Obituaries

Betty Jean Montgomery, 95, of Washington Court House, Ohio, died Sunday, January 29, 2023, at 4:40 a.m. at Court House Manor Nursing Home.

Betty was born October 30, 1927, in Gay, West Virginia to Fola and Gena Whiting Hart.  She moved to Washington Court House in1949, from Wilmington, Ohio.

She was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church.  She loved flowers and was an avid gardener.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Benson (Ben) Montgomery on May 26,1980, and a brother, Ray Hart.

She is survived by three children and their spouses, Jeannette and Robert Brubaker of Columbus, OH; Jeffrey and Laura Montgomery of Montgomery, AL and Jon and Kellie Montgomery of Georgetown, KY; eight grandchildren, Ben  (Laura) Brubaker, Anne (Andrew Schultz) Brubaker, Sarah (Kaylor) McCain, Anne (Richard) Ketcham, Matthew Montgomery, Faith (Quinn) Barnett, Daniel Montgomery and Jolie Montgomery; 11 great grandchildren; two sisters, Janet Wilson of TX and Dolly Holland of WV and several nieces and nephews, including Patricia Gall of Washington Court House.

In keeping with her wishes, cremation will take place.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Judy Chapel in Washington Cemetery, with Mell Wickensimer, director of visitation at the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial of the cremains will follow in Washington Cemetery under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

Memorial contributions may be made to the ProMedica Hospice, 208 North Fayette Street, or the Grace United Methodist Church, 301 East Market Street, Washington Court House, Ohio  43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Leonard Eugene “Lenny” Bach, 84, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 12 Noon at Four Seasons of Washington Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where he had been a resident since March 30, 2022.

Lenny was born March 7, 1938, in Circleville, Ohio to Eugene Burton and Jean Charlotte Seimer Bach.  He was a graduate of Washington High School and attended the Chillicothe branch of Ohio University.  He lived most of his life in this community.

Before his retirement, he was branch manager and vice president at Citizen Federal Savings and Loan in Washington Court House.

Lenny was a United States Navy veteran and a member of Paul H. Hughey Post #25 of the American Legion. He was also a member of the Washington Rotary Club.  He enjoyed camping, boating, skiing and fishing and spending time on their houseboat at Lake Cumberland.

On June 4,1960, he married the former Wanda Faye Johnson.  She preceded him in death on November 19, 2017.

He is survived by three children and their spouses, Sheila and Steven Troute of Jeffersonville, Barry and Lori Bach of Washington Court House and Terry and Glen Satchell of Clifton; five grandchildren, Alaina Garrett and her husband, James, Lindsey Satchell, Ashley Satchell, Brittan Bach and Brady Bach; four great grandchildren, Nathaniel, Braylen, Beckett and Jackson Bach; a sister and brother-in-law, Edith and Jim Kirk of Washington Court House; a brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Penny Bach of Pentwater, MI and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ronda and Phil Grace of Dothan, AL.

Lenny’s family will observe a private family service.  There will be no calling hours.

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

Dana Ralph Crespino, 68, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 12:09 a.m. at Court House Manor where he had been a resident since July 15, 2021.

Dana was born April 26, 1954, in West Point, NY to Ralph and Janice Krokum Crespino.  He lived most of his life in Satellite Beach, FL before moving to Washington Court House in 2019.

He was formerly owner and operator of Jungle Works, a tropical themed construction company.

Dana was an avid fisherman and had a passion for creating things.

Dana was preceded in death by his wife, the former Virginia L Springer on February 7, 2019, and a sister, Blythe Helsema.

He is survived by three children, Kylie Lanman and her husband, Justin of Washington Court House, Aaron K. Crespino of Columbus and Jennifer Semple and her husband, John, of Blacklick, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Liam Lanman, Hayden, Loreli and Maura Crespino, Doug Fawcett, Skyler Bullock and Alexyss Bullock and two sisters, Laurie Stealey of Palm Bay, FL and Doria Crespino of Indiana Harbor Beach, FL.

“I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.”  2 Timothy 4-7.  It was God’s Grace that enabled Dana to fight the good fight and finish the race.  Now, because of his hope in Jesus, he is rejoicing in heaven with his savior and loved ones who have gone before him.

