John W. Sell

After a long period of declining health, John W. Sell died peacefully on October 8, 2026. He was born in Washington Court House, Ohio to William C. and Mary Jane Sell in 1951. Over the years his family lived in Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati, Ohio as well as in Jackson, Michigan and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from North Allegheny High School. He attended Pennsylvania State University where he earned a BS degree in Business Economics. He then attended graduate school at UCLA where he met and married Shirley Blake and completed his PhD in Economics in 1981. He accepted a position at the College of Wooster where he worked for 40 years, primarily in the classroom but also in administration. They resided in Wooster for 25 years before moving to their current home in Fairlawn. In retirement, he also enjoyed spending time in their second home in Germany.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Blake Sell; his brother and sister in law, Steve and Sue Sell and their sons, Charles and Nicolas, all of Chicago.

Services in care of the Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333 (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)