Obituaries

Genevieve Shirley Gilpen, 84, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 7 p.m. at the Adena Fayette Medical Center in Washington Court House where she had been a patient since July 31.

Shirley was born June 16, 1938, in London, Ohio to Elmer and Tennie Hicks Zoltz.  She lived most of her life in New Holland and Washington Court House.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Leroy Gilpen on December 24, 2002; a son, Dewey E. Zoltz in 2014; two daughters, Loretta Howard in 1995, and Diana Forsha on August 3, 2022, and Diana’s husband, Larry Dean Forsha in 2006, and an infant son, George Eugene Gilpen.

She is survived by is survived by a daughter, Brenda Staten of Washington Court House; a son, Ronald Gilpen of New Holland; a son-in-law, John Howard, of Washington Court House; four grandchildren, Austin Dean Forsha, Harley Lynn Forsha, Michael Howard and Poppy Spriggs; four great grandchildren, Brittany and Chance Blevins, Madison Staten and Seth Spriggs; a great great grandson, Jet Blevins; Diana’s  boyfriend, Chuck Keilback and his children, Gabriel and Lora, two brothers, Elmer Leon Zoltz of Clearfield, Utah and Fred Zoltz and his wife, Kay, of Morino Valley, CA; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland.  Burial will follow in the Little Mound Cemetery near Richmond Dale in Ross County.

Friends may call at the funeral home in New Holland Tuesday from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Marilyn E. Stimpert, 91, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at 10:54 p.m. at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus where she had been a patient since July 19.

Marilyn was born January 27, 1931, in Zanesville, Ohio to Ivin Swazey and Lulu Belle Fowler Miracle.  She was a 1949 graduate of Stafford High School and attended Bliss College.  She moved to Washington Court House in 1965.

She formerly was a typist and clerk for State Auto Insurance Company and the American Jersey Cattle Club.

Marilyn was an active member of the Grace United Methodist Church, the Arnold Circle and had formerly served as a trustee and assisted in the dining room at the church.  She was a member of the Fayette County Commission on Aging, had served as a volunteer at Fayette County Memorial Hospital for 25 years and had been a member of the Town and Country Garden Club.  She loved to decorate her home for the seasons, especially at Christmas with her hundreds of snowmen.  Her greatest love was for her family and she likewise was deeply loved by all who knew her and she will be truly missed.

On September 23, 1950, she married John William Stimpert.  He preceded her in death on November 17, 2016.  She was also preceded by her parents and a brother, Lowell Miracle

Marilyn is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Terri Stimpert of Worthington; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Dan Dean of Washington Court House; five grandchildren, Amy (Rob) Disbennett of Cincinnati, Jon (Allison) Dean of West Chester, OH, Emily (Jake) Shafer of Lewis Center, Ohio, Sarah (Dean) Zettler of Worthington, OH and Thomas John Stimpert of Columbus, Ohio and six great grandchildren, Will and Lilly Shafer, Genevieve, Scarlett and Molly Zettler and Leo Dean.

The funeral will be Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 12 p.m. Noon at the Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Matt Brookes, pastor at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. Saturday until time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, 301 E. Market Street or 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

Diana Kay Gilpen Forsha, 48, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at 12:26 a.m. shortly after arrival at the Adena Fayette Medical Center.  Her death was sudden and unexpected.

Diana November 10, 1973, in Washington Court House, Ohio to George Leroy and Genevieve Shirley Zoltz Gilpen.

She had been a crew member at Arby’s in Washington Court House for the past 14 years.

Diana was a big fan of Baby Yoda.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Dean Forsha on November 24, 2006; by her father, George Gilpen in 2002; a brother, Dewey E. Zoltz in 2014; a sister, Loretta Howard in 1995, and an infant brother, George Eugene Gilpen.

She is survived by is survived by a son, Austin Dean Forsha and a daughter, Harley Lynn Forsha, both of New Holland; her boyfriend, Chuck Keilback and his children, Gabriel and Lora, of Washington Court House; her mother, Genevieve Shirley Gilpen and a sister, Brenda Staten, both of Washington Court House; a brother,  Ronald Gilpen of New Holland; a brother-in-law, John Howard, of Washington Court House; special friends, Monica Perkins and Marylou Morgan and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be Friday, August 5, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland with Mell Wickensimer, director of visitation at the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Greenfield Cemetery.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome

Marilyn E. Stimpert, 91, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at 10:54 p.m. at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus where she had been a patient since July 19.

Arrangements for services are being completed and will be announced by the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

Jincie Louise VanMeter, 88, of Washington Court House, Ohio went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, August 1, 2022, at 8:26 p.m. at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Circleville.

She was born September 15, 1933, at Sabina in Clinton County, Ohio to Paul Rhodes and Jincie Lillian Stewart Sperry.  She was a 1953 graduate of Washington High School and lived most of her life in this community.

She had formerly been a legal secretary for Charles S. Hire and later John S. Bath.

She was a member of the Fayette Bible Church and had formerly been an assistant Girl Scout leader.