Dana leaves behind a legacy of love and passion for life.  He lived a life of adventure, creativity, and hard work.  His vibrant and steady personality brought light and laughs to his loved ones, imprinting memories to last a lifetime.

At his request, cremation took place.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 12 Noon at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Pastor Jay Lucas, minister at the Grace Community Church, officiating.  An additional memorial service will be held at a later date in Florida.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a cause that was important to Dana, The ALS Association, 1300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, VA  22209.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Janet Karlet, 101, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully at her residence while surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

Janet Juanita was born October 6, 1921, at Atlanta in Pickaway County, Ohio.  She was the daughter of McKinley and Doris Kelley Kirkpatrick.  She was a 1939 graduate of Atlanta High School and lived most of her life in Long Island, New York and Washington Court House.  In high school she rode horses and played basketball and her parents would take her to Columbus frequently to watch the OSU basketball games.  She was a lifelong OSU Buckeye fan.  After graduation she moved from the farm to Washington Court House.  As a young person, she studied voice and was often asked to sing at private events around Washington Court House.

She was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church and had been a member of the Washington Country Club and the Cecilians Music Club.  The family business of harness horse racing took her on many travels to the East and West coasts.  She attended the Little Brown Jug, of which her father was a founding director, every year since its inception in 1946.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, George Edward Cobb and Frank Karlet.

Janet is survived by three children, Natalie Wentworth of Columbus, Corinne McCandless and her husband, Gary, of Howell, NJ and Edward Cobb, II and his wife, Jacqueline, of Greenfield; step sons, Lynn Karlet and his wife, Mary, of Scottsdale, AZ and Jimmy Karlet of Toledo, OH; step daughter, Roxanne Ward and her husband, Tim, of Monclova, OH; nine grandchildren, Michelle Wentworth and her husband, Andrew Grabowski, Nicole DelRisco and her husband, Federico, Edward Cobb, III, Christopher Cobb and his wife, Amanda, Karin Darlington and her husband, Kevin, Debbie Morning and her husband, John, Micah Ward and his wife, Jessica, John David (JD) Baker and April Maynard and her husband, Duane; seven great grandchildren, Noah and Noelle Wentworth, Sophia DelRisco, Lexi and Aubree Darlington, Ella Morning and Brittany Maynard and many Kirkpatrick cousins.

Friends may call at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House on Sunday, January 22, 2023, from 2-4 p.m.

The funeral will be Monday, January 23, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Jim Blair officiating.  There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service on Monday.  Burial will be in the Washington Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 North Oakland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160 or the Atlanta United Methodist Church c/o Jaime Heath, 24960 Moler Road, Williamsport, Ohio 43164.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Ernest Lewis Lynch, Jr., 70, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 2:52 p.m. at Signature HealthCARE of Fayette County where he had been residing the past year.

Ernest was born October 7, 1952, in Fayette County, Ohio to Ernest Lewis and Georgia Jemimah Sexton Lynch and was a lifelong resident of this community.

Before his retirement in 2019, he had worked at Sugar Creek Packing Company for 47 years.

On November 25, 1973, he married the former Sharon Kay Ramey.  She preceded him in death on February 7, 2019.  He was also preceded by his parents and seven siblings.

Ernest is survived; three children, Ernest L. Lynch, III of Angleton, TX, Loretta Lynch and Phoebe Bradshaw, both of Washington Court House; two grandchildren, Blake Bradshaw and his fiancée, Haley Whitehead, and Cheyanne Bradshaw; a brother, Harold Locey of Columbus, GA and a sister, Connie Spillman of Washington Court House.

The funeral will be Monday, January 9, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Matt Kysor officiating.  Burial will follow in the Sabina Cemetery.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Marion Francis “Buck” Kingery, 86, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Monday, January 2, 2023, at 8:28 a.m. at his home.

Buck was born September 26,1936, in Fayette County, Ohio to Kenneth K. and Garnet Corrine Happenny Kingery.  He was a lifelong resident of this community.

He worked at Colonial Stair in Jeffersonville for 43 years and then at Tony’s Welding in Washington Court House.

Buck attended the Jeffersonville Family Community Church.

