John R. Hull, 70, Former Sheriff
John Richard Hull was born on October 15, 1950, to Wilbur & Myrtle (Jackson) Hull in Portsmouth, Ohio.
As the fifth child out of ten children, John grew up in Portsmouth spending time with his friends and would go on to be a Gas Station Attendant before answering the call of his country.
During the height of the Vietnam War, John enlisted in the US Army in September 1969. Climbing up to the rank of Sargent, he received the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Sharpshooter medal and a Bronze Star with one oak leaf. After serving our country in the Viet Nam War and later stationed in Korea, John was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Hood, Texas in September 1972.
Right before he left the Army, he met the love of his life, Paula Jean Carson in Copperas Cove, Texas. The moment he saw her, he knew that she would be the future Mrs. John Hull. In a small church ceremony at the Grace United Methodist Church in Copperas Cove, they tied the knot on January 2, 1973 and enjoyed 48 years together.
After living throughout Michigan and Ohio, they settled in Portsmouth in 1974.  That same year, John entered the Ohio Police Officer Training Academy which lead him on a journey of public service. In the fall of 1983, John was elected as the Sheriff of Scioto County, going on to serve & protect the people of Scioto County for two terms. John retired from public service at the end of his last term in 1992.
During the remainder of his life, John served his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he was not ashamed to share how important it is for a person to know Jesus as their own personal Lord & Savior, praying with and for everyone he could. John loved traveling with his family and fellowshipping with friends. His wife Paula was the love of his life whom he loved with all his heart.
John peacefully passed away on January 25, 2021 with his wife Paula by his side at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky. John was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur & Myrtle Hull; his brothers Gale Hull, Thomas Hull and James Ray Hull; his sister Patsy Whitt; parents-in-law Paul & Bonnie Carson; sister-in-law Diane Guidash; and brothers-in-law Gary Bellar, Dennis Uphill and Joseph “Bud” Jones.
John Hull’s memory will forever be cherished by his wife Paula; his siblings Wendell (Lori) Hull, Kenneth (Eleanor) Hull, Rosemary Bellar, Retha (Henry) Cantrell, Jane McCarty (Larry) and Carmen Hull; his sisters-in-law Linda Jones, Lorraine Uphill, Karen (Frank) Ferguson & brothers-in-law James (Sandy) Carson and Mike Guidash; as well as a host of nephews and nieces.
A Celebration of John’s Life will be held at noon on Monday, February 1st, at The Rock Church, 8805 Ohio River Road, Wheelersburg with Rick Clark officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Burial Park with military honors rendered by the William Baker Post #363 of the American Legion.
The family will receive guests at the church from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Monday. Masks will be required for admission, but not furnished by the funeral home. Social distancing will be observed.
Memorial gifts may be made to SOMC Hospice or Sierra’s Haven.
Arrangements are under the direction of the BRANT FUNERAL SERVICE IN SCIOTOVILLE.
John R. Hull, 70, Former Sheriff John R. Hull, 70, Former Sheriff
