Rev. Neal Austen Koch

Rev. Neal Austen Koch, born October 18,1937 to the Rev. Garth C. Koch and Pearl Storm Koch of Oneonta, New York, died May 31st, 2025, at 87 years of age.

After his parents moved to Logan, West Virginia, Rev. Koch attended Logan Central Grade School and Logan Junior High School through 8th Grade. When his family moved to New Castle, Pennsylvania, he continued 9th Grade at Washington Junior High School, then graduated New Castle Senior High in 1955, where he was active in marching and symphonic band and orchestra and Key Club. He was selected to the Western Pennsylvania State Band at Pittsburgh. More recently he has played trumpet for churches, Tri-state Symphonic Band, and hammered dulcimer at Heritage Farm.

Following high school in 1955, Rev. Koch returned to Huntington and Marshall College, graduating with BA degree in Speech and French in 1959. After his undergraduate education, he attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky completing the Master Religious Education degree in1963, and later, the Master of Divinity degree in1989. He was ordained to ministry by Upper Merion Baptist Church of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and the Central-Union Association of the American Baptist Churches USA in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Rev. Koch served eight ABCUSA churches in West Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio.

Rev. Koch was active in university ministries, state ABCUSA Baptist educational work, ecumenical church ministries, youth ministries, teaching, preaching and pastoral leadership. He was a member of Kiwanis, community bands, and various civic and fraternal groups. He "was raised" a Master Mason in Reed Lodge, advanced as a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Hadi Shrine in Evansville, Indiana. Early in his career he served Huntington State Hospital as Coordinator of Volunteers.

He was a co-creator with his wife Ruth Ann Cummings Koch of Hopewoods, their home in retirement.

Developer of numerous and extensive water and flower gardens adorned with fishponds with waterfalls. Keeper of indoor freshwater aquariums.

Dedicated bird watcher and beekeeper, active in the WV Beekeepers Association.

Landscape Designer and Gardener. Grafter of apples and other fruit trees, and roses.

Avid woodworker, fine furniture maker, and instrument builder of hammered dulcimers and Celtic harps. Author of the Do-It-Yourself Dulcimer Building book.

Lifelong passion for music, teaching and performance, lending his voice to many church choirs, and playing euphonium, tuba, trumpet, recorders, and dulcimers.

Member of the Huntington Symphonic Band and member of the Tri-State Dulcimer Club

Member of Kiwanis and various civic and fraternal groups.

Master Mason in Reed Lodge, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason

Member of the Hadi Shrine.

Coordinator of Volunteers at Huntington State Hospital early in his career.

Licensed Ham Radio Operator KE8TCW.

Flowers may be sent to the church. Donations may be sent to the church or Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House of Huntington.

He is survived by his wife Ruth Ann, daughters Beth E. Koch (Bruce) Shaffer, OH, Jayne E. Koch (Carl) Hoadley, IN, grandsons Kyle M. Taylor, IN and James Austen (Holly)Taylor, IN , sister Daun Van Osten, NJ, two brothers in-law James Frederick (Linda) Cummings,WV and William Sturhke, FL, several great-grandchildren, and beloved nieces and nephews (FL, GA, MA, ME, MI, NJ, PA, VA).

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5th at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. Burial will follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the church after 12:00 noon.

Hospice of Huntington
1101 6th Avenue, Huntington WV 25701

Fifth Avenue Baptist Church
1135 5th Ave, Huntington WV 25701
Tel: 1-304-525-5441
Web: http://fifthavenuebaptist.org/give/endowment-fund