Obituaries

Paul Milford Jones, 82, of Clarksburg, Ohio went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 6:25 p.m. at Embassy Valley View near Frankfort where he had been a patient the past week.

Paul was born December 26, 1942, in Madison Mills, Ohio to Judge Alden and Theresa Belle Smith Jones.  He was a graduate of Clarksburg Adena High School and lived most of his life in the Clarksburg community.

He was a self-employed plumber and electrician.  For many years he was pastor at the House of Prayer in Octa, Ohio and did missionary work in the Philippines.

Paul served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War; was a member of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association and enjoyed attending church; bicycle riding and traveling.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Rev. Willard Jones and Rev. Thomas Jones.

He is survived by five children, Rodney (LaRhonda) Jones, Paula (William Pendergraft) Lucas and Tina (Phil) Park, all of Chillicothe, Johnnie (Todd) Legan of Naples, FL and Shawn ( Ashley) Jones of Talmo, GA; 13 grandchildren, Kassandra Jones, Brittany Jones, Allan Jones, Tiffany Keller, Tadd Clary, Justin Moore, Mathew Park,  Tyler Legan, Justin Legan, Austin Jones, Haylee Burgess, Mya Jones and Kinley Jones; several great grandchildren; two sisters, Evelyn Bott of Grove City and Mildred Harris of Clarksburg and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be held on Friday, April 18. 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland with the Rev. Brent Curtis officiating.  Burial will follow in the Brown’s Chapel Cemetery near Clarksburg.

Friends may call at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland Friday from 11 a.m. Friday until the time of the service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Lynn Ellen Heiny, 64, a beloved member of our family, passed away peacefully at Court House Manor on April 9, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, after a long illness.

She is survived by her mother, Joy Heiny, sisters, Robyn Frazier and Jill Cipra (Dale); brother, Mark (Jenni) Heiny and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her father, Robert Heiny, preceded her in death in 2020.

Lynn spent much of her life working in the community in places like Fayette Progressive Industries, Our Place, and McDonald’s. She also helped maintain the I-71 rest area outside of town.  Lynn loved being able to work and felt a sense of pride in her accomplishments.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where she volunteered in a Sunday School class for many years.  She also participated in Special Olympics, where her specialty was swimming.  Lynn loved collecting DVD’s of her favorite movies and country music CD’s.

Family and friends have fond memories of her great sense of humor, which have been named “Lynn-isms”.  She also had a very generous heart.  Lynn loved to treat her family to their favorite seafood restaurant, The Sea Captain’s, during yearly Myrtle Beach vacations.  We loved watching her look over the bill and give her final approval.

One of the greatest joys in Lynn’s life was her marriage in 2018.  Family members traveled from out of town to celebrate her special day.  It is a precious memory we will hold dear in our hearts.

Lynn spent much of her adult life in group homes, where she made friends and enjoyed some independence.  Her final years were spent at Court House Manor, where she was cared for by many aides and nurses.  Our family would like to thank everyone who lovingly took care of her throughout the years. Lynn was a sweet, special person who touched many lives.  She will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Lynn’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church at a later date.

Donations, in memory of Lynn, may be made to Fayette County Board of  DD  online at www.greenegiving.org.  Please reference Fayette Co. Board of DD or by mailing donations to the Greene County Community Foundation, 941 West Second Street, Xenia, OH 45385. Checks may be made out to Greene Giving and reference Fayette Co. Board of DD in the memo section.

“We eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his Glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

John Franklin Dawson III, 90, beloved husband of Elizabeth “Liz” Otis Dawson, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Born in Fayette County, PA on December 7, 1934, he quickly earned the nickname Bud, after his mother Annabel declared he looked “just like a rosebud”. This nickname stuck and followed him the rest of his life. Bud was one of three boys born to the late Frank and Annabel Dawson. Brothers Dale and Dickie also preceded him in death as well as his beloved stepfather, Whitey Thompson, Aunt Sandra Regan, Uncle Beam Griffith and Aunt Maddy Hoffman.

Bud was raised in Uniontown, PA and he eventually moved to Washington Court House, Ohio where he played high school basketball and had such a strong golf game it landed him on the golf team at The Ohio State University playing alongside the great Jack Nicklaus. Forever a proud Buckeye, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1961, and then proudly served his country in the Army for several years as an Intelligence Analyst dispatching messages in morse code. He then put his excellent marketing and journalism skills to use with Bell Labs, where he worked for 30 years writing articles for the company until it evolved into AT&T. His skills took him all the way to Iran, a highlight for him, as he helped study and implement the initial concepts of how a cell phone tower could be useful someday. He eventually served for several years as the Director of Development for the city of Washington Court House.

