Obituaries

Nancy Sue Hickle, 73, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Friday, February 18, 2022, at 3 p.m. at the Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe where she had been a patient the past month.

Sue was born June 21, 1948, in Columbus, Ohio to Thomas Edward and Anna Marie Sonner Hatfield.  She was a 1966 graduate of Whitehall-Yearling High School and moved to Washington Court House in 2015, from Columbus.

She formerly worked in the J.C. Penney Company warehouse in Columbus.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Billy and Donnie Hatfield and a sister, Mary Stace.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Michael Hickle whom she married December 26, 1975; a daughter, Patricia Hatfield of Spokane, WA and two brothers, Jimmy Hatfield of Whitehall and Dick Hatfield and his wife, Paula, of Columbus.

Cremation will be observed and there will be no visitation or service at this time.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Carolyn Jean Speakman, 85, of Groveport, Ohio, died Thursday, February 17, 2022, at 1:08 p.m. at the Darby Glenn Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hilliard, Ohio where she had been a patient since January 18.

Carolyn was born August 12, 1936, in Pickaway County, Ohio to Dean and Ruth Lucille Landman Speakman and was reared by her mother and step-father, Virgil Grant Farmer.  She was a 1956 graduate of New Holland High School.  She moved to Bexley in 1966, and had been living in Groveport the past 11 years.

She was a bookkeeper with the Ohio Department of Public Safety for 30 years before her retirement in 1991.

Carolyn enjoyed reading, traveling and working jigsaw puzzles.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Paul Hurtt.

Carolyn is survived by two nephews, Mark Hurtt and his husband, Todd Koger, of Columbus and Brian Hurtt of Akron; a niece, Gayle Womack and her husband, John, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; three great nieces, Blythe and Megan Oty and Mallory Moser and her husband, Jared, and six great great nieces and nephews, Saraya, Keiyanna, Makayla, Madison, Marquis and K’Veon.

In keeping with her wishes, there will be no visitation or service.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Linda Sue Sells, 83, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Sunday, February 13, 2022, at 9:58 p.m. at Court House Manor where she had been a patient four days.

Linda was born November 14, 1938, in Chillicothe, Ohio to H. Elton and Edna Mae Dungan Anderson.  She graduated third in her class at Washington High School in 1957, and was in the National Honor Society.  She attended Ohio University, the University of Georgia and the University of New Mexico.  As the wife of a U.S. Navy officer, she had lived in New Mexico; Florida; Chicago, Il Athens, Greece and Norfolk, VA before returning to Washington Court House in 1969.

She retired in 2009, from Calmar after serving 21 years as buyer, planner and purchasing agent.  She had formerly worked at Roe Jewelry.

Linda was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church and had been a member of the Washington Court House Altrusa Club.  She found value in everything and in every person she knew.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Darrell W. “Butch” Anderson.

She is survived by three sons, Andrew D. Sells and his wife, Kim, of Washington Court House, Patrick A. Sells and his wife, Christal, of Powell and Thomas A. Sells of Washington Court House, five grandchildren, Morgan, Lauren, Nicholas, Abagail and Caroline Sells; a sister and brother-in-law, Jeri and Allen Bookwalter of Clarksburg and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Friday, February 18, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Matt Brookes, pastor at the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the Washington Cemetery.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Scott Allen “Big Show” Duffy, 40, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at his home.  His death was sudden and unexpected.

Scott was born October 18, 1981, in Washington Court House.  He was a 2000 graduate of Washington High School and Laurel Oaks Vocational School.  He was also a graduate of the NASCAR Technology Institute in North Carolina.

He was a master mechanic at Sugar Creek Packing Company where he assisted in the restoration and care of their classic car collection.

In addition to his love of restoring his Camaro, he was an outdoorsman and an avid hunter and fisherman.

Scott was preceded in death by his step-father, Jerry Dean in 2019 and his grandmother, Molly Schobelock.

He is survived by a daughter, Mollee (Moo-Moo) Duffy of Washington Court House; his mother, Artie Sue Duffy Dean of Huber Heights; a brother and sister-in-law, Jay and Lacey Duffy and two nieces, Jaycee and Serenitee Duffy and best friends, Beck and Robbie Snyder, all of Washington Court House.

The funeral will be Monday, February 14, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Cliff Rowe, pastor at the Philadelphia Fellowship in Chillicothe, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Waterloo Cemetery in Pancoastburg.

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

Big Show’s family suggests that everyone wear Harley-Davidson attire and jeans.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Virginia Simison, 91, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 2:12 a.m. at Court House Manor where she had been residing the since 2013.

Virginia was born November 11, 1930, in Washington Court House to Mervyn and Ethel LaMarr Moore.

