September 29, 2009

Elizabeth Ann Herbert Johnson
Elizabeth Ann Herbert Johnson, 66 of Batesville, passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. She was the daughter of Edward G. and Marie Huenefield Herbert of Napoleon.
Survivors include sons: Michael and Edward John-son of Minneapolis, Minne-sota; daughter: Mary Beth Wongwai of Pflugerville, Texas; four grandchildren; four step grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sisters: Patricia Seevers of New Alsace, Dianna (Gary) Young of Napoleon, Dottie Halcomb of Versailles, and Margaret (Louis) Dickman of Napoleon; half sister: Rose (Melvin) Brinkman of Batesville; half brother: Thomas (Karen) Herbert of Bainbridge; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, half brother: Paul Herbert and half sister: Catherine (Ka-tie) Herbert.
Miss Johnson was an avid gardener, talented seamstress and decorator. Upon retiring from AT&T she made Batesville her home.
A celebration and family gathering took place on Saturday, September 26, at the St. Maurice Catholic Hall in Napoleon at 5 p.m. Neal's Funeral Home in Osgood was in charge of ar-rangements. www.nealsfuneralhome.net

Juanita Belew
Juanita Belew, 83, of Versailles passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Ripley Crossing in Milan. She was born at Coalfield, Tennessee on December 1, 1925 the daughter of Leslie and Lillie Jackson Richards. She was married to Robert A. Belew on April 26, 1947 and he preceded her in death on November 25, 2000.
Survivors include two sons Steve (Diane) Belew of Dillsboro and Terry Belew of Fishers; five daughters Laurel of Burlington, Shirley (Steve) Browne of Carmel, Glenna (Clint) Gerster of Milan, Marilyn of Versailles, and Janella (David) LeBretton of Hamilton, Ohio; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and two step great-grandchildren; one brother Earl Richards of Greenwood; two sisters Rosemary Stevens of Nicholasville, Kentucky and Ruth (Maurice) Elkins of Eustis, Florida. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Carl, Clyde, and Frank Richards, and her sister Magdalene Inman.
Mrs. Belew was a homemaker and had done wallpapering in the Versailles and Milan communities. She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church at Versailles and was also a member of the Sunshine and Cheer Club.
Funeral services were held Monday, September 28 at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Bruce Fitzsimmons of the Washington Baptist Church officiating. Burial was in the Marble Corner Cemetery at Versailles. Memorials may be given to the Marble Corner Cemetery in care of the funeral home.

Clifford J. Luers
Clifford J. Luers, 83, of Lawrenceburg, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in Lawrenceburg. He was born on February 2, 1926 in Ripley County, the son of the late Conrad and Emma (Schiernbeck) Luers. He married Martha Jane (Bockhorst) Luers and she preceded him in death.
Survivors include daughter, Karen Luers; three brothers, Wilbur Luers, Gilbert Luers and Ray Luers; and sister, Ruth Narwald. He was preceded in death by son, Mark Luers, and brother, Robert Luers.
Mr. Luers served his country in the army during World War II. He was a member of the VFW, Aurora American Legion, Lawrenceburg Eagles and St. John's Lutheran Church.
Funeral services were held at St John's Lutheran Church-Bellaire on Monday, September 28, with Pastor Marlyn Nelson officiating. Burial was in the St Johns Lutheran Church-Bellaire Cemetery in Lawrenceburg.
Memorials may be given to the family or the Aurora American Legion. Fitch-Denney Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg was in charge of arrangements.

Martha C. Bush
Martha C. Bush, 81, of Holton, passed away Monday, September 28, 2009 at her home. She was born at Naveau, Alabama on September 11, 1928, the daughter of Robert and Zora Johnson Tyler. She was married to Glen Bush on March 18, 1951 and he survives.
Other survivors include five sons: Don (Sandra) Bush of Bedford, Glen David (Sheryl) Bush of Southport, William (Joyce) Bush of Holton, Hugh Michael (Patti) Bush of Versailles, and Martin (Tammy) Bush of Sunman; one daughter: Denise Atkins of Holton; 11 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; five brothers: Jessie (Ann) Tyler of Boise, Idaho, Tim (Judy) Tyler, Chris (Nancy) Tyler and Kent Tyler all of Holton, and Tom (Shirley) Tyler of North Vernon; and one sister: Betty Smith of Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers: Robert, Preston, and Cebren Tyler, and her sisters: Mary Ward and Chloe Waller.
Mrs. Bush was a homemaker.
Funeral services will be held Friday, October 2, at 11 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Cebren Tyler, Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the Holton West Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice

David L. Miller
David L. Miller, 61, of Batesville, passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 26 at Cook Funeral Home in Sunman, with Rev. Jill Kepler Campbell officiating. Burial was in the St. Paul Cemetery in Sunman. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice. Cook Funeral Home in Sunman was in charge of arrangements.

