John Carleton Lombard

John Carleton Lombard, 86, of Oakwood, passed away on Friday, August 23 at Kettering Memorial Hospital. He was born on August 19, 1927, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Ella Patton Lombard and Carleton Joshua Lombard. He grew up in Chelmsford, MA, and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University. He would be the first to say that he was not a good student at either. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a cryptographer, and later began working at Wyman-Gordon Company's Eastern Division in Worcester. He was promoted to personnel director when a colleague suggested he might be a good lawyer. It was a decision that changed his life. He enrolled in Boston College night law school, where the "light went on. " He was first in his class all four years, and a first rate management labor lawyer was born. John moved to Dayton with his family in 1962, and began his law career at Coolidge Wall & Wood, which later became Coolidge, Wall, Womsley and Lombard. He was managing partner for nine years and did management labor work for clients such as Reynolds & Reynolds, the Berry Company, the City of Oakwood and the RTA. In 1964, he became legal counsel to Kettering Memorial Hospital and later Kettering Health Network. He served in that capacity for 40 years. He was also Virginia Kettering's personal attorney. They enjoyed a very special relationship, and are having a beer together in heaven. When most people are ready to retire, John joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister's Dayton law office, where there is a conference room named after him. John loved the game of golf, and was known for his somewhat unorthodox approach to the game by never using a driver. He was a member of Dayton Country Club for many years and then Moraine Country Club, where he was part of a great foursome. He relished the fact that he had two holes in one. John served on the boards of Wright Library, Planned Parenthood of the Miami Valley, the Dayton Visual Arts Center and The Dayton Art Institute, where he was chairman during the museum's renovation in the mid 1990s. He was most proud of his work as a volunteer lawyer for Artemis, for which he received the first Lloyd O'Hara Award, and of his many years as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), where his strong voice and conviction upheld the best interests of abused and abandoned children. In the past several years he tutored reading for Ruskin fifth graders, and encouraged others to become tutors. This past January he received an Outstanding Mentor Award from the Montgomery County Mentoring Collaborative. He was a member of the Dayton Bar Association and was honored for 50 years of service in 2009. He was named assistant editor of "The Developing Labor Law" published by the Bureau of National Affairs and the American Bar Association's Section of Labor and Employment Law and considered the standard work of its kind. John was known for his Boston accent, his hearty laugh and great sense of humor. He leaves behind to mourn and miss him his beloved wife of 30 years Linda, a daughter Susan Letendre (Tim) of Livermore, CA, a son David (Cindy) of Downington, PA, sister in law Jane K. Lombard of New York City, nephew Richard Lombard (Nathalie) of Doha Qatar and niece Sarah Lombard of Hanover, NH as well as Linda's daughters Cindy Koenig (Bob) of Oakwood, Diane Coates (Greg D'Angelo) of Los Angeles, Sara Steen of Oakton, VA., and grandchildren Bryan, Adam and Emilee Koenig and Jack D'Angelo. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Janet, brother Richard and daughter Beth. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton OH 45405. The family is starting a fund in John's honor and memory. A memorial service and celebration of John' s life is planned in the near future at the Art Institute. Date and time will be published.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429

Service:
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429
Saturday, August 24, 2013
No Services