Thomas Andrew Unverferth

Thomas Andrew Unverferth, born November 5, 1929, died on September 10, 2015. An Eagle Scout, he graduated from Saints Peter and Paul High School, Ottawa. In addition, he graduated from Culver Military Academy. He went on to be graduated from Harvard College, '51, with an A.B. in American and European History. Immediately drafted into the Army, he was sent to the Army Graduate Language School in Monterey, CA, where he mastered Russian. Fluent in German as well, during the Korean War, Judge Unverferth was stationed in Germany for the duration of his military service, having been tapped for intelligence operations.

Upon return to the U.S., he earned his JD at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and was admitted to the bar in 1960. After briefly practicing in Cleveland, he returned to Ottawa, where he joined his grandfather, Ben and father, Elmer as partner in their private practice, Unverferth & Unverferth Law Practice.

Judge Unverferth became involved in government and politics. He ran in competitive contests, and won, two terms as Putnam County Prosecutor. He subsequently did the same for two terms as Putnam County Probate and Juvenile Judge, retiring in 2003.

The Library of Congress selected him to interview Korean War veterans as part of their oral history project about those servicemen. Judge Unverferth was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 9142, Ottawa). In addition, he was devoted to his alma mater, Harvard.

He was an ardent supporter of the Putnam County Library.

His wife, Mary Tower, preceded him in death in 2000. He leaves his sisters, Julia Butler of Cambridge, MA; Ann Weber (Roger) of Maumee; and Mary Heringhaus of Lima. His brothers-in-law, Tom Butler and Tom Heringhaus also preceded him in death.

Funeral arrangements have been prepared by Love Funeral Home of Ottawa Ohio. Funeral mass will be 12:30 p.m. Friday, October 2, 2015 at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Ottawa where there will be a military service following the mass outside the church. There will be visitation hours from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, October 2,  at the church.   The burial is requested to be private.

Donations may be sent to the Putnam County Library in Judge Unverferth's name.

Condolences may be sent to: www.lovefuneralhome.com.