John S. Queen

By | August 22, 2019

Rev. John S. Queen, age 96, of Wellston, Ohio, joyfully entered Heaven on July 16, 2019 following a short illness. He was born Oct. 28, 1922 in Edgar Co., Illinois to William L. and Cora M. Hall Queen. John was a graduate of Plattsburgh High School, Wittenberg University and the Chicago Theological Seminary. He served as Pastor of Pleasant Hill Church and Polk Grove Church, both in the Dayton, Ohio area. During his time at Polk Grove, he was named Rural Pastor of the Year for Ohio.

In 1959, he was called to the Conference Staff of the Congregational Christian Church in the state of Illinois to be an Associate Superintendent over 117 churches, a position he served admirably. While there, John started 10 new churches in five years, one of which quickly became the largest church in the denomination and still is today. John became interested in coins, and after moving back to Ohio, he worked at Paramount, the largest coin company in the world at that time, where he became a prominent coin auctioneer. While at Paramount he bought the largest gold hoard and the largest silver hoard ever to come on the market, both out of Curaçao.

Among his other professions, John was a pilot; an agriculturist in the Peace Corps in Ecuador; a private detective; and an author of many books, newspaper/magazine articles and an internet website. He was also business owner of Royal Enterprises in West Milton, Ohio and The Service Center and Royal Enterprises in Wellston, Ohio. John was a Lifetime member of the American Numismatic Association and a member of the OH-Kan Coin Club and the Chillicothe Coin Club. 

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 28 years, Linda Brooks Queen, whom he married on Sept. 1, 1991; two sons, Thomas William Queen and his partner, Karen Ringstrand, of McLean, Va. and David Edward Queen and his wife, Sharon, of Darnestown, Md.; two step-children, Michael L. Snider and Aimee L. Snider, both of Wellston; three grandchildren, Caroline E. Queen of Durham, N. Ca., First Lieutenant Zachary C. Queen of the United States Marine Corps, and Alison C. Queen of Boston, Ma.; step-granddaughter, Michah Morgan of Chillicothe; special grandchildren, Austin L. Adkins and James “J.” Ray Preston, Jr. both of Wellston; one cousin, Wanda Newport of Springfield, Ohio; his best friend, Allen Torkleson of Wellston; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by two sisters, Clara May Frederick and Mary Meuleman, and two brothers, Orin and Roger Queen.

John’s life was always Divinely guided and everything he ever needed was provided when it was needed. He said he never worked a day in his life. He had such a wonderful and amazing life, how could anyone mourn?

As per John’s request, he was cremated with arrangements under the direction of the McWilliams Funeral Home. A Celebration of an Amazing Life, officiated by Pastor Russ Strange, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019 at 3 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com