She lived most of her life in this community where she formerly had been a nurse’s aide and a Record-Herald carrier.

Virginia enjoyed country music shows and loved reading, her pets and especially her family.

Virginia was preceded in death by the father of her children, Lee Simison, in 2011, and four sisters, Doris Kelly, Mabel Pyles, Corrine Watson and Maxine Parsell.

She is survived by two children, Jay Simison of Washington Court House and Lorri E. Jones and her husband, Robert, of Jamestown; nieces, Carole Carter of Yellow Springs, Marsha Townsend of Dayton and Debra (Doug) Roby of Urbana; a granddaughter, Andrea Morrison of Napoleon, OH and several great nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bloomingburg Cemetery with Danny Dodds, minister at the Greenfield Church of Christ, officiating.

Friends may call at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House Tuesday from 12 Noon until 1 p.m., at which time a prayer will be offered.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Johnda Joy Wilson, 87, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at her home.

Joy was born July 27, 1934, in Columbus, Ohio to William David and Nellie Saint Junk.  She was a graduate of Mt. Sterling High School and lived her early life in the Mount Sterling community.  She had lived throughout the world while her husband served in the United States Air Force and had moved to Washington Court House in 1972.

She was a homemaker and farm wife and had owned and operated Joy’s Quilting from 1986 to 2012.

She was a member of the Fayette County Commission on Aging and had formerly served on its board of directors.

On November 14, 1954, she married (Elmo) Earl Wilson.  He preceded her in death on September 8, 1998.  She was also preceded by a son, Lt. Col. Bret T. Wilson and two brothers, Webster D. and John Junk.

She is survived by three children, Tracy (Tate) Wilson and his wife, Mickey, of Washington Court House, Cheryl Mosley and her husband, Steve, of Hilliard and Susan Wilson and her fiancé, Coy Wright, of Stuart, FL; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Wilson of Georgia; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Lila Junk of Mt. Gilead, OH.

The funeral will be Friday, February 11, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Matt Brooks, pastor at the Grace United Methodist Church, 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.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Lidia Estefania Torres, 91, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Sunday, January 30, 2022, at 12:30 a.m. at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio in Columbus where she had been a patient since January 3.

Mrs. Torres was born January 16, 1931, at Arequipa, Peru in South America to Manuel and Julia Andrea Cabrera Quesada.  She moved to Washington Court House in 1998, from Florida.

Before her retirement in 2014, she had worked at Sugar Creek Packing Company for 16 years.

She attended St. Colman of Cloyne Catholic Church.  She was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for her family.

Mrs. Torres was preceded in death by her husband, German Torres in 2013, by two sons, Walter Torres and German Torres and a sister, Cristina Romani.

She is survived by four children, Wilfredo Torres of Arequipa, Peru, Walberto Torres of Boynton Beach, Florida, Jesus Rodriguez of Washington Court House and Maria Higa of Areguipa, Peru; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; a sister, Erika Quesada of Arequipa, Peru and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass will be celebrated Friday, February 4, 2022, at 12 NOON. at the St. Colman of Cloyne Catholic Church by the Rev. Father Cyrus Haddad, pastor at the church.

Friends may call at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House Thursday from 12 Noon until 6 p.m.  Cremation will follow with burial of the cremains in Peru.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Ronald Dean Ratliff, 80, of Greenfield, Ohio died Friday, January 28, 2022, at 4:52 p.m. at the Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe where he had been a patient since January 16.  He had been in failing health.

Ron was born September 17, 1941, in Stark County, Ohio to Chester Courtney and Doris Elizabeth Blatt Ratliff.  He was a 1959 graduate of Frankfort High School and attended Iowa State University where he played on the football team and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.  He was a graduate of Morehead State College where he was a member of the Campus Club and also played football.   Following graduation from college, he was an industrial arts teacher and football coach, for one year, at Washington High School.  He lived most of his life in Ross and Fayette Counties.

He was a lifelong farmer and specialized in farm real estate appraisals.  He was president of the Federal Land Bank Association in Washington Court House before retiring in 1980, after fifteen years of service.

Ron was a member of the Pisgah-Mount Pleasant Community Church; the American Association of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers; the Farm Bureau; PACI and the Ohio Top Farmers.  He was an original member of the Fayette County Memorial Hospital Foundation and later the Adena Fayette Medical Center Foundation of which he was a past treasurer and currently was serving as president.  He was a member and past president of the Washington Rotary Club and a trustee of the Hughey Trust.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Victor Ratliff.

