry, James, Olivia; and great nieces Julia, Quinn, Stella, and Evelyn and great nephews Peter, Weston and Charlie and so many longtime friends, including their Lake Hope group.

John received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kent State University in 1958. He attended Oberlin Graduate School of Theology and received his Master of Divinity in 1961 and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Church Social Work in 1963. Dr. Caddey was appointed as the first Chaplain at the Berea Children’s Home and Family Services in 1963 and became the Executive Director in 1972 and was an active leader at the local, state and federal levels of government working to improve and create more effective ways to deliver services to those in need and to impact legislation to benefit children and families.

During his 42 years at the Children’s Home, they grew from serving less than 100 children and families each year to serving over 9,000. His vision grew a small residential treatment program to include 37 unique social service programs ranging from secure residential treatment to community based programs such as day care for the poor. His strong belief in collaboration and utilizing the United Methodist Churches as partners led him to create the Compassionate Communities Project in 1997, designed to provide support and encouragement to faith-based organizations seeking to reach out to children and families in their communities.

Dr. Caddey served on the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries being recognized with their Distinguished Service Award and the United Methodist Association’s Children, Youth, and Families Executive of the Year Award for his personal commitment to the ministry of providing healing and hope to children and families; co-chaired the Ohio State Adoption Planning Group, working with the state of Ohio to promote the adoption of children. In the late 1980’s he participated on the District 10 Mental Health Regional Planning Committee, leading to the eventual planning for and closure of Ohio’s psychiatric hospitals for children. Anticipating the need for a treatment facility to serve children who were a danger to themselves and others, he worked with the Ohio Department of Mental Health to build the state’s first secure/locked treatment cottage on the main campus of Berea Children’s Home. He was a founding member of the Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies, one of the original commissioners on the National Association of Homes and Services for Children’s Commission on Accreditation.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Berea United Methodist Church with a luncheon reception immediately following in the Reinberger Chapel at Ohio Guidestone, 202 E. Bagley Rd, Berea Ohio, 44017. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the John and Rochelle Caddey Endowment Fund at Ohio Guidestone or to the Berea Arts Festival.

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