Harrison Lucius Underwood went to meet Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, at 3:25 p.m. on December 1, 2021, after an extended illness. He was 89 years old, the first-born son and second child of seven children born to Forrest E. and Leatha F. Underwood at Tunnel Hill (now Warsaw), Ohio.
He fulfilled his lifelong goal of being a minister like his Uncle Harrison Hoover by graduating from the Cincinnati Bible Seminary (1950-1955). On April 19, 1952, he married Hazel E. Dillon at the Perryton Church of Christ, which he had attended all his life. They shared 69 and 2/3 years of marriage, and she survives. Five children were born to them, David (Robin), Delta, Ohio; Rebecca (David) Mahoney, Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan (Kathy), Cincinnati, Ohio; Daniel (Toni), Belize; Deborah, Marysville, Ohio. They also raised a grandson, Jared (Jamie).
Harrison ministered to six different congregations from 1955 to 2000: May Hill Church of Christ, Seaman, Ohio; Glenmont Church of Christ, Glenmont, Ohio; Croton Church of Christ, Croton, Ohio; Germantown Christian Church, Germantown, Kentucky; Ridgeway Church of Christ, Ridgeway, Ohio; and Mount Victory Church of Christ, Mount Victory, Ohio. He retired from the preaching ministry in 2000 and then became the Minister to the Elderly at the Bethel Church of Christ, Ada, Ohio, where he served until 2015. His most fulfilling ministry was probably at the Croton Church of Christ, where his children grew up and where they all gave their lives to Christ. Additionally, they all graduated from the same college as he did. At Croton he led the congregation to working with independent missions and saw a much-improved mission program. He and Hazel coached the Bible Bowl team, which won the Ohio Teens for Christ Bible Bowl Tournament, composed of Ohio Churches of Christ, in 1973 and 1974. He led several youth to accept Jesus as their Savior, and most are serving Him today. He also took care of a childless couple, Oakley and Imogene Piper, and served as a “son” until Oakley’s death in 1995 and Imogene’s in 2013. They then moved to Germantown, Kentucky, to serve a church that had suffered a fire, and they helped restore the congregation.
Harrison was on Facebook with several friends whom he had ministered to as young people from the different congregations he had served.
Also surviving are thirteen grandchildren: Tabitha Nelson (Steve), Dayton; Joshua Underwood (Kiki), Cleveland; Jeremy Underwood (Michelle), Cleveland; David Mahoney, Dayton; Adam Mahoney, Philadelphia; Joel Underwood, Cincinnati; Tim Underwood, Holmesville; Ben Underwood (Stephanie), Cincinnati; Stephen Underwood, Great Falls, Montana; Jared Underwood (Jamie), Bluffton; Michael Styer, Panama City, Panama; Jason Styer, Marysville; and Julia Smith, Marion.
Also surviving are thirteen great-grandchildren, which include Michal, Maddie, Ben, Bethany, Ellie, Jackson, Hadley, Brynlee, Morgan, Xavier, Josie, Maverick, and Braxton; one sister, Iva Gault of Walhonding, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Underwood, of Warsaw; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents are deceased, as is a granddaughter, a grandson, a sister, four brothers, four brothers-in-law, and six sisters-in-law, along with several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
One of his greatest joys was to see his three sons enter the ministry, where they are serving to this day.
The family will receive those wishing to express their respect on Friday, December 10, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Chiles-Laman Funeral Home, Bluffton, and from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the Bethel Church of Christ, Ada, Ohio. A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 p.m., December 11, at the church; his son, David Underwood, will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Barnabas Project, c/o Mission Journeys, 240 Holly Springs Drive, Unit B, Lexington, Kentucky 40504, or the Bethel Church of Christ, 4014 County Road 304, Ada, Ohio 45810.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
