Jack L. Eblin Jr

Jack Lee Eblin, Jr. passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the age of 66. Born in Chillicothe, Ohio on April 25, 1959 to Jack L. Eblin, Sr. and Dazel (Bowling) Eblin, he grew up as an only child in Chillicothe and graduated from Chillicothe High School. Jack spent his working years in factory jobs, retiring at age 62 from Showa Aluminum. A man of Christian faith, he was saved around the age of 30.

In 1998, Jack married Rhonda Rout, and the two shared 23 devoted years together. He cherished his time with her and his family above all else. An avid sports fan, he followed the Cincinnati Reds, Ohio State Buckeyes, LA Lakers, and Cleveland Browns, holding special admiration for Kobe Bryant and Pete Rose. Jack also found great joy in the outdoors, particularly mushroom hunting, fishing, and hunting.

His passion for catfishing ran especially deep. He loved hunting with his son Steven and spent countless hours on the Scioto River and Paint Creek pursuing shovelhead catfish, often declaring that everything else was “just bait.” A firm believer in conservation, he practiced and advocated catch and release. In the 1980s, he was featured in Ohio Game & Fishing magazine for a record catch, earning respect in the catfishing community for his expertise with flatheads along the Scioto River. Known affectionately as “Flathunter,” he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Catfishermen, GoFishOhio, and other fishing forums.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jack L. Eblin, Sr. and Dazel Eblin. He is survived by his wife and special companion, Rhonda Eblin of Chillicothe; his oldest son Steven Eblin of Circleville; his stepson Cody George and youngest son Logan Anthony Eblin, both of Chillicothe; three beloved grandchildren, Clayton, Faith, and Noelle Eblin; and his special caregiver, Connie Curtis, along with many cherished family members and friends.