Terry Lee Etter

Terry Lee Etter, age 74, of Pataskala, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on October 2, 1951, in Defiance, Ohio.

Terry achieved a Bachelor of Communications from Ohio University in 1974. He received his Juris Doctorate from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1989. He had worked at WVTL Radio in Monticello, Indiana from 1974-1979 and1981-1982. He served as many capacities at the station, including news director, sportscaster, disc jockey, salesperson, and assistant general manager. He co-wrote, co-produced and co-hosted a documentary that won a State Associated Press Award. He also worked as a researcher and writer, and later, an in house attorney for the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington D.C. from 1979-1981 and 1982-1996. He moved back to Ohio in 1996 and began working in 1997 as an attorney for the Office of Consumers' Counsel, retiring in 2019.

He was an avid fan of the Ohio University Bobcats sports, especially the football and basketball teams. Additionally, Terry had a great appreciation for classic movies. He volunteered as a coach for his son, Clayton's, little league team. A favorite memory of Clayton's.

He is survived by his wife, Saralee Etter; son, Clayton Etter; cousins, Dianna Sue (Gary) Fogle and Joyce (Dennis) Stoller; nieces, Apache Etter and Sally (Bob) Heidenescher, as well as several other cousins, nieces and nephews.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Clayton and Leona (Neiswander) Etter; brothers, Elias and Rudy Etter; nephews, Ed Etter and Bill Etter, and niece, Joan Llewellyn.

Family and friends may gather to celebrate the life of Terry on Friday, January 9th, 2026, at the Kirkersville chapel of Hoskinson Funeral & Cremation Service, 285 E. Main St., Kirkersville, Ohio, from 2:00pm until 4:00pm. The family would like for memories to be shared about Terry from 3:00-4:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Way by going to www.unitedway.org. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Hoskinson Funeral & Cremation Service is honored to care for Terry and his family.