Current Services

Howard Mark Johnson, 64, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 1:03 p.m. at the Adena Fayette Medical Center where he had been a patient since February 8.

Mark was born January 22, 1960, in Kansas City, Kansas to Robert Eugene and Betty Rosalind James Johnson.  He was a 1978 graduate of Washington High School and lived most of his life in this community.

Before his retirement, he was a salesman of mining equipment.

Mark enjoyed woodworking.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mark is survived by his wife, the former Lisa K. LeMaster; two sons, Heath (Sarah Bailey) Johnson of Leesburg and Ethan (Kaitlyn) Johnson of Washington Court House; two grandchildren, Makenna and Jack Johnson; a brother, Eric (Maureen) Johnson of Florida and a sister, Kay (Larry) Cruea of Washington Court House.

To honor his wishes, cremation will be observed, and a memorial service will be held at a later date.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome

B. Geraldine (Jerry) Durflinger, 98, of Springfield, Ohio died Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 4:28 a.m. at Aventura at Oakwood Village in Springfield where she had been residing since 2014.

Jerry was born August 9, 1925, in New Holland, Ohio to Kenneth Rae and Grace Mae Metzger Oesterle.  She was a 1943 graduate of New Holland High School where she served as class treasurer.  She moved to Springfield in 1966, from New Holland.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Edmund Durfllinger on May 10, 2008; by four brothers, Kenneth E., Maynard, Robert and Ted Oesterle and three sisters, Eileen Tatman, Marceline Wallace and Jean Skinner.

Jerry is survived by two daughters, Joyce Miller and her husband, James, of Vandalia and Janice Near of Springfield; two grandchildren, Justin Smith of Springfield and Jodi Kay (Brad) Downard of South Vienna; three great grandchildren, Taylor Downard and Zoie and Lily Smith; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Leslie and Susan Oesterle of Washington Court House, David and Karen Oesterle of Columbus and  Richard and Helen Oesterle of Washington Court House and a sister, Judy Gordon of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A graveside service will be held Monday, February 19, 2024, at 11 a.m. in New Holland Cemetery with family members offering comments.  Her granddaughter, Jodi Downard, will deliver the eulogy.  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland.

There will be no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio’s Community Mercy Hospice, 444 West Harding Road, Springfield, Ohio 45504.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Brenda Sue Trainer, 74, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Friday, February 9, 2024, at 6:10 p.m. at Court House Manor Nursing Home where she had been a resident since January 2020.

Brenda was born February 11, 1949, in Circleville, Ohio to Walter and Marjorie Penwell Hill.  She moved to Washington Court House in 2015, from Kenton.

She was a 40-year member of the Moose Lodge and enjoyed cooking, crocheting, and crafting.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Mary Ellen Irvin on July 6, 2023.

Brenda is survived by two sisters, Ruth Murphy and her husband, Mike, of New Holland and Ruby Hill of Clarksburg; two nieces, April (Elliott) Hawkes and Amanda (Chad) Swigert and a nephew Adam (Jacky) Haynes.  Having no children of her own, Brenda considered her sisters and nieces and nephew as her children.

To honor her wishes, cremation was observed.

A graveside service will be held Friday, February 23, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. in the Good Hope Cemetery with Marty Mace officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 North Oakland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Ruth Kyle Adams Willis of Washington Court House, Ohio died Monday, February 5, 2024, at 12:17 p.m. at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus where she had been a patient since February 1.

She was born July 17, 1927, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Gilbert Gustin and Lois Kyle Adams and was a lifelong resident of this community.  She was a 1945 graduate of Washington High School and attended Muskingum College.

Before her retirement, she was office manager at the longtime family business, the Willis Lumber Company.

She was a lifelong member of WCH Grace Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher for over 40 years.  She had been a member of the Washington Country Club and was an avid golfer.  She also had been a member of Phi Beta Psi sorority.

On March 28, 1948, she married Harris Dahl Willis.  He preceded her in death on April 27, 2011.  She was also preceded by her parents; a grandson, Nathaniel Ryan Willis in 2006, and three siblings, John Kyle Adams in 1969, Helen Kyle Adams Bierly in 1978, and David Kyle Adams in 1997.

She is survived by four children, Stephen Willis and his wife, Marsha, Bruce Willis and his wife, Sue, all of Washington Court House, Susan Willis Fishburne and her husband, Don, of Lakewood, Colorado and Jill Willis of Chicago, IL; seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; seven nieces and a nephew.

