Obituary for Arthur Covan

Arthur Eugene Covan, Born April 13, 1931 in Junction City, Ohio at the age of 91 he passed away at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville, Ohio on Sunday, May 8, 2022. 

Proceeded in death by his parents, William Robert Covan and Mildred Avalia Strohl Whitmer Covan; brother’s: Virgil Shannon Covan, Billy Edison Covan (Sue), John Stafford Covan aka John A. Sapp (Joanne), sister’s: Ethel Rose Covan, Eloise Virginia Covan Dodson (Leo), Dollie Mae Covan Halsey (Charles), Josephine Illene Covan Graves Poole (Jerry Graves and then Michael Poole), Dora Patricia Covan Sharp (Chester); Half Brother’s: Wilbur Covan, Cecil Robert Covan, Burl Wilbur Covan, Herbert Edward Covan (twin to Helen Covan Corder), William Robert Covan;  half-sister’s: Garnet Pearl Covan, Helen Covan Corder, Mildred Avalia Strohl Whitmer Covan; Nephew’s: William “Bud” Dodson, Leo “Sonny” Dodson, Billy Lee Covan; Niece’s:  Linda Halsey Blakeway, Catherine Halsey Baker; Grandson:  Brandon Arthur Covan, Brother-in Law, John W. Peck

Survived by:  Loving Wife of 45 years, Mary Lynn Covan; Son’s:  Brent Arthur Covan (Vickie), Daniel Bleakley Brown (Amber), Grandchildren: Shaun Covan, Kyle Johnson Covan (Lauren); Sister-In Law: Judy Peck, Nephew: Jeffrey Peck (Nicole) Rantoul, Illinois;  Cherished best friends Thomas Schuler (Bobbi) and Donna Lane; nephew’s:  Theodore Dodson (Judy), Don Covan (Gail), Brent Covan (Cherie), Charles “Chuckie” Halsey (Dawn),  Jerry Lee Graves (Traci), David Graves (Valorie), Ron Graves (Cindi), Allen Sharp (Laura), Chet Sharp, Jr (Sue), Tim Sharp, Ryan Sapp, Dough Sapp (Pam); Niece’s:  Mildred Dodson Hilton; Mary Dodson, Denise Graves Edwards (Ted), Cindy Covan, Cricket Sharp Such (Tom), Sara “Teddy” Sharp along with many cousins and friends.

Art spent his first years of life living in New Lexington, Ohio.  His education started in a one room school house with his brothers and sisters.  His father died when Art was 4 years old and his mother raised all the children by herself. After his father’s death it wasn’t long that they moved to Columbus, Ohio and his mother opened the Covan Restaurant on W Broad Street.  Art attended Central High School and graduated in the class of 1949.

In 1951 Art joined the Navy Reserves and was very proud to serve our country as a signal man. 

While in high school he worked nights in the plant at the Borden Milk Company and stayed at Borden’s for years working up the ladder and becoming an assistant sales manager. In his 30's he became a Realtor and worked with his brother-in law, Chet Sharp, who owned Act Realty. It wasn’t long and Art opened his own office in Westerville as Art Covan, Realtor, and then purchased a franchise and started RE/MAX Northeast Realty in Westerville with a branch office in Mount Vernon.  For over 50 years he earned his living selling real estate and loved every minute of it.

He loved working in various community organizations and working in organizations who gave back to build a better community and life for the people.  A few organizations that touched his life were Westerville Area Realty Association, Optimist Club, Westerville Chamber of Commerce, the Columbus Board of Realtors and most dear to his heart, the Westerville Sunrise Rotary. 

For fun he was very active in Curtain Players Community Theater, participating in over 28 plays and honored with the award of Actor of the Year 6 times. 

Sports played a big part all through his life starting in basketball church leagues, football in high school, and participated in basketball at The Bordon Milk Company and church leagues.  Pool was another favorite pastime, and he was on leagues most of his adult life.

Art and Lynn were a team in business and in married life, always together working as one. Raising the family, traveling, dancing, gardening, golfing and church was there life.

As a young boy Art was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and stayed true to his faith for his entire life. He was always singing, from early years singing in the Lutheran Boys’ choir and then adult church choirs or just singing to his wife.   In his hospital bed his last song was “Jesus Loves Me”.

In 1977 Art and Lynn started their life together as husband and wife at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the little white church at the bend of the road on Walnut Street, and he will be laid to rest in the church cemetery at the end of the road on Walnut Street.