Russell O. Thornton
Russell O. Thornton, 87, of Lawrenceburg, passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2009 in Lawrenceburg. Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 26 at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg with Pastor Tom Fehrman officiating. Burial was in the Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles. Memorials may be given to the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Fitch-Denney Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg was in charge of arrangements.

September 22, 2009

Beverly Sue "Bev" Kelly Cook
Beverly Sue "Bev" Kelly Cook, 54, of Canaan, passed away Friday, September 18, 2009 at Seton Specialty Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born August 23, 1955 in Milan, the daughter of Hobert and Cora Duke Kelly. She married Gary R. Cook, of Canaan, on August 5, 1972 at the Bennington United Methodist Church and he survives.
Other survivors include two daughters: Shanna Cook of New York, NY, and Nicole (Jason) Cook-Ficaro of New Orleans, LA; one son: Sean (Hannah) Cook of Owingsville, KY; her mother: Cora Duke Kelly of North Vernon; granddaughter: Macy Laine Cook; one brother: Danney (Angela) Kelley of Madison; four sisters: Nancy (Harold) Griffith of Madison, Evelyn (Danny) Morris of North Vernon; Geraldine (David) Reed of North Vernon and Barbara (Gary) Hornsby of Hanover; mother-in-law: Effie Cook Armes of Canaan; two aunts and uncles: Mary Jane and George Hankins of Bennington and Junior and Wanda Duke of Versailles; several nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her father, Hobert on Dec. 18, 2006; her father’s-in-law: Jim Rich, Ted Cook and George Armes.
Mrs. Cook was a 1973 graduate of Switzerland County High School. She helped her husband with Cook’s vegetable and produce stand on Clifty Drive in Madison for the past 20 years. She also helped the Welch family with the German Corner. She was a member of the Kent Christian Church as well as the Brushy Fork Baptist Church.
Funeral services are being held today, Tuesday, at 1 p.m. at the Kent Christian Church in Kent. Dr. Danny Gabbard and Pastor Mike Jones will officiate. Burial will be in the Grandview Memorial Gardens near Madison. Visitation will also be Tuesday from 11 a.m. until time of services at the church. Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society or Thornton Terrace Memorial Fund, cards available at the funeral home. Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre is in charge of arrangements.

Floyd Menchhofer
Floyd Menchhofer, 91, of Osgood passed away Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood. He was born near Versailles on November 28, 1917 the son of Henry and Ethel Dorrell Menchhofer. He was married to Evelyn Parker on March 23, 1941 and she preceded him in death on November 10, 2008.
Survivors include one son William (Emma) Menchhofer of Osgood; five grandchildren Teresa (Alan) Kramer of Greensburg, Tammy (Randall) Miller of Versailles, Tina (Marvin) Kramer of Greensburg, Tom (Melissa) Menchhofer of Holton, and Todd (Sharon) Menchhofer of Greensburg; 12 great-grandchildren; three sisters Viola Arsenault of Rancho Cordova, California, Rose Ann Westerfeld of Greensburg, and Wilma Greene of Madison. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his sister Opal Belter, and his brothers Clarence, Irvin, Paul, and Ray Menchhofer.
Mr. Menchhofer attended grade school at Splashville and Tanglewood and was a 1937 graduate of Versailles High School. He was a member of the Tanglewood Baptist Church and a former member of the Osgood Library Board.
Mr. Menchhofer had been employed with the Ripley County Farm Bureau and the Nestle’s Milk Plant in Osgood which later became Beatrice Foods. He received three outstanding service awards from Beatrice. Mr. Menchhofer also did home repairs for several years.
Funeral services were held Saturday, September 19 at the Tanglewood Baptist Church with Rev. Russell Stephens officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Margaret Mary Hospice or the Tanglewood Cemetery in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home.

Mary Ann Colter
Mary Ann Colter, 43, of Helenwood, Tennessee, formerly of Dillsboro, passed away Friday, September 18, 2009. Visitation will be Thursday, September 24, from 5-8 p.m. at Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro with a memorial service to follow at 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the family. Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro is in charge of arrangements.

Jane Ann (Bender) King
Jane Ann (Bender) King, 59, of Moores Hill, passed away Saturday, September 19, 2009. Funeral mass will be held Wednesday, September 23 at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church at Milan. Burial will be in the church cemetery in Milan. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., today, Tuesday, at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home at Milan. A rosary service will be at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday. Memorials may be given to the Catholic Relief Services. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home in Milan is in charge of arrangements.

