Stephen Woltz

Stephen K. Woltz, age 78, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, December 9, following a lengthy battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  He was born March 10, 1939, in McArthur, Ohio to Noel H. and Waneta E. (Napper) Woltz.  A resident of  Columbus most of his life, he graduated from North High School, Class of 1957.  He attended Ohio State University; received an Associate of Science in Fire Science Technology from Columbus State Community College in 1974; a Bachelor of General Studies from Capital University in 1975; and a Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School in 1981.  He began a fire service career with the Columbus Fire Division on January 20, 1969 and served for 33 years.  He served as a Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Assistant Chief in various positions with the Division, most notably as the Columbus Fire Marshal during the years 1983 - 1989.  As Fire Marshal he drafted and convinced City Council to adopt an updated Columbus Fire Code; initiated and supervised the computerization of the Fire Inspection process; drafted a Fire Inspection  Procedures Manual; and drafted the Hazardous Materials Routing Ordinance adopted by the City which, after the Ordinance withstood all the legal challenges, was touted as a model for use in other cities.  He was appointed the Columbus Fire Chief on March 9, 1997. During his tenure initiated the Fire Division Accreditation process; expanded the EMS delivery system; purchased property and began a fire station modernization program.  He served as Fire Chief until his retirement on March 9, 2002.  He was appointed  Fire Marshal for the State of Ohio in August, 2003.  As State Fire Marshal he updated and modernized the Ohio Fire Code and, with the assistance of many Ohio Fire Service organizations, successfully resisted an effort by building industry lobbyists and building code officials to strip State Fire Marshal authority to promulgate the Ohio Fire Code, to prohibit local government authority to promulgate a Local Fire Code more restrictive than the Ohio Fire Code, and to eliminate Fire Service authority to participate in the building construction process.  He also served on the Ohio Homeland Security Task Force.  He served as the State Fire Marshal until January 2007.  In addition to his other qualifications, the American Board For Certification In Homeland Security awarded him the designation Certified in Homeland Security – Level III.  He was also awarded the Designation of Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. He was a member of several professional fire service organizations including the International Fire Association of Fire Chiefs, Metro Fire Chiefs, Ohio Fire Chiefs, Central Ohio Fire Chiefs, Franklin County Fire Chiefs, National Fire Protection Association, International Code Council, and National Association of State Fire Marshals.  He passed the Bar Examination in 1981 and was admitted to the practice of Law in Ohio.  He was admitted to the Federal Bar in 1984.  He was a member of the Ohio and Columbus Bar Associations and engaged in the private practice of Law from 1981 until 1991.  He served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1958 - 1961, most of that time in Italy where he was a member of the Signal Corps.  He would later serve another 25 years in the Active Army Reserve, most of the time as an Officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps.  He served with the 364th Engineer Group for 10 years, first as Trial Counsel and then as Staff Judge Advocate.  He particularly enjoyed the numerous training tours he served at the JAG School in Charlottesville, VA.  He retired from the military in 1997 with a permanent rank of Major.  He was a Certified SCUBA Diver and especially enjoyed the warm, clear blue water of the Caribbean and the color and beauty of the underwater species found there.  He liked to travel and visited most of the Western and Eastern European Countries, in addition to Russia, China, Thailand, Panama, and Korea.  He was an avid Genealogy researcher on his own family and was surprised and proud to discover that several of his ancestors had served in the Revolutionary War.  He was a member of The American Legion, Post 430, Bexley, Ohio; Groveport Lodge # 240 F.&A.M.; Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus; Aladdin Shrine, Columbus; and Order of Eastern Star, Worthington Chapter #287.  In addition to his grandparents Clifford H. and Blanche V. (Sowers) Woltz, William A. and Cecil L. (Freeman) Napper, and all his other ancestors. He was preceded in death by his father, Noel H. Woltz, his mother Waneta Peoples and his dear son, Mark S. Woltz.  He is survived  by wife and dear friend Beverly A. (Holt) Woltz; Eric S. Woltz, Michael D. (Rennee) Woltz, Kevin A. Woltz, and Thomas K. (Tasha) Woltz, all of Columbus; step-children Jenny Disney-Giles (Joe), Fayetteville, AR, John (Debbie) Koepf, Waukesha, WI, and Marianne (Mimi) Koepf, Sarasota, FL; sisters Barbara (Don) Ross, Columbus, Lana Whitt, Columbus, and Julie Israel, Jackson OH; former wife Shirley A. (Osborne) Woltz; 15 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, his canine companion, Pepe ,and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Shaw Davis Funeral Home, 4341 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio, with a service at 10:30 am on Thursday, December 14, 2017, at Central College Presbyterian Church 975 S Sunbury Rd, Westerville, OH 43081 with Dr. Richard Ellsworth officiating.  Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, 3349 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus.  In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the James Cancer Center Institute, 460 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43210