On May 22, 1957, he married the former Mary Jean Tolle.  She preceded him in death on March 26, 2016.  He was also preceded by a son, Kenneth Walter Kingery; a daughter, Marilyn Elliott; son-in-law, Richard Henry and sister, Vera Joann Cline.

Buck is survived by four children, Vickie Henry, Rebecca Lyons, Bruce (Tammy) Kingery and Bryce Kingery, all of Fayette County; 16 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; several great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Friday, January 6, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Wayne Combs, associate pastor at the Solid Rock Church of God in Greenfield, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Highlawn Cemetery.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Norma Jean Hart, 98, of Bloomingburg, Ohio died Friday, December 30, 2022, at 12:50 p.m. shortly after arrival at the Fayette Adena Medical Center.  She was currently a resident of Carriage Court Assisted Living in Washington Court House.

Norma Jean was born December 13, 1924, in Pickaway County, Ohio to John Wesley and Mabel Rebecca (Bowdle) Hurtt.  She was a 1944 graduate of New Holland High School and had lived most of her life in Bloomingburg.

She formerly worked at the Jackson Glove Factory, Aeronautical Products, Inc. and Morris’ 5 & 10.  She then became a homemaker to rear her sons.

Norma Jean attended the Bloomingburg United Methodist Church and was much beloved by the community and her family.

On November 24, 1946, she married Victor Thornton Hart, Jr.  He preceded her in death on September 27, 1999.  She was also preceded by a grandson, Jonathan Thornton Hart on January 23, 1991, and a brother Robert Edward Hurtt on November 5, 2011.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard E. and Diane Mertz-Hart of Smithtown, Long Island, NY and Keith and Robin Hart of Washington Court House; six grandchildren, Emily Hart, Olivia (Mikell Padgett) Hart, Mitchell (Samantha Ross) Hart, Jacob (Daniella Straathof) Hart, Sarah (Mark Harvey) Hart and Rachel (Daniel Mrozowski) Hart, and five great-grandchildren, Kendall Jo Bennett, Kyra Paige Bennett, Estelle Victoria Mertz Harvey, Graydon James Harvey and Augustus Martin Hart.

The funeral will be Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Rebekah Milstead officiating.  Burial will follow in the Bloomingburg Cemetery.

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

Donations can be made to a favorite charity in Norma Jean’s memory.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Janet Louise Kelley, 94, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Saturday, December 24, 2022, at 1:14 a.m. at Court House Manor Nursing Home where she had been residing since 2014.  She had been declining several years but had been extremely ill since November.

Janet was born May 16, 1928, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Everett Earl and Geneva Mae Swisshelm Hodson.  She was a 1946 graduate of Washington High School and was a lifelong resident of this community.

She met and married her beloved husband, Ivan G. Kelley, on June 1, 1946. He preceded her in death on January 3, 1981.  She was also preceded by her brother, Richard Hodson and brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Shirley Minshall.

She was a clerk for the Fayette County Clerk of Courts for 25 years before her retirement in 1988.

Janet was a member of the First Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir and was active in all activities in her church.  At church potlucks, and all family gatherings, all would race quickly to the front of the line to get a spoonful of her famous potato salad or a piece of her freshly-baked butterscotch pie.  Those recipes will be passed to future generations of the Kelley family!

Janet is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel C. and Donna Kelley and David L. and Patty Kelley, all of Washington Court House; five grandchildren, Cameron (Sandra) Kelley of Cincinnati, Cory (Katherine) Kelley of Franklin, TN, Kyler (Sarah) Kelley, Ty (Cheri) Kelley and Travis (Hallie) Kelley, all of Washington Court House; eight great grandchildren, Caroline and Clara Kelley of Cincinnati, OH, Kennedy and McKinley Kelley and Mason and Brynlee Kelley, all of Washington Court House and Charley Mae and Cooper Kelley of Franklin, Tennessee; a sister-in-law; Marjorie Hodson of Beavercreek and a step-sister, Helen Sollars of Bloomingburg.

