MOUNT VERNON — Dennis “Denny” Irwin, 67, of Mount Vernon passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.
He was born Sept. 6, 1941, in Lodi to the late Ray and Mary (Hastings) Irwin. Denny served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1964. He was employed by Sprint, starting in accounting, then worked in the control center and retired as construction foreman in 2001 after 35 years of employment. Denny served as a volunteer firefighter at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of the Knox County Fair Board for 15 years.
Denny was a 20-year member of the Mount Vernon Lions Club and held the title of Treasurer, Director, all Vice Presidents, Membership Chairman and President twice. He received the Lion of the Year award three times, Excellent Club President Award and three Club Appreciation Certificates. Denny also received the highest Lions’ award, the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. In District 13 K, he served as Assistant Zone Chair for two years and Zone Chair for two years. He was on the State and District Leadership Committee for six years. This culminated into him being elected District 13 K Governor in 2007-08. He has received many Lions’ International awards.
He is survived by his wife, Betty (Jones) Bemiller Irwin; two sons, Troy (Dawn) Burghard of Evansville, Ind., and John (Susie) Irwin of Pine, Ariz.; four stepchildren, Steve (Dixie) Bemiller of Howard, Greg (Teresa) Bemiller of Mount Vernon, Kim (Scott) Wilson of Dresden and Penny (Boone) Moran of Warsaw; four grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Richard Irwin.
Friends may call on Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, 619 E. High St., Mount Vernon, where a Lions’ service will follow at 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial with military honors provided by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Lions Club of Mount Vernon in care of Mary Bumpus, 1007 E. High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
The Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Dennis “Denny” Irwin.