Ron is survived by his wife, the former Nancy L. Acton, whom he married August 17, 1963; three children, Lamar Ratliff and his wife, Stephanie, of Fayette County; Mollie Byers and her husband, James, of Waynesville and Jill Mahan of Lexington, KY; six grandchildren, Emily Ratliff (Danny) Laird, Grant (Marissa) Ratliff, Becca Ratliff, John Byers, Dean Byers and Lane Mahan; a great grandson, Brooks Laird; six siblings, Larry Ratliff and his wife, Pam, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Frank Ratliff of Montana, Roberta Long and Connie Bryant and her husband, Wayne, of Ross County, Judy Rhoades of Fayette County and Brenda Tupper of Westerville and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Larry Snodgrass, pastor at the Pisgah-Mount Pleasant Community Church, officiating.  Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Frankfort.

Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Adena Fayette Medical Center Foundation, 9 South Paint Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Hazel Viola Gilstrap, 78, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 4:50 a.m. at Signature HealthCARE of Fayette County where she had been a patient since January 13.

Mrs. Gilstrap was born November 30, 1943, in Columbus, Ohio to Ernest Debrell and Versa LeMaster May.  She lived many years in Green Valley, AZ before moving to Washington Court House in 2018.

She had formerly been an assembler for IMB and Intel.

Mrs. Gilstrap was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Grant Gilstrap in 1988, and three siblings, Dan, Dave and Jim May.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Scott Merk of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; a son and daughter-in-law, Curtis and Tina Gilstrap of Pleasanton, TX; seven grandchildren; several great grandchildren; seven siblings, including Mary E. Clester of Washington Court House and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation will be observed 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

Donald Bruce Edwards, 87, of Wilmington, Ohio passed away Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek, Ohio.

He was born April 21, 1934, in Daytona Beach, Florida to the late Emory Sampson and Katie Louise (Singleton) Edwards. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Richard Allen Edwards; brothers, Warren, Russel, Robert, and Jack Edwards, and sisters Evelyn (Edwards) Kressman and Sue (Edwards) Marr.

Don lived the kind of life that left him with some incredible stories, and those will live on with family and friends. Reared in Daytona Beach, he found an early passion for the newspaper business by helping his brother sell newspapers. As he grew, he moved on to his own paper route then, while still in high school, to the position of copy boy at the Daytona Beach News-Journal. His dedication to the field of journalism and his love of photography followed him throughout his life.

He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1952, and put those skills to use in the remaining years of the Korean War. As a member of the Signal Corps, he was stationed in Massachusetts, Germany, and eventually Colorado, ending his time as the staff photographer for the Commanding General of the Army Air Defense Command.

Don believed news was a public service, but those entrusted with reporting had a duty to fairness and accuracy. He also had a strong belief in service to his community. Shortly after leaving the Army, he settled in southern Ohio, where he worked for newspapers in Greenfield, Hillsboro, and Washington Court House. In his time working for the Record-Herald, he assisted in the foundation of the Chrisman Award for student athletes, helped establish Eyman Park, and worked with the late Don Riber to help establish the Kiwanis Teen Talent show.

In his later years, he worked for Wilmington College in their student affairs department. As a dispatcher and clerk, he spent many evenings at the desk in the student center, where he provided judgment-free grandfatherly advice to any student in need and ended most conversations with one of his favorite phrases – “Glad you got to see me.” He touched the lives of many students while at WC, but he didn’t leave his journalism and photography skills behind. An avid Lady Quakers Basketball fan, he created an independent website for the team, following them through years of home and away games, tournaments, and a national championship. Along the way he made deep and lasting friendships, aggravated a few referees, and always loved the game.

He was a member of the American Legion Post #49 Wilmington and formerly Post #25 in Washington Court House, the VFW and the 40&8. He was a member of Bloomingburg Lodge #449 and Blanchester Lodge #191 F&AM, and Blanchester Chapter #153 of Royal Arch Masons. He was a past member of the Washington Court House Rotary, Washington Court House Kiwanis Club, and a Past District Chairman for Paint Valley District, Boy Scouts of America.

He is survived by his wife of 51-years, Kenna Jane (Summers) Edwards, of Wilmington, his son, Brook (Luann) Edwards and three grandchildren, Joseph, Thomas, and Christopher Edwards, all of Tiffin, Ohio. Also left to cherish his memory is his sister, Gloria (Edwards) Wilson of Mt. Juliet, TN, close friends, Nick Wiget, Jerry Scheve and Mark Denniston, as well as many other friends and family.

The family would like to thank Soin Medical Center for their care and support, which was invaluable.

A graveside service will be held Monday, January 31, 2022, at 1 p.m. in the Bloomingburg Cemetery with the Rev. Matt Brooks, pastor at the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.  A memorial service, at the convenience of the family, will follow in the future.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Betty Schaeffer Scholarship Fund, c/o Wilmington College, 1870 Quaker Way, Wilmington, OH 45177 or to your respective American Legion or VFW post in honor of all of those who have served.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com