Obituaries

MARTIN, John R. age 77, of Columbus, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2014. He retired after 41 years of service with General Motors & Frigidaire. John also retired as District Chief of the Kettering Fire Department. 1955 graduate of Catholic Central H.S., Springfield, OH. John is preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Barbara and daughter, Susan...

DALTON, Shelby R., 80, of Springfield, passed away August 21, 2014 in his residence. He was born March 28, 1934 in Montgomery, Ohio the son of Leonard and Okie (Mabry) Dalton. He worked as a truck driver for Southwest Landmark for a number of years and was a United States Army veteran. Survivors include one brother, Curtis (Peggy) Dalton, South...

BENSTON, Charles J. "Chuck", 92, of Springfield, passed away Wednesday, August 20, 2014 in Forest Glen. He was born February 22, 1922 in Springfield the son of Charles and Rose (Malley) Benston. Chuck was an assistant supervisor at Wickham Piano Plate for 20 years retiring in 1983, was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and a US Army veteran...

PICKLESIMER, Jack E., 72, of Fairborn (Enon), passed away Monday, August 18, 2014 in his residence. He was born July 31, 1942 in Wheelwright, KY the son of Henry and Mossie (Graham) Picklesimer. Jack was a sheet metal worker for Local Union 224 and was a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include his wife, Barbara (Will), Fairborn; son, Mark J.P. Will,...

Jenkins, Collin Edward James, 9, of Springfield, passed away unexpectedly Monday, August 18, 2014. He was born in Springfield on January 28, 2005. He was a member of New Life Church and loved wrestling and basketball. Survivors include his mother, Sanceia (Newman) Jenkins and Walter Bostic; three brothers, Bryan Newman, Walter Bostic, III and Austin Bostic; maternal grandmother, Doris (Ron)...

Amato, Evelyn (Mae) A., 89 years of Springfield, Ohio passed Sunday, Aug. 17. She was born October 3, 1924 in Springfield, the daughter of Mary (Blachner) and Anthony O. Ianni. She wed Joseph James Amato October 2, 1946 in Springfield and was married 51 years. She excelled in gardening, sewing and enjoyed cooking shows on TV. She adores children and...

Koerner, George W., loving husband, father, and grandfather, died on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, at Springfield Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. He was 85. Born on Dec. 8, 1928, to Karl and Magdalene Koerner, he was a lifelong resident of Springfield. From 1954 to 1981, Mr. Koerner worked in numerous positions for the Springfield Public Schools. He first...

Brandon, Clarabelle, 94, of Springfield, died August 14, 2014 in Woodlands at Oakwood Village. She was born September 20, 1919 in Springfield, OH to Floyd and Alice (Williams) Fulton. She was employed as an office manager for Big Bear and Fulmer's Grocery for many years. She was also a member of the ABWA and Eastern Star, and participated in many...

Jones, Judy A. (DeWitt), 78, of Springfield, died August 8, 2014 in Springfield Regional Medical Center. She was born August 5, 1936 in Wellston, OH to Clifford and Goldie (Grashel) DeWitt. Judy retired after more than 20 years with Bosco Leather Company. Survivors include two children, Diana (Vernon) McLean and David (Lisa) Jones, Springfield; special sister, Sandra Collins; brother, Richard...

Wood, Justin M. 25, of Springfield, died unexpectedly August 13, 2014 in his residence. He was born January 18, 1989 in Springfield, OH to James C. Wood III and Patricia Kathleen (Ogg) Luallen. Survivors include parents, Kathy (Tom) Luallen, Springfield, and Jim (Sue) Wood, Xenia, OH; two children, RiAnna Frantz and Aiden Meyer; siblings, Patrick (Ruthy) Wood, Bridget (Shannon) Harper,...

Wall, Francis J. "Frank", 87, of Springfield, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2014 in his home. He was born June 12, 1927 in Waterbury, CT to Vincent and Elizabeth (Bowen) Wall. Frank retired as a Tool & Die Maker from Navistar after 30 years. He was also a member of the UAW Local 402, St. Teresa Church, and a Veteran...

Hamaker, H. Roberta "Birdie", 94, of Springfield, left this life August 11, 2014 in Springfield Regional Medical Center. She was born January 23, 1920 in Springfield, OH to Charles and Ella (McManus) Martin. Birdie was formerly employed at Crowell-Collier Publishing Co. and later Borden's Dairy, for a number of years. Birdie faced many challenges in her life but remained a...

Kearns, Merle Grace, 76, of Columbus, formerly of Springfield, died August 9, 2014 in Wesley Glen Retirement Community. She was born May 19, 1938 in Belfont, PA to Robert and Katherine (Fitzgerald) Grace. Merle earned her B.A. Degree in Home Economics from The Ohio State University and was a life long Buckeye. She was a loving wife and mother and...

HARKINS, Eugene "Gene", 80, of Springfield passed away Thursday, August 7, 2014 in Springfield Regional Medical Center. He was born May 18, 1934 in Springfield the son of Eldon and Mary (Estep) Harkins. Gene enlisted in the United States Air Force in May 1951where he served as an airman for 2 years before being discharged. In 1955 he enlisted in...

Phillips, Brenda E., 61, of Springfield, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 6, 2014. She was born in Springfield on August 23, 1952 the daughter of Roger William and Bonda Marcine (Haley) Wilson. She worked at Community Hospital for many years in Environmental Services. Survivors include her husband, Anthony W. "Tony" Lloyd; three children, Vanessa Sue (John) Bruce of Urbana,...

DeWitt, Debra A., 57, of Springfield, died August 5, 2014 in Springfield Regional Medical Center. She was born December 11, 1956 in Toledo, OH to Richard and Carol (Horen) Zielinski. Debbie retired as a loan processor with Wells Fargo Financial after 36 years. Recently she worked for NTPRD/Chiller. She was a member of St. Raphael Catholic Church. Survivors include her...

RIZER, Anna Marie, 97, of Springfield, passed away Thursday, August 07, 2014 in her residence. She was born March 3, 1917 in Springfield the daughter of John H. and Rosetta (Mullee) Leary. Anna Marie had worked as the school and parish secretary for St. Teresa Catholic Church for a number of years where she was also a member. Survivors include...

WHITMAN, Constance A. "Connie" (Insley), 80, of Springfield, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2014 in Springfield Regional Medical Center. She was born October 10, 1933 in Springfield the daughter of Carlton A. and Hazel L. (Peterman) Davis. She retired from Huntington Bank as a teller after 15 years, prior to which she worked as a cashier at Albers Grocery Store...

Lubbers, Mary A., 92, whose maiden name was Somers, died July 28, 2014 in her home. The Springfield, Ohio native was born November 9, 1921 in Springfield and lived there throughout her life. Mrs. Lubbers attended St. Mary's Parochial School, Catholic Central High School, Wittenberg University, and Mount Saint Joseph College. A lifelong Catholic, she taught at St. Bernard's Parochial...