REMEMBERING: Bishop John F. Corcoran

John Francis Corcoran: Bishop, Pastor, LCDC III Counselor (June 26, 1947 – March 17, 2023)

John Francis Corcoran was called home to Jesus on March 17, 2023, after a lengthy and well fought battle with cancer.

John was born in Waterbury Connecticut on June 26, 1947, to John and Eugenia Corcoran, the eldest of their six children.

After high school, John joined the Air Force serving two tours in Viet Nam at Ben Hoa, as well as Greece and Germany. He retired as Master Sargent after 23 years, his last post was Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. During his career in the Air Force John had assignments as a recruitment officer and a Supply Officer, which took him overseas. John had a strong faith and was called to the ministry serving as Church of God Ministry to the Military from 1978 to 1985 leading a church in Greece. John earned many medals and awards during his service. John became a Church of God ordained Bishop in 1988, and served in many pastoral assignments, his last at Rejoicing Life Church of God in Miamisburg, Ohio where he served a diverse congregation for over 30 years before retiring. John had a love of learning earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministries in 1986 from Lee University. He went on to continue his education obtaining a Master’s Degree in 2002 in Counseling from the Church of God Theological Seminary, and was in process of concluding his dissertation for the doctorate degree when he fell ill. John had a very active and full life.

He had a love of God and people and poured himself into serving others within the community. He served at Kettering Behavioral Center working as a Psycho-educational Group Leader and Adult Behavioral Care, Chaplain and Firefighter for Xenia Township’s Fire Department, served also with Scioto County Sheriff and Miamisburg Police Departments as Chaplain, and a Crisis Team Management Leader. His biggest love, outside of pastoring, was teaching Chaplain classes to the many churches in the Midwest area.

He is survived by his devoted and beloved wife Lois, sons James (Lisa) and Doug, daughter Joan (Ryan)Bloomingdale, grandchildren Jonathon Hudson, Julia Schmidt (Brian), Kaitlyn Martinez (Victor), Alexandria Corcoran, Elizabeth Robertson, Justin Corcoran, Kieron, Jaxson and Weston Corcoran, great grandchildren Lilliana and Lucca Martinez and Hazel Schmidt, sisters and brothers Cathy, Jamie, Patricia, Maureen, and Bobby of Connecticut. Maureen’s husband, Art, and John were very close friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Julie Ann, his daughter Elizabeth, sister Mary Jean, and parents John and Eugenia Corcoran.

John was a great man, a faithful servant of God and a man of many talents. He has left a huge hole in our hearts and lives, but we rejoice in his graduation and in the echo of his favorite verse from Philippians 4:8: “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Military Honors will be held by the Combined Honor Guard along with a Celebration of Life beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Grace Baptist Church, 851 S. Elm St., West Carrollton with Pastor Randy Ballard and Pastor Doug Criswell officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (1 hour prior to service) on Saturday at the church.

Inurnment will take place at the Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, FL.

Please share your condolences at www.swartfuneralhome.com. Sympathy, Love, and Thinking of You cards may be sent to The Family of Pastor John F. Corcoran, C/O Swart Funeral Home, 207 E. Central Ave., West Carrollton, Ohio 45449