Leo Virginia Whitham
Leo Virginia Whitham, 90, of North Vernon passed away Sunday, September 20, 2009 at the Jennings Healthcare Center in North Vernon. She was born near Benham on June 1, 1919 the daughter of Clyde and Susan Leatherbury Whitham.
Survivors include two brothers, Willis Whitham of North Vernon and Robert Whitham of Madison; one sister, Mary Whitham of Centerville, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Daily, Earl, Gary, Harvey, Willard, and Frank Whitham, and her sisters Faye, Marcella, and Dorothy.
Miss Whitham was a former employee of Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati and was a homemaker. As a child, she attended the Blackwell School near Benham.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Dale Day of the Versailles Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in the Benham Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice

Victor F. Hitz
Victor F. Hitz, 89, of Versailles passed away Saturday, September 19, 2009 at Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. He was born at North Madison on March 22, 1920 the son of Frazier and Emma Reiman Hitz. He was married to Wanda Barringer on October 24, 1946 and she preceded him in death on November 30, 1997.
Survivors include one daughter Gail Deatherage and her companion Larry Lovejoy of Warsaw, Kentucky; one son Fred (Malena) Hitz of Muncie; four grandchildren, Christopher Armbrecht of Union, Kentucky, Lori (Ken) Armbrecht Reed of Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, Erin (Kevin) Hitz Reed, and Ryan (Sharon) Hitz both of Noblesville; five great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his brother Frazier Hitz.
Mr. Hitz was a 1940 graduate of North Madison High School. He had attended Hanover College and Indiana University and graduated from the Tommy Bright School of Floral Design in Indianapolis. He was an Army veteran of WWII, where he served as a Staff Sergeant in the 702nd Re-con Division.
Mr. Hitz was featured in Stars and Stripes magazine after he and two other men in his division shot down a low flying German observation plane with their pistols. The three then captured the pilot of the plane after he landed nearby. He fought in campaigns in Northern Africa, Italy, Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Ardennes. He received 7 bronze stars, one bronze service arrowhead, the American Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Ribbon, and a Distinguished Unit Citation. He and his wife owned and operated Hitz Greenhouse in Versailles from 1947 till 1978.
Mr. Hitz was a member of the Tyson United Methodist Church, Versailles American Legion, Versailles Masonic Lodge, and the Indianapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite. He was a former member and fire chief of the Versailles Fire Department, the Tyson Fund Board, and the Tyson Library Board.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. James Wheeler officiating. Burial will be in the Springdale Cemetery at Madison with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1 p.m. until time of services. Memorials may be given to the Versailles Fire Department or the Versailles American Legion in care of the funeral home.

September 15, 2009

Helen F. Powell
Helen F. Powell, 85, of Holton passed away Saturday, September 12, 2009 at her home. She was born at Warsaw, Kentucky on September 20, 1923 the daughter of Stanley and Laura Jackson. She was married to Woodrow Wilson Powell on May 26, 1943 and he preceded her in death on August 6, 1986.
Survivors include two daughters Lynda (Ernie) Carf of Holton and Kay (Ronald) Barrows of Bennington; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; one sister Hazel Cunningham of Milan; one brother Russell Jackson of Florence, Kentucky. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Harold and Wilfred Jackson, and her sisters Adaleide Lewis, Rhona White, and Madge Breadon.
Mrs. Powell was a homemaker and a former caseworker for Head Start. She had also served as a volunteer for the Green Thumb Literacy Program in Lawrenceburg.
Visitation will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16 at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles. Graveside services will follow at 12 p.m. at the Dabney Cemetery with Pastor Melvin Barrows officiating. Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

Jacob I. Waldon
Jacob I. Waldon, 94, of Columbus, Ohio, formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away Friday, September 11, 2009 at the Wesley Glen in Columbus. He was born near Elrod on May 30, 1915, the son of Benjamin and Laura Benham Waldon. He was married to Margaret Hodge of Holton in May of 1939 and she preceded him in death on August 30, 1994.
Survivors include one son, Jacob D. (Laurie) Waldon of Columbus, Ohio; one daughter, Myrna (Robert) Buehler of Bakersfield, California; three grandchildren, Matthew Buehler and his fiancée Audrey Miller of St. Helena, CA, Kelly Waldon and her fiancé Adam Calbelage and Kara Waldon, both of Columbus, OH. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters: Garnet Hunger and Opal Polston.
Mr. Waldon was a 1932 graduate of Versailles High School. He was also a graduate of Southern College in Collegedale, Tennessee and received his Master’s Degree from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. He was an Army veteran of WWII where he participated in the Normandy Invasion. Mr. Waldon retired from Ford Motor Company in Cincinnati where he worked as a sales engineer and was a member of the Village Seventh Day Adventist Church in Cincinnati.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Paul St. Villiers officiating. Burial will be in the Washington Cemetery at Elrod. Visitation will be Saturday from 12 p.m. until time of services. Memorials may be given to the Village Seventh Day Adventist Church or the Washington Cemetery in care of the funeral home.