A private service will be held at the convenience of the family.  Burial will follow in the Washington Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the WCH Grace Methodist Church, 301 East Market Street, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160 or the Adena Health Foundation for use at the Adena Fayette Medical Center, c/o 9 South Paint Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Carole Annette Arnold, 83, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Monday, February 5, 2024, at 5:55 a.m. at her home.  She had been in failing health the past three years.

Carole was born March 27, 1940, in Springfield, Ohio to John and Ruth Maxwell Steinmetz.  She was a 1958 graduate of Jeffersonville High School where she was homecoming queen and a majorette.  She was a lifelong resident of this community and enjoyed working at her parent’s grocery in Octa, Ohio.

She dedicated 30 years of service working at First Federal Savings and Loan.  She then worked 12 years with the Fayette County Common Pleas Clerk of Court before officially retiring on April 29, 2011.

Carole was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church.      She was a member of the Bar W Riding Club and loved going to horse shows and rodeos.  She enjoyed several summers fishing in Curtis Michigan; loved watching OSU football and basketball, the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals and attending the sporting events of her grandchildren.

On April 12, 1959, she married Marvin Leroy (Mark) Arnold.  He preceded her in death on October23, 2019.  She was also preceded by her parents.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Kevin Girton of Washington Court House; two grandchildren, Mark Girton of Tarrytown, NY and Hannah Girton of Grove City, OH; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert Steinmetz and Sunny Gold of Huntersville, NC; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Rebecca (Arnold) and William Lindsley of Bluffton, SC;  several nieces, nephews and extended family members; her caregivers, Johanna Miller, Joanie and Joe Price and Margaret, Kristen and Kaden and her beloved Aussie, Bandit.

The funeral will be Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Washington Court House with Bobby Seymour, pastor at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Milledgeville-Plymouth Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 301 East East Street, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Steven Leo (Steve) Dresch, 55, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 8:35 p.m. at his home.  He had been ill since February 2022.

He was born January 31, 1969, in Cincinnati, Ohio to Gerald Anthony and Diane Lois Farrell Dresch.  He was 1987 graduate of Washington High School and lived most of his life in this community.

Steve formerly was a warehouseman at Super Valu in Springfield, Ohio.  He later worked at Domtar, Inc. and Land O’Lakes Purina and currently was a warehouseman at the Walmart Distribution Center in Washington Court House.

He had been a member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Steve was preceded in death by his father on July 11, 2001; a brother, Tony Dresch on March 22,1987, and his mother-in-law, Bernice Brannigan on December 24, 2020.

He is survived by his wife, the former Kelli Jo Brannigan whom he married August 8,1997; three children, Jennifer Taylor, Nicholas Dresch and Brittany Skaggs, all of Washington Court House; eight grandchildren whom he dearly loved, Ian and Aubreyann Taylor, Paisley, Quinn, Norah and Knox Skaggs and Leo and Evelyn Dresch; his mother, Diane Dresch of Washington Court House; a brother and sister-in-law, Gerald A. (Gerry) and Natalie Dresch, Jr. of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Doreen (Joe) Hicks of Marysville and Karen (Tony Jones) Reno of Hillsboro; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth “Beth” Brannigan of Washington Court House and many nieces and nephews.

To honor his wishes, cremation will take place.

A memorial service will be held Monday, February 12, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Danny Dodds, minister at the Greenfield Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial of the cremains will follow in the Washington Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from Monday from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 North Oakland Avenue or the Fayette Regional Humane Society, 4 Commercial Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Helen Marie Sollars, 97, of Bloomingburg, Ohio passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family at 9:40 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024.  She had been in failing health.

She was born November 30, 1926, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Ernest and Hazel Cox Minshall.  She was a graduate of Washington High School and lived all of her married life in Bloomingburg.

Helen had been a clerk at the Bloomingburg Post Office and was a poll worker and presiding judge for many years.

She was a member of the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church where she had served as an Elder for many years.  She had been a member of the former missionary group, Comrades of the Second Mile and the former Bloomingburg Lioness Club.

Helen enjoyed spending time with her family and was a loving wife and mother and wonderful grandmother and great grandmother.  She also enjoyed reading, puzzles, and needle point sewing.

On September 11, 1947, she married John Henry (Jack) Sollars.  He preceded her in death on March 17, 2013.  She was also preceded by a son-in-law, Robert Jones; three brothers, Robert E., Willard L. and Herbert R. Minshall; a sister, Pauline Pierce; a half-brother; Edward Eugene (Gene) Minshall and a step-sister, Janet Kelley of Washington Court House.