On May 2, 1953, she married Frelan Opas VanMeter.  He preceded her in death on November 10, 2014.  She was also preceded by a daughter, Karen Lynn Mitchell on June 5, 2020; a son-in-law, Michael Dennis; a sister, Paula Sperry Leto; a half sister, Jean Sperry Shidaker and a nephew, Edward Shidaker.

Louise is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Cinda and Charles Burks of Seneca, SC and Jincie Beth and Bob Hendershot of Circleville; a son-in-law, Tim Mitchell of Dublin, Ohio; nine grandchildren, Eric Mitchell, Kristen (Austin) Drenski, Jessica (Patrick) Donaldson, Charles (Brittany) Burks, II, Connor (Elizabeth) Burks, Jincie Alexandra Burks, Sarah (Earl) Dennis-Railey, Jason (Stefanie) Dennis and Matthew (Melissa) Dennis; 16 great grandchildren, Amelia, Sebastian, Declan and Della Burks; Bryce, Eamon, Lincoln, Amelia and Jeremy Donaldson; Jayden, Olivia, Eloise, Clara and Eli Dennis and DeVaughn and Destiny Railey;  brother-in-law and sister-in-law, E. Wayne and Patty VanMeter of Washington Court House; a niece, Robin (Walt) Meiner; other extended family members and her beloved cat, Greylie.

The funeral will be Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the Fayette Bible Church with the Rev. Tony Garren, pastor at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Washington Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 12 noon until time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette Bible Church, 1315 Dayton Avenue-NW, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Ronnie Clayton “Ron” Leisure, 59, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. Adena Fayette Medical Center where he had been a patient since Tuesday.

Ronnie was born December 27, 1962, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Robert Earl and Shirley Ann Hudson Leisure and was a lifelong resident of this community.

He worked in manufacturing at Chappell Door in Washington Court House.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Robert Earl Leisure and mother and step-father, Shirley and William ‘Bill” Warner.

He is survived by his wife, the former Angla Trisdale whom he married December 31, 2000; a daughter, Moriah (Danielle) Leisure; step children, Heather Hubbell, Donald Hubbell and Aron (Dawn) Seay; grandchildren, Gabrielle King, Shane Smith, Jr., Olivia Tackett, whom he reared, Chad Hubbell and Corben, Desirae, Dristan and Joslyn Seay; brother, Rick Leisure, Tony  Lindsey, John Warner, Billy (Brenda) Warner, Jeff (Angie) Warner step-brothers, James Lindsey and Mark Lindsey; two sisters Tammy (Chuck) Massie and Vicki (David) Laytart; several nieces and nephews, including Erin Leisure, Ashley Lewis, and Brandon Warner and special friends, Dave Fitch, Marty Hoagland and Dennis Smith and a former sister-in-law, Twila Leisure.

A private visitation and funeral will be held at the convenience of the family at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Dawn Michele Swayne, 49, of Greenfield, Ohio passed away early Wednesday morning, July 20, 2022, at her home.  Her death was sudden and unexpected.

Dawn was born January 28, 1973, in Fayette County, Ohio to Ronald J. and Pamela Kay Ratliff Manuel.  She was a 1991 graduate of Chillicothe High School and received an Associate’s Degree from Southern State Community College.  She lived most of her life in Fayette and Ross Counties and had been residing in Greenfield the past two years.

She was a special needs paraprofessional at Miami Trace High School.

Dawn was a member of the Sugar Creek Baptist Church.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ronald J. Manuel in 1998.

Dawn is survived by her husband, James Robert Swayne whom she married August 19, 1995; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kaleigh and Thomas Bondurant of Leesburg and Madison and Brandon Wright of Greenfield; six grandchildren, Harper Rose, Lillyan Bondurant, Grayson Swayne, Raylynn Swayne, Liam Bondurant and Isabella Wright; her mother and step-father, Pamela and Ron Trainer of Centerville; a sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Gerald Rose of Jeffersonville; a special niece and nephew who were like children to her, Hannah (Landen) Alspaugh of Dayton and Jacob (Lindsey) Rose of Washington Court House; a nephew, Tyler Cook of Hillsboro and several aunts and uncles, including Sharon Pauley and Judy Day who were very special aunts to her.

The funeral will be Saturday, July 23, 2022, at 3 p.m. at the Sugar Creek Baptist Church, 3263 Old U.S. Route 35-NW, Washington Court House, with Mike Henry, pastor at the church, officiating.  Cremation will follow the service.

Friends may call at the church Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of the service.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Roger William Bonham, 86, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away peacefully on the morning of July 16, 2022.

Roger was born February 3, 1936, on a farm in Lattaville in Ross County, Ohio to Willard M. and Frances Williams Bonham.  He moved to Fayette County when he was two years old and was a 1954 graduate of Wayne School in Good Hope.

He was a crane operator at Armco for 17 years while also farming part-time.  He became a full-time farmer in 1976, and was a pioneer and promoter of no-till cropping in the early 1970’s.

