Detective Gary Lee Gingerich
(1947-2025)
Gary was born on June 10, 1947 to Charles Robert and Ella Marie (Colwell) Gingerich of Seven Mile Village. He graduated from Seven Mile High School in 1966.
Gary joined the United States Air Force and served in Vietnam and South Korea for three years. He was honorably discharged on March 5, 1970.
In the next month, April 1970, Gary joined the Seven Mile Police Department as a Patrolman. Between January 4 and March 23, 1971, he attended the Warren County Officers Training School. By August 1972 he was working at the Trenton Police Department.
At the end of October 1975, Patrolman Gingerich joined the Middletown Police Department. Within 9 years, he was a canine handler for Smokey II. By 1991, he was promoted to Detective. Detective Gingerich retired in 2012 with 42 years of service to his country and three communities and several letters of appreciation and/or commendation.
Following his retirement, he worked with the Middletown City Water Department.
He was a member of the Disable American Veterans, American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3809, American Legion Post 218, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #36, Eagles Aerie 528, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 856, and the Goldwing Road Riders.
Officer Gingerich died at the Dayton Veterans of America Medical Center on September 14, 2025 at the age of 78.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Tracy Cooke. Officer Gingerich is survived by his daughter, Lisa L. (Richard Stein) Haddix; grandchildren, Samantha (Sarah) Hoffman, Kyle (Hayley) French, and Jonathan Cooke; great-grandson, Landon Hoffman; and sister, Joyce (Walter) McCullom.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.. on Monday, September 22, 2025 at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home at 3805 Roosevelt Boulevard in Middletown. A funeral service will be held at 12 noon with Pastor Jim Winters officiating. Interment will be at Butler County Memorial Park with military honors conducted by the Middletown Combined Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.
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