Dr. Leroy "Lee" Oesch was born July 5, 1931 in New Springfield, Ohio, to Ralph Wallace Oesch and Edna Mae Coy Oesch. He passed away Saturday, October 30, at age 90 on Shalom Acres in Clearfield, Kentucky. Lee was the youngest of five children: Oliver, Richard, Esther [Woodward], and Deloris [Stoops].

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Judy McKee Oesch; his sister Deloris; his four children Timothy, Robert, Matthew, and Debbie Oesch-Minor; and eight grandchildren Melissa, Sean, Charity, Ryan, Sarah, Ian Minor, John, and Dylan Minor. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, sister Esther, spouse of 23 years Evelyn Miller Oesch, and grandson Robert Matthew Oesch.

Lee attended the New Springfield, Ohio, First Church of God with his parents. At age nine he was converted and in the same year realized the call of God upon his life to be in ministry.

He attended Anderson College one year, 1945-50, and then transferred to Kent State University where he received his B.A. in 1953. The B.A. had a major in Social Studies and a minor in philosophy and speech.

He then attended Anderson Seminary and later Oberlin Theological Seminary.

He was called in 1954 to be Associate Pastor at the East Tulsa Church of God in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Tulsa and began work on teacher certification and an M.A. in Religious Education. He was certified to teach In Oklahoma.

He was called to Gulf Coast Bible College in the fall of 1956 where he taught Christian Education, Western Civilization, Philosophy, Psychology and Speech.

He was called back to Tulsa in 1957 to start a new church with the approval of the Oklahoma Ministerial Association of the Church of God. The church was started in the Eisenhower Elementary School with twelve people. Within a year the church was averaging near 80 and was able to pay Pastor Lee, so he did not need to continue doing substitute teaching. The church was called The Southside Church of God until May 8, 1960 when the dedication of the new church took place. The church was built on four and a half acres and located on Darlington Avenue; the church was renamed The Darlington Avenue Church of God. The sanctuary would hold over 300 and on May 8, 1960, the pews were full when Pastor Willard Wilcox spoke at the building-dedication service.

Pastor Lee received his M.A. in Religious Education in June of 1961. He began work on his doctoral program at the University of Tulsa and also at Oklahoma State University. He served the church in Tulsa from 1957 to 1966. While in Oklahoma he served in youth camps, youth conventions, Sunday School Rallies, as chairman of the Board of Christian Education for eight years, and was chairman of the greater Tulsa Ministerial Association. He also went for training to Navigators at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Pastor Lee was called to Warner Pacific College, Portland, Oregon in 1966 and taught for one year in the department of Christian Education. He continued his doctoral program at the University of Portland and also served four months as interim pastor at the Lents Gilbert Church of God.

Pastor Lee was then called to the First Church of God, which housed Gulf Coast Bible College [now Mid America Christian University], to be the Senior Pastor upon the resignation of Dr. Max R. Gaulke. While in Houston he continued his doctoral program at the University of Houston and in concert with work done at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University and the University of Portland. He received his Ed.D. (Doctorate in Educational Philosophy and Administration) in 1971. The title of the 219 page dissertation was "The Metaphysical Pre-Suppositions of John Dewey As Compared With Harvey Cox and Their Implications for the Theistic Administration".

During his tenure as Pastor of the First Church of God, Houston, Texas, from 1967-74 the church became the largest church in the Church of God Reformation Movement west of the Mississippi River and second only to Park Place Church of God in Anderson, Indiana, in total World Service giving for five out of the seven years.

The Houston First Church of God went through three building programs including a complete relocation of the church ten miles away to the North West Freeway. The church became known as the Northwest Freeway First Church of God and was located on eight acres.

While in Texas Pastor Lee served as the State Board of Christian Education, Youth Camp Director, Chairman of the Credentials Committee, Chairman of the Houston Heights Ministerial Association, Camp Meeting Program director, and became a certified public school teacher.

He was called to pastor the Eastland Parkway Church of God, Lexington, Kentucky, in November 1974. The church began to grow and by February of 1975 dedicated a new educational building and gym which doubled the floor space. The church became the fastest growing church in the state of any faith and the largest Church of God in the state. The church purchased 36 acres early in 1976 and began planning for relocation. It was in July of 1976 that Pastor Lee's first wife passed away at age 44. He resigned to find respite on Shalom Acres in August of 1977. His resignation was on Easter Sunday 1977 and the attendance was 904.

Pastor Lee and Judy were married December 30, 1977, and were called to serve the St. Andrew Church of God, Camden, South Carolina, from August 1978- March 1981. Building renovations, including a baptismal, church logo, and other improvements were made and the church experienced growth.

Pastor Lee had been Secretary of The General Assembly of the Church of God at the National Level while in South Carolina, and he became the chairman of the TN Ministerial Assembly.

Pastor Lee and Judy went to serve the First Church of God, Greeneville, Tennessee, from March 1981- February 1992. During that time the church built over 10,000 square feet of additional space to help house the First Church of God Christian School which began in 1984 with Rick Mooney as the first principal. Later the gym was renovated, an upper learning center with a science lab and computer lab were added, and a new pastor's office, foyer, and a large music room was added.

Lee was pastor of the Mountain View Church of God at Lynchburg, VA beginning March 1992 and retired, in part, to help care for his aging parents who passed away in 1995. (His mother in March at age 93 and his father in October at age 97). Renovation of the sanctuary, paving of the parking lot, future dreams of re-location, and church growth were experienced.

Following the passing of his parents he and Judy served as interim pastor at the First Church of God in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, from November 1996 to September 1998. The sanctuary was renovated, the parking lot paved, and a steeple was added.

Pastor Lee and Judy went to Bradenton, Florida October 3, 1998 to serve with Pastor Gerald Yates in the ministry of Outreach and Small Groups. Due to the illness of Dr. Gerald Yates, Pastor Lee became Senior Pastor until October of 1999. The school at Bradenton had 340 with day care and staff and at the 1999 Christmas School Program there was an attendance of 1,002.

Pastor Lee and Judy returned to Shalom Acres November of 1999. He continued to do pulpit supply, revivals, and Sunday Interim at the First Church of God, Lexington KY from February 2000-June of 2000.

Pastor Lee was called to have the funeral for his dear friend and colleague, Rick Mooney, on who was pastor in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Previously, Rick worked with Lee at the First Church of God in Greeneville, Tennessee, and was the principal of the First Church of God Christian School. The Fredericksburg congregation invited Lee to serve as interim pastor. While there, he worked with the church on the 1.5 million dollar building relocation.

Lee and Judy retired to Bradenton, Florida, and Clearfield, Kentucky, in 2001. He continued to fill the pulpit and work with The Pastor's Fellowship. In 2015, he and Judy moved to Owingsville, Kentucky, where they faithfully attended the First Church of God.

A funeral service celebrating his life will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at the Owingsville First Church of God with the Rev. Lowell Rice officiating.  Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery in Sharpsburg.

Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday at Owingsville First Church of God, 320 Slate Avenue, Owingsville, KY 40360.

Due to the situation with COVID and for the protection of family and friends, attendees are requested to please wear masks.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Owingsville First Church of God, P.O. Box 100, Owingsville, KY 40360.

Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351 is caring for arrangements.

View or sign online guestbook at www.northcuttandson.com