Sharon L. White
Sharon L. White, 62, of Milan, passed away Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Dearborn County Hospital at Lawrenceburg. She was born January 27, 1947 in Milan, the daughter of James E. and Luella (McAdams) Smith.
Survivors include daughters: Melissa (Milton) White Teer and Amiee (Mike) White Beard both of Milan; brother, Roy Smith of Harrison, Ohio; two sisters, Barbara Lambert of Lawrenceburg and Donna Craig of Vevay; eight grandchildren and one great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Melba Earls.
Ms. White was a registered nurse and worked at Woodland Hills Health Center and Dearborn County Hospital at Lawrenceburg for several years. She was a former member of Milan Rescue 30 and also the Disabled American Veterans Association Auxiliary.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 16 at 11 a.m. at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home in Milan with Rev. Tom Holt officiating. Cremation will follow. Visitation is being held today, Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to Milan Rescue 30. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home in Milan is in charge of arrangements.

Laura M. Melson
Laura M. Melson, 88, of Milan, passed away Thursday, September 10, 2009, at Ripley Crossing in Milan. She was born December 10, 1920 in Covington, Kentucky, the daughter of Albert and Alice (Potter) Bachmann. She married Ralph Leslie Higham and later married to Rex L. Melson, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons: Leroy (Paula) Higham of Columbus, Melvin (Sandy) Higham of Aurora, and Ronald Higham of South Carolina; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Mrs. Melson was a member of the Sparta Baptist Church and the Ladies Golf League at Milan Country Club.
Funeral services were held Monday, September 14 at Sibbett-Moore Funeral Home in Moores Hill. Rev. Harris Long officiated. Burial was in the Mt. Sanai Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the activity fund at Ripley Crossing or to the donor’s choice. Sibbett-Moore Funeral Home in Moores Hill was in charge of arrangements.

Donna Jean Webster
Donna Jean Webster, 65, of Versailles, passed away Saturday, September 12, 2009. Arrangements are pending at Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home in Milan.

Mary Carolyn Emsweller
Mary Carolyn Emsweller, 80, of Batesville, passed away Thursday, September 10, 2009. Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 14, at Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville with burial in the St. John Church Cemetery (Huntersville), in Batesville. Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association or St. John Cemetery Fund. Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville was in charge of arrangements.

Amos Siebert
Amos Siebert, 87, of Batesville, passed away Friday, September 11, 2009. Funeral services are being held today, Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Crossroads. Burial will be in the St. Paul Church Cemetery. Meyers Funeral Home in Batesville is in charge of arrangements.

September 8, 2009

No deaths for this paper.

September 1, 2009

Virginia E. Lagle
Virginia E. Lagle, 89, of Versailles, passed away Sunday, August 30, 2009, at the Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. She was born at Geneva, Indiana, on November 21, 1919, the daughter of Adam and Ethel Harbour Egly. She was married to Rev. Donald Lagle on January 31, 1943, and he preceded her in death on December 25, 1987.
Survivors include one son, Thomas H. Lagle of Johnson City, Tennessee; two daughters, Rebecca (William) Carr of Bellefontaine, Ohio and Sally (Jim) Morris of Versailles; grandchildren, Lauren Morris of Long Beach, California, Megan Carr of Indianapolis, Andrew (Stacy) Carr of North Olmstead, Ohio, and Sarah Morris of Los Angeles. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Connie, one brother and one sister.
Mrs. Lagle was a 1937 graduate of Geneva High School and was also a graduate of the International Business College at Fort Wayne. She had attended Franklin College and was a member of the Phi Beta Phi Sorority. Her working career included being a secretary at East Tennessee State University as well as working along side her husband in the many churches he pastored in Indiana, Florida, and Tennessee. She was also a Red Cross volunteer.
Graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family at the Green Lawn Cemetery in Franklin. Memorials may be given to the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, the Presbyterian church of your choice, or the Ripley County Community Foundation in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles. Online condolences available at skfuneralhome.com.