Edward Gerard Hettinger

Hettinger was born in Lancaster, Ohio, to Edward and Clara (O'Brien) Hettinger. His father was a saloon-keeper of French and German descent and his mother's parents were from Ireland. He was baptized and confirmed in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, and attended the school associated with that parish. He began priestly formation first at Holy Cross College and continued at Saint Vincent Seminary before being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Columbus on June 2, 1928. His first assignments was a priest were as chaplain of St. Ann Hospital while living at St. Vincent Orphanage.[1][2] He began working in the diocesan chancery in 1933, and became chancellor of the Diocese in 1938.[2] That same year, he was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness and granted the title of Monsignor by Pope Pius XII.[3][4]

On December 6, 1941 Pope Pius XII appointed him as the Titular Bishop of Teos and Auxiliary Bishop of Columbus. He was consecrated a bishop by Bishop James Hartley on February 24, 1942 in St. Joseph Cathedral.[2] The principal co-consecrators were Bishop Francis Howard of Covington and Auxiliary Bishop George Rehring of Cincinnati. He acted as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Columbus following Hartley's death in 1944, as well as pastor of Sacred Heart Church.[5][4] He continued to serve as an auxiliary bishop until his resignation was accepted by Pope Paul VI on October 14, 1977. He died on December 28, 1996, at the age of 94.[6][7] At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving bishop of any in the United States.[8] He was buried in St. Mary Cemetery in Lancaster, following a funeral at Sacred Heart.[4][9]