Bud and Liz’s love story started on a blind date and they got married on August 20, 1960. They lived in Parsippany, NJ for several years before moving to Summit, NJ where they raised their 3 daughters Vicky, Dahl and Liz. Bud had an incredible voice and enjoyed singing in church choirs, playing his ukulele and performing in many plays and musicals over the years. He always loved a good party and never passed up an opportunity to entertain, often singing and playing for hours. At 88 years old, he recorded several songs at a renowned studio in San Diego. The experience is documented here.

He recorded this song in one take, like the pro that he was.

Bud was a devoted husband, father and grandfather having taught almost the entire family how to play golf. He was loved for his energy and love for life. He always had a dog or a horse by his side and, being a farmer at heart, wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He was a man of action, but also a man of reflection who enjoyed deep conversations with friends and family. He was passionate about helping the underdog!  Bud and Liz were always admired by others for their special love and his unwavering care of Liz up until his passing, just shy of their 65th wedding anniversary.

Bud is survived by his loving family; wife Liz Dawson of Oceanside, CA; daughters Vicky and husband Greg Irvine of Fallbrook, CA, Dahl Nielsen-Fried and husband Ken Fried of Carlsbad, CA, Liz and husband Steve Krenik of Foothill Ranch, CA; grandchildren, Joshua Dawson Irvine of Salt Lake City, UT, Hannah and husband Taylor Hall of Santa Barbara, CA, Grace Irvine of San Diego, CA, Virginia Nielsen of San Mateo, CA, Lilah Annabel Nielsen of Carlsbad, CA, Victoria Nielsen of Leucadia, CA, Paige Krenik of Foothill Ranch, CA, Lance Dawson Krenik of Foothill Ranch, CA; brother-in law John Otis and wife Twinky of Bonita Springs, FL; nephews John Otis of Salt Lake City, UT and James Otis of Salt Lake City, UT; nieces Ginger Otis of Annapolis, MD, and Star Bailey of San Marcos, CA; and Son-In-Law Peter Nielsen of Oceanside, CA.

A private family remembrance celebrating Bud will be held on the West Coast this summer. A formal future service will be held in Washington Court House, Ohio where both Liz and Bud will eventually be buried together by the angel in the Washington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Tunnel To Towers Foundation, t2t.org in Bud’s honor and please notify us by adding the following email: vicky.irvine@aol.com so we can send our gratitude. We’d love you to also share a memory by clicking on his name, scrolling down to the bottom where you can leave a reply.

Rebecca Ann Steele, 70, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 4:45 p.m. at the Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe where she had been a patient since March 31.

Becky was born November 1, 1954, in Toledo in Lucas County, Ohio and moved to Washington Court House in 2010, from Elmore, Ohio.

She had formerly worked at the Walmart in Freemont, Ohio and at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio.

Becky was a member of the WCH Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed cooking, camping, fishing and reading.

She was preceded in death by a son, Tony Roberts and two grandchildren.

Becky is survived by her husband, Ronald G. Steele whom she married October 31, 2007; a son, William Shetler of Washington Court House; eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

In keeping with her wishes, cremation will take place and there will be no visitation or service.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Kimberly Ann Horn, 70, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Sunday, March 16, 2025, at her home.

Kim was born August 13, 1954, in Washington Court House, Ohio to H. S. (Bud) and Mary Virginia (Ginnie) White Stemple.  She was a 1972 graduate of Washington High School and later received a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from The Ohio State University.

She formerly had been a sales associate at the Home Depot store in Washington Court House.

Kim was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Steven Stemple.

She is survived by a daughter, Megan Horn and her husband, Matthew Scouten, of Silver Spring, Maryland; a son, Douglas Horn of Washington, D.C; three grandchildren, which she loved spending time with, William, Henry and David Scouten, and a sister, Michele Stemple of Chillicothe.

To honor with her wishes, cremation will take place and there will be no visitation or service.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Thelma Louise Redding, 79, of New Holland, Ohio died Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 12:54 p.m. at Cedarvale Commons Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Washington Court House where she had been residing since 2021.

