Theodore "Ted" Dechristopher

Theodore "Ted" DeChristopher, 76, of Perrysburg, Ohio passed away after an eight-year battle with vascular dementia. Ted was born on May 25, 1945 to Richard and Dorothy (McCarthy) DeChristopher in Toledo, Ohio. Growing up in Toledo's Old South End, he attended St. James Elementary and went on to graduate from Central Catholic High School in 1963. He played baseball for CCHS and went on to pursue his baseball dreams playing for both the Tigers and Pirates minor league teams. Pursuit of his dream was interrupted when he was drafted for the Vietnam War. Instead of accepting his draft notice for the Army, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served with Special Forces, Air Tactical Command-FAC at the Song Be basecamp in South Vietnam. After earning the rank of Staff Sergeant and being awarded the Bronze Star, he was honorably discharged from the service in 1969.

On May 31, 1968, Ted married Catherine Smith. This past May, they celebrated 53 years of marriage. He devoted his life to his family, his faith, and local youth programs. As an active member of St. Rose Parish for 51 years, he taught Vacation Bible School, CCD, and Confirmation preparation classes, served on the school board, was a Communion distributor, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.Throughout his life, Ted worked for the Ford Motor Company, Toledo Public Schools, and Mercy Health Partners. But what he was most known for was the work he completed as a master carpenter; he built several local homes and remodeled many others. He was a vocal youth advocate whose devotion was most evident in both his coaching and teaching. Ted was also a devoted friend. He would drop everything at a moment’s notice to help family and friends. The friendships he maintained throughout his life - from his childhood cronies in the Old South End to the relationships he built with neighbors and fellow parishioners - speak volumes about his integrity.

Ted was an avid sports fan. He loved baseball and was a life-long fan of the Detroit Tigers. He passionately supported Central Catholic, the University of Toledo, and the University of Michigan athletic teams. He was always coaching something, from CYO basketball to Little League Baseball, and anything in between. If he was not coaching, Ted was a fixture in the stands cheering for his children, and later in life, his grandchildren. And much to his chagrin, he was known to be a perennially terrible golfer.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Richard, Joseph (Joann), John (Betty and Patricia), and Marrianne (James) Jones, his in-laws Carlisle and Mary Smith, Robert Meyer, and Nina Solis, and his nephews Dan DeChristopher and Christopher Meyer. He is survived by his wife, Cathy, their children Michelle DeChristopher, Beth (Brad) Kuron, and Dominic DeChristopher. He was the one and only Boppie to his eight grandchildren: Emily, Hannah, Caitlyn, Paige, Lila, Bella, Noah, and Charlotte. He is also survived by his siblings Raymond (Judy) DeChristopher and Kathy Sue Gunner, his in-laws Joe (Kathleen) Smith, Julie Meyer and countless nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 3, 2022, from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home located at 501 Conant Street, Maumee, Ohio. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church located at 215 East Front Street, Perrysburg, Ohio beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022. Donations may be made to either Hospice of Northwest Ohio or the Wounded Warrior Project.