The funeral will be Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Todd Maurer, minister of senior ministries at Southside Church of Christ and a longtime friend of the family, officiating.  Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 12 p.m. (noon) Wednesday until time of the service.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuenralhome.com

Christie Jo “Chrissy” Wilt, 41, of Bloomingburg, Ohio passed away Wednesday, December 21, 2022, at 6:25 p.m. while   surrounded by her family at the Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe where she had been a patient one day.

Christie was born January 21,1981, in Clinton County, Ohio to Paul Allen and Carolyn Rose “Rosie” Erbaugh Whittington, Jr.   She was a 1999 graduate of East Clinton High School and received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from the College of Agriculture at The Ohio State University and later earned a master’s degree from OSU.

She joined the Miami Trace School district in 2006, and currently was serving as Credit Flex Director for the district.  As an educator, she greatly impacted the lives of those around her as she perfected the art of balancing many great qualities.  She was loving, kind, positive, encouraging, firm and unequivocally dedicated to the success of her students..

Christie was a member of the Bloomingburg United Methodist Church. She formerly was an advisor for the Blue Ribbon Champs 4-H Club and continued to stay involved with her kid’s 4-H activities.  She loved showing cattle on the local, state and national levels.  She was an avid gardener and enjoyed flowers.  One of her favorite things was driving her jeep, with the top down, on sunny days.  But her greatest passion was helping people and assisting her students to make sure they graduated from high school.  As her final act of kindness, she was a participant in the Lifeline of Ohio organ and tissue donor program and generously gave the gift of life to others.

She was preceded in death by her mother on December 22, 2020.  She was also preceded by her paternal grandfather, Paul A. Whittington, Sr. and maternal grandparents, Harold and Flora Rose Erbaugh.

She is survived by her husband, Matthew L. “Matt” Wilt whom she married September 21, 2002; three children, August Whittington “Gus” Wilt, Jocie Lynn Wilt and Clinton Matthew Wilt; her father, Paul A. Whittington, Jr. of Sabina; four sisters, Carrie Hogue and her husband, Jon, of Circleville, Candie Glover and her husband, David, of Marion, IL, Cassie Whittington of Grandview, OH and Cherie Campbell and her husband, Nick, of New Holland; her maternal grandmother, Betty L. Whittington of Sabina; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jerry and Jeanne Wilt of Bloomingburg and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Christie’s family will greet friends at the Mahan Building on the Fayette County Fairgrounds beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2023.   A brief celebration of life service, led by the Rev. Phillip Webb, pastor at the Bloomingburg United Methodist Church, will begin at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a time of food and fellowship.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christie J. Wilt Scholarship Fund, c/o Miami Trace High School, 3818 State Route 41-NW, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.  Checks should be made out to the Miami Trace Local School District with “Christie Wilt Memorial” written on the memo line.

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

kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

 Paul Roger Minshall, 84, of New Holland, Ohio passed away Monday, December 19, 2022, at 2:15 p.m. at his home.  He had been in failing health.

Paul was born December 26, 1937, in Fayette County, Ohio to James Carl and Dorothy Helen Mitchem Minshall.  He was a lifelong resident of the New Holland community where he was a retired farmer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James A. “Jake” Minshall on June 14, 2020, and a sister, Sarah J. Shortreed on August 3, 2020.

He is survived by his loving wife, the former Carol Jean Wolfe whom he married October 10, 1959; his children, Rita (Mike) Miller of Madison Mills, OH, Tammie Monroe of Washington Court House, Dan (Tracy) Minshall and Kathy (Joe) Seymour, all of New Holland; eight grandchildren, Andrea (Dereck) Reedy, Brian (Nikki) Miller, Amanda Monroe, Zach (Taylor) Monroe, Trevor Seymour, Makayla Seymour, Danniel Minshall and Jordan Minshall; several great grandchildren; a brother, Carl “Sam” Minshall of New Holland; a sister-in-law, Trudy (David) Seymour of Washington Court House; special niece, Hollie Terhune; special friends, Arnold and Joyce Dawson of Jackson and many other relatives, friends and neighbors.

The funeral will be Thursday, December 22, 2022, at 12 Noon at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland with Larry Stiles, former minister at the New Holland Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial will follow in the New Holland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home in New Holland Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Holland Church of Christ, P.O. Box 166, New Holland, Ohio 43145.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com