Thelma was born December 1, 1945, in Monroe Township in Pickaway County, Ohio to Floyd Woodrow and Betty Mae Boyd Redding.  She was a lifelong resident of the New Holland community.

She was an enthusiastic, devoted and avid fan of Elvis Presley.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; seven siblings, Alberta, Verner, Annabelle, William “Bill” and Floyd (Pete) Redding, Carol Pence, Lily Self and Elizabeth Pence.

She is survived by four siblings, Clark (Susan) Redding of Atlanta, Sherman (Danna) Redding of New Holland, Lucretia (Clarence Lunsford) Bethel of Frankfort and Bernice (Larry) Perkins of Sedalia and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the New Holland Church of Christ in Christian Union with Crystal Spriggs, minister at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Waterloo Cemetery in Pancoastburg.

Friends may call at the church from 11 a.m. Saturday until the time of the service.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Austin Ryan Lucas, 19, of New Holland, Ohio died Sunday, March 9, 2025, as the result of a side-by-side UTV accident in Pickaway County.

He was born June 12, 2005, in Columbus, Ohio to Ryan C. and Julie A. Reisinger Lucas.  He was a 2023 graduate of Miami Trace High School and a lifetime New Holland resident.

Austin was a farmhand for Rivers Farms. He had a lifelong love for farming and his life completely revolved around being on the farm.  He was an avid Buckeye fan, enjoyed hunting and especially liked hanging out with his friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Diana Reisinger, Judy Lucas and Marvin Lucas.

Austin is survived by his parents, Ryan and Julie Lucas of New Holland; a sister, Hayley Lucas and her significant other, Cody Childre, of Clarksburg; a brother, Preston Lucas of New Holland; grandfather, John Reisinger of Williamsport; uncles, Johnny (Jana) Reisinger of Williamsport, Rod (Karen) Lucas of Phoenix, AZ; cousins, Ty, Colt, Mason, and Morgan Reisinger and Kicston Smith and special friends, Bryson Dudgeon and Bo Williams.

The funeral will be Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland with Gene Fenneken officiating.  Burial will follow in the New Holland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home in New Holland Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Mahlon Charles Riddick, 42, of Circleville, Ohio died Sunday, March 9, 2025, as the result of a side-by-side UTV accident in Pickaway County.

Mahlon was born March 21, 1982, in Circleville to Donald Lee and Shelia Ann Lee Riddick.  He was a 2001 graduate of Westfall High School and was a lifelong resident of Pickaway County.

He was owner and operator of Handyman Riddick and proud to be a handyman to everyone.  He enjoyed hunting.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Teresa Morris Bookwalter; grandmother-in-law, Sandy Morris; uncle-in-law, Eddie “Fatboy” Morris and a sister-in-law, Amy Wilhelm.

He is survived by his wife, the former Courtney Kay Bookwalter whom he married November 1, 2008; three children, Morgan Riddick, Madison Riddick and Mahlon Riddick, II, all of Circleville; three siblings, Heidi (JR) Griggs of Grove City, Jill Crabbe and Justin Riddick, both of Columbus; his father-in-law, Robert Bookwalter of Clarksburg; an aunt, Aelthea Lee of Columbus; a sister-in-law, Katelyn Bookwalter and Kimber of Frankfort; an aunt-in-law, Marsha (Allen) Lackey; an uncle-in-law. Chris Morris; nieces, nephews, cousins and several very dear friends.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation will be observed.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, 20521 Pherson Pike, Williamsport, Ohio 43164.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Kaylyn Brianne Marting, 37, of Bloomingburg, Ohio passed away Monday, February 24, 2025, at 12:40 p.m. at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital in Columbus surrounded by family after a long battle against metastatic breast cancer. She is now whole and with her mommy again.