Roger was active in many local farm organizations including OSU Cooperative Extension Service programs such as the Marketing Club and the Agronomy Club, of which he was a past president.  He was past chairman of the Fayette County Agriculture Hall of Fame committee and was inducted into the Fayette County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2003.  He was a member and past president of the Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association and was recognized as the Distinguished Cattleman of 2002.   For over 20 years, he was active in Corn Growers Associations on the local, state and national levels.  He was past president of the Southwest Ohio Corn Growers Association and in 2005, was inducted into the National Corn Growers Association Recruiter Hall of Fame in Austin, Texas at the Commodity Classic.  He served in the United States Army from 1958-1960 and then in the Ohio National Guard until 1962.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James E. Bonham.

He is survived by his wife, the former Carolyn Ann McCoy, whom he married June 20, 1959; two sons, Doug Bonham (friend Geri Stevens), and Barry (Wendy) Bonham, all of Washington Court House; five grandchildren, Augustus “Gus” (Tiffany Moler) Bonham and Jacob  Bonham, of Washington Court House, Jordan (Casey) Rasmussen of Newman Grove, Nebraska, Elizabeth “Betsy” Bonham of Kettering and Paige (Ryan Schafer) Bonham of Washington Court House; four great grandchildren (Kamdyn, Isabella, Karsyn and Kyra); a sister and brother-in-law, Jo Ann (John) Knedler of State College, PA; sister-in-law, Linda Bonham of Washington Court House and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Jon R. Silveous, pastor at the Good Hope United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Good Hope Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home two hours prior to the service on Thursday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Cattlemen’s Association (earmarked for their scholarships), 4731 Bloomingburg-New Holland Road, New Holland, Ohio 43145 and Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 North Oakland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Larry Lee Patterson, 75, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Friday, July 15, 2022, at 12:18 a.m. at the Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe where he had been a patient since Wednesday.

Larry was born October 28, 1946, in Jackson County, Ohio to Russell Lindel and Dorothy Ellen Webb Patterson.  He lived most of his life in New Holland and Fayette County.

Before his retirement, he was a truck driver for Roadway Trucking.  He also had worked at Pennington Bread.

Larry was an outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing and being with his friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his father on July 31, 2002, and a brother, Russell Lindel Patterson, Jr. on September 20, 1985,

Larry is survived by three children, Stephanie Henderson and her friend, Rick Harris, of Gratis, Ohio, Larry L. Patterson, II and his wife, Heidi, of New Holland and Matthew Patterson and his wife, Jenny, of Ashville; nine grandchildren, Logan, Hannah, Harley, Landyn and Cady Patterson, Nathan and Hayley Binegar and Christopher and Cody Henderson; his mother, Dorothy Patterson of Washington Court House; two sisters, Linda Patterson of Washington Court House and Brenda Gallaugher and her husband, Mike, of Frankfort, a brother, Kevin Patterson and his wife, Samantha, of Frankfort and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday, July 18, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral in Washington Court House with the Rev. Don Young, pastor at the Spirit of Truth Church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the New Holland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. Monday until time of the service.

Donald E. Cockerill, 91, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away July 8, 2022, at 8:59 a.m.

Don was born March 28, 1931, in Washington Court House, Ohio Marion Jacob and Mary Jo Bireley Cockerill.  He was a 1949 graduate of Washington High School and later attended Wilmington College.  Don served three years in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving two years on a rescue ship at Pearl Harbor.  Their rescue missions ranged to Alaska, Midway, and Japan, to the coast of Korea.

Don spent 32 years working for Armco, retiring in 1988, as plant coordinator.  He also was an owner, breeder and trainer of standard bred racehorses for over 30 years.  One of his first horses became National Season Leader in 1978.  He was a member of the United States Trotting Association and Paul H. Hughey Post #25 of the American Legion for 62 years.

Don is survived by his wife, the former Myrna C. Redden, whom he married June 26, 1955, and together they had three children:  a daughter, Rhonda (Jeff) Sagar of Washington Court House; sons, Kyle (Cindy) Cockerill of Washington Court House, Ohio and Dennis (Jen) Cockerill of Hilliard, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Brooke Lewis, Brady (Kevin) Yenger, Jordan Sagar, Taylor Cockerill, Cameron Cockerill, Dylan Cockerill, Madison Cockerill and Zoey Cockerill; three great grandchildren, Mallory Lewis, Ethan Knapp and Emerson Crosby and three sisters, Marjorie Hutson and Shirley Cupp Johnson, both of Washington Court House and Jo Ann (Jodi) Kirkpatrick of New Holland. Also surviving are several special nieces and nephews.

In keeping with Don’s wishes, cremation has taken place.

A graveside service, with complete military honors, will be held Friday, July 15, 2022, at 11 a.m. in the Washington Cemetery with Danny Dodds, minister at the Greenfield Church of Christ, officiating,  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greenfield Church of Christ, 955 Jefferson Street, Greenfield, Ohio 45123 or ProMedica Hospice, 208 North Fayette Street, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com