John Paul Petzold

John Paul Petzold, of Miamisburg, Ohio, died peacefully on August 14, 2026, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. He was 88 years old.

John was a proud father of four children and grandfather to six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

John was born on May 16, 1938, to Alice Storing Petzold and Henry Paul Petzold. He was raised in Miamisburg before moving to Rumford, Maine where he graduated from Stephens High School. He earned his Bachelor's in History and Government at the University of Maine at Orono, where he met his first wife, Dora Lou Dunnack. He later earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia.

John began practicing law in the Dayton area in 1962. Over the course of nearly three decades in private practice, he developed a distinguished career, ultimately serving as Managing Partner of Altick and Corwin. In 1991, he took the bench as a Judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, where he served until 2006. He then continued his judicial service as an Active Retired Judge from 2007 through 2017.

As a Common Pleas Judge, John presided over both criminal and civil matters, handling cases that ranged from simple assault to capital murder and from medical malpractice to antitrust litigation. He approached the responsibilities of the bench with seriousness, fairness, and a deep respect for the law.

John's commitment to the legal profession extended beyond the courtroom. He served on the Board of Governors of the Ohio State Bar Association and was elected President of the association in 1999. He also served on the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Grievances and Discipline and later as a Master Commissioner for that body. He regarded this work as among the most rewarding experiences of his legal career.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, John's family was a great source of pride. He took a genuine interest in the lives of his children and grandchildren and was proud of the people they became and the lives they built.

John enjoyed golf throughout his lifetime. He began playing at the age of eight and continued playing into his eighties, making golf a lifelong source of enjoyment, challenge, and companionship.

John was preceded in death by his parents, H. Paul and Alice Petzold; his brother, James Petzold; his first wife, Dora Lou Petzold, who died in 1986; his granddaughter, Kendyll Jones in 1991;his second wife, Joyce Petzold, who died in 2017.

After being twice widowed, John had the good fortune to reconnect with high school classmate, Judith Fleischman. They were married in 2020, and John enjoyed his final years in her loving companionship, (along with Judy's two cats, Punkin Pi and Sam). Their reunion later in life brought John happiness and a valued sense of partnership.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Fleischman Springer Petzold; his children, Marianne Scarpelli (Mike), Nancy Jones (Chris), Alice Petzold (Bob), and Charles Petzold (Tina); his grandchildren, Matthew Jones (Megan), Charlie Jones (Lauren), Victor Scarpelli (Anne), Christopher Petzold (Sydney), Sarah Petzold, and Thomas Petzold; and ten great-grandchildren.

John will be remembered for his sharp mind, his dedication to the law, his wit and his wisdom, often coming in the form of clever one liners.

A memorial service honoring John will be held on September 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Sunrise Church on Middle Street in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory may be made to Sunrise Presbyterian Church or Hospice.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

 Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mount Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, (843)884-3833.