Kaylyn was born January 7, 1988, in Columbus, Ohio to Mack A. and Tammy M. Johnson Dick. She was a 2006 graduate of Westfall High School where she was homecoming queen and a star on the softball team.  Kaylyn received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Chamberlain University in 2015. She had a deep-rooted passion for taking care of young babies which led her to dedicating her entire 10-year nursing career to The Ohio State University in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Kaylyn was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She loved life and enjoyed every moment. She enjoyed the simple parts of life such as spending time with friends and family. Her life revolved around her three daughters, her husband, and her siblings. Kaylyn had three older siblings, Brock, Maggie, and her twin sister Kendall (Yes, she reminded Kendall she was the younger twin). She looked up to all three of them and in many ways wanted to be like each of them. Kaylyn spent countless hours watching, attending, and participating in her kids’ activities. Her favorite kids’ activities included sports, ladies lead, zoo trips, Great Wolf Lodge trips and summer pool fun. She also enjoyed any event that Maggie, Brock, or Kendall had going on and would always travel to see her beloved nieces & nephews. She was a huge sports enthusiast and proud farmer/coach’s wife. Kaylyn was a high school softball pitcher and fulfilled a lifelong dream by attending the NCAA Women’s College World Series with her twin sister, Kendall in 2024. She was an avid Duke basketball fan. Erik and Kaylyn loved to travel, especially if she could sneak in an opportunity to see a Duke basketball game. Erik ensured that even though Kaylyn was fighting her cancer battle, he would move mountains to make sure she still got to do the things she loved. The love the two had for each other is unmatched. Erik’s care and love for Kaylyn is the epitome of true love and partnership. Kaylyn had a support system like no other, and family and friends came together in droves to be there for her as #KaylynsKrazies, reminding her that no one fights alone. Her twin sister, Kendall, shared an incredibly special bond that will carry her memory and legacy on. Kaylyn will live on through the beautiful family that she built and the family and friends who loved her so deeply. The effect she has had on so many has been so amazing to see, and her strength and grace in her fight and her faith has been admirable to the community as a whole. Kaylyn had an infectious smile, and her eyes were those you couldn’t forget. Her laugh was contagious, and her determination was unrivaled. If you knew her, it’s easy to consider yourself as the lucky one. Kaylyn will be missed and cherished for a lifetime to come.

She was preceded in death by her mother, on July 2, 2019, and her grandparents, Robert and Dorothy Johnson and Art and Sue Dick.

Kaylyn is survived by her beloved husband, Erik H. Marting whom she had her fairytale wedding to on September 13, 2014; three beautiful daughters, Peyton, Maddie and Dawsen Marting; her father, Mack Dick of Mount Sterling; three siblings, Brock (Jamie) Dick of Frankfort, Maggie Dick of Mount Sterling, and Kendall (Michael) Warnecke of Washington Court House; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Jo Marting of Bloomingburg; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and a multitude of friends many of whom she thought was family.

A private family funeral will be held at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with burial to follow in the Bloomingburg Cemetery.

Kaylyn’s family will greet friends at the Mahan Building on the Fayette County Fairgrounds from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025.  A Celebration of Life service will be led by Kaylyn’s uncle, Eric Dick, at 4 p.m. The celebration ceremony will be followed by a time of food and fellowship and include the Duke vs North Carolina basketball game, exactly as Kaylyn would have wanted it, in Duke blue of course.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Kaylyn’s memory to The Merchants National Bank, c/o Marting Family at 128 S. North Street, Washington C.H., Ohio 43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Woodrow Lee “Woody” Deskins, 85, of Washington Court House, Ohio, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11:52 a.m., at his home while surrounded by his loving family.

Woody was born in Waverly, Ohio on July 18, 1939, to Woodrow Wilson and Marvine Mae “Toots” Stulley Deskins.   He attended Washington High School and lived most of his life in this community.

He was a developer and builder of numerous apartment buildings and subdivisions.  He was owner and operator of Deskins Concrete and Woody’s U-Lock-It.  However, he was a musician at heart and played fiddle at The Grand Ole Opry during the 1950-1960’s.

Woody enjoyed antiquing and restoring houses but especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded by a brother, Roger Larry Deskins and two sisters-in-law, Lora and Mary Deskins.

He is survived by his wife, the former Linda Jane Robison whom he married June 6, 1973; three children, Woodrow L. “Woody” Deskins, II and his wife, Heather, Franklin L. “F.L.” Deskins, and Christina L. Edwards, all of Washington Court House; a son-in-law, Josh Edwards of Washington Court House, four grandchildren, Woodrow L. Deskins, III and Isabelle Deskins, Henry Edwards and Hattie Edwards;  two brothers, Franklin D. “Frank” Deskins and Robert “Butch” Deskins and his wife, Betty, all of Washington Court House.

A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family in Washington Cemetery with Christopher Conley, pastor at the Harvest Life Worship Center, officiating.  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

All are welcome to attend a  celebration of life and time of remembrance to be held Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 1-4 pm. at The Depot on Main, 215 South Main Street, Washington Court House, Ohio.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com