Helen is survived by three children, Michael Sollars and his wife, Marilynn, of Frankfort, Ohio; Rebecca Sollars and Jacqueline Jones of Bloomingburg; two grandsons, Jon Jones and his wife, Taylor, and Brett Sollars and his wife, Ashley, all of Washington Court House; two great grandchildren, Henry Robert Jones and Hadley Rose Jones and several nieces and nephews.

A private service will be held at the convenience of the family with Mark Armstrong, pastor at the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church officiating.  A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of 222 North Oakland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160 or the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 157, Bloomingburg, Ohio 43106.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Phillip Roger Bihl, 73, of Athens, Ohio, died Thursday, January 25, 2024, at his residence.

Phil was born December 20, 1950, in Portsmouth, Ohio to Albert Francis and Dorothy Irene Morrison Bihl.  He was a 1968 graduate of Miami Trace High School and received a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University in 1973.  He had lived in Athens the past 40 years.

He was a private contractor and had worked at the technical center at Ohio University.  He previously taught math at the Bloomingburg Junior High School.

He was an outstanding athlete and was on the basketball team at The Ohio State University his freshman year.  For many years, he held the high jump record at Ohio University.

Phil was preceded in death by his father in 2003, and his mother in 2004.

He is survived by four siblings, Helen Grim and her husband, Larry, of Mount Sterling, David Bihl and his wife, Jan, of Washington Court House, Steve Bihl and his wife, Jeannie, of Bloomingburg and Carol Hobbs and her husband, Jeff, of Sidney.  Also surviving and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and cousins.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the St. Colman Cemetery with the Rev. Father Cyrus M. Hadad, pastor at St. Colman of Cloyne Catholic Church, officiating.  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

A reception and time of food and fellowship at the St. Colman Parish Hall will immediately follow the graveside service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

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Janet Sue Wood, 76, of Washington Court House, Ohio, died Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 9:06 p.m. at the Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe where she had been a patient since January 18.

Janet was born June 2, 1947, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Earl and Sarah Alice Sutton Wood.  She lived most of her life in Greenfield and Washington Court House.

She had formerly worked in Greenfield at Willy Bobs, the Quick Stop Drive Thru, Greenfield Research and drove a taxi.  She had also owned and operated H & J Janitorial in Greenfield.

She attended Southern State Community College and enjoyed cooking.

Janet was preceded in death by a daughter, Tracey Oyer on July 28, 1986, and by twelve siblings, William, Edgar, Richard, James and Russell Wood, Shirley Yahn, Dorothy Stolzenburg, Rosabelle Gilpen, Wanda Helfrich, Barbara Anders, Thelma Distelhorst and Mary Wood.

She is survived by three children, John Oyer and his wife, Marsha, of Hillsboro, Nicholas Oyer and his wife, Karen, of Washington Court House and Cindy Gregg and her husband, Tony, of Lafayette, IN; five grandchildren, Kenzie (Brandon) Owen, Dakata Oyer, Hannah Oyer, Mark (Nicole) Gregg and Ashley (Derek) Deno and four great grandchildren, Callen and Kamry Gregg and Asher and Ayden Deno.

The funeral will be Friday, January 26, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Danny Dodds, minister at the Greenfield Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Washington Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

William Paul Moder, 84, of New Holland, Ohio died Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 6:03 p.m. at the Valley View Care Center near Frankfort where he had been a patient since January 16.

Bill was born July 14, 1939, in Columbus, Ohio and was the only child of Walter and Frieda Brinkman Moder.  He was a 1957 graduate of Gibsinville (OH) High School and moved to New Holland in 2002, from Logan, Ohio.

He was a truck driver for Kroger for 31 years before his retirement in 2003.

Bill was a private pilot and enjoyed flying his plane to and from his landing strip at his home.

His first wife, Winona Donohue Moder died in 1995.

Bill is survived by his wife, the former Mary Ellen Holbrook whom he married January 27, 2001; three children, Ronal Moder of Laurelville, Melanie (Dick) Ogle and Jim Moder, all of Rock Bridge, OH; three stepchildren, Brenda (Tim) Hilderbrand of Lancaster, Nathan (Jane) Norris and David Norris, all of Columbus; ten grandchildren, four step grandchildren; ten great grandchildren and seven step great grandchildren.

To honor his wishes, cremation will be observed and there will be no visitation or service.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com