John Eshelman, Jr. an old friend, gone.

I have lost a good friend, and did not find out about it until today. I just saw him a week or so ago, he looked in good health and in good spirits. He and his wife were loading grocers into their van at Walmart, we chatted a bit. I related to him that I originally wondered what his name  was, his license place, ZRE, I wondered what his first name might be, then in dawned on me, he owned ZODIAC Real estate. He mentioned to me on a few occasions that I should get a real estate license, comparatively easy in those days, I never did, always had something else to do, I regret that now. I have lost another friend.

NEWARK — John Eshelman Jr., who wore many hats in his political and professional life, most recently as a LEADS board member, died Thursday.

Eshelman, 87, a former Licking County Commissioner and chairman of the Licking County Democratic Party, died at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N. 21st St., Newark. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Marcia Phelps, also a former county commissioner and fellow member of the LEADS community action agency, said she will miss her political discussions with Eshelman.

Phelps, who became commissioner after Eshelman left the office, said she could count on getting his perspective.

“I just remember John being somebody you could always talk to about government,” Phelps said. “He was always a wealth of information about government and county issues.

“I know he kept that passion for public service. He was a good loyal Democrat, but when it came to his service, he served everybody equally.”

Eshelman worked as a real estate agent for 40 years and retired from the Ohio Department of Transportation as a real estate administrator.

Pat Guanciale, a local Realtor for more than 40 years, said working with Eshelman was never difficult.

“He was always smiling,” Guanciale said. “I had a transaction with him a few years ago. If you have a problem with a transaction, he was always trying to get it solved, but always with a smile.”

Guanciale said Eshelman did appraisals on foreclosed homes for the Licking County Sheriff’s Office recently, possibly even last year.

“John was one of the fixtures,” Guanciale said. “He was always around. He was always easygoing, and he kept up with things.”

Current Newark City Council member Marc Guthrie, who Eshelman was appointed to replace as commissioner in 1983, said he talked to him recently about getting together more often.

“He was just a quality fellow. I’m devastated,” Guthrie said. “He was a very honest and ethical realtor. I can’t say enough good about the guy.”

Don Hill, who served as county commissioner with Eshelman, said: “He was a good worker, very diligent and concerned about politics. He was a problem-solver.

“He lived a good life and enjoyed about every minute of it.”

Eshelman, a 1945 graduate of Newark High School, served in the U.S. Navy. He and wife Gerry Kaercher were married for 66 years.