Obituaries

(Haskel) Ray Ferguson, 79, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Sunday, January 16, 2022, at 2:42 a.m. at the Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe where he had been admitted the previous day.

Ray was born February 5, 1942, in Ross County, Ohio to Haskel Rufus and Rena Belle Day Ferguson. He had lived in Washington Court House most of his life.

Before his retirement in 1991, he had been a machine operator at Cincinnati Milacron for 30 years.  Following his retirement, he cleaned carpets for several years.

He enjoyed bluegrass and gospel music, weight lifting and being with his family.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Janice Haynes, Joyce Reser, Kay Collins, Ruth Long and Paul Ferguson.

He is survived by his companion of 30 years, Sue Templin; three children, Kimberly Greene and her husband, Ron, of Westerville, Kathy Ferguson of Washington Court House and Keith Wright and his wife, Emma, of Albany, OH; seven grandchildren, Liz, Katie and Nick Greene, Kristin (Kevin) Knisley, Jake Hynes, Taylor (Dalton) Dean and Makayla Gentry; seven great grandchildren; four sisters, Jean Poole, Betty Deskins and her husband, Robert “Butch”, and Carolyn Self and her husband, John, all of Washington Court House and Marilyn Jester and her husband, James, of Elkhart, IN and numerous nieces and nephews.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation will be observed.

A private graveside service will be held in the Washington Cemetery under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Rodney K. Acton, 87, of Washington Court House, Ohio died peacefully at his home at 9:20 p.m. on Friday, January 14, 2022.

Rodney was born April 8, 1934, at Frankfort in Ross County, Ohio to Roger Cory and Melba Ruth Garrison Acton.

He was a housing authority inspector for Fayette County and owner of the Line Shack Saloon.

Rodney was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.

He was preceded in death by a son, Douglas Cory Acton in 2003; a granddaughter, Kathryn Marie McPherson; his parents and a sister, Judith Dennis Johnson.

Rodney is survived by his wife, the former Mary Frances Waters whom he married March 29, 1957; a daughter, Marie Lynne McPherson and her husband, Greg, of West Jefferson; two granddaughters, Alyson McPherson of Denver, CO and Emily McPherson Havak and her husband, Michael, of Hilliard and a great grandson, Mackenzie Gerald Havak.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation will be observed.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date with burial of the cremains in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Frankfort.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

George W. List, 88, of Circleville, Ohio died Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 6:36 a.m. at the Brown Memorial Home in Circleville where he had been admitted the previous day.

George was born May 9, 1933, in Pickaway County.  He was a graduate of Jackson Township High School at Fox in Pickaway County and was a lifelong resident of Pickaway County.

He had worked 28 years in production at Owens-Illinois, Inc. which later became Georgia Pacific Corp.  He retired in 1998.  He had also been a farm worker and drove a school bus for the former Jackson Township schools in Pickaway County.

George was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Circleville; a 50-year member of Heber Lodge F. & A.M. #501 in Williamsport and was a United States Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.

He was the last of his siblings.

George is survived by his wife, the former Lynn Wallace whom he married July 25,1970; a daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Kristopher Knue of Circleville; three grandchildren, Andrew Knue and his wife, Caitlin Hayes, of Columbus, Nickolas Knue and his wife, Cierra, of Grove City and Gracie Knue of Circleville and several nieces and nephews.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation will be observed and no visitation or service will be held at this time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, 135 East Mound Street, Circleville, Ohio 43113.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Edwin Dwight Taylor, 84, of New Holland, Ohio, died Thursday, January 6, 2021, at 10:15 a.m. at the Grant Medical Center in Columbus where he had been a patient since January 1.

Edwin was born March 9, 1937, in Delaware, Ohio to Dwight Arthur and Nelle Ambrose Taylor.  He was a 1955 graduate of Olentangy High School and received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the College of Agriculture at The Ohio State University.  He was the recipient of the FFA American Farmer Degree.  He moved to Circleville in 1960, and served as the Pickaway County 4-H Extension Agent from 1960-1964.  He had resided in New Holland since 1963.

In 1984, he began working for the USDA Farm Service Agency in price support and as a district director.  He retired from the USDA in 2006.  He was a lifelong farmer, starting his career with his father.  Ed had a passion for agriculture, growing crops, raising cattle and hogs and providing food.

Ed was an active member of the New Holland United Methodist Church; the Pickaway County Farmer’s Club and the Pickaway County Farm Bureau.  He was a member and past president of the New Holland Lions Club and had served eight years in the Ohio National Guard.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Christine Ann Taylor Braun on September 22, 2015; a brother-in-law, Ralph W. Getz; a niece, Tamara Nelle Getz-Warren and his parents.

Ed is survived by his wife, the former Patricia “Pat” Kay Beardslee whom he married June 12,1960; a son and daughter-in-law, Arthur and Nellie Taylor of New Holland; a son-in-law, Dr. James Braun of Fort Collins, CO; three grandchildren, Katherine Braun Langford and her husband, Mark, and Clayton and Nathan Taylor; a sister, Charlene Getz of Monroeville, PA; nieces and nephews, Janice and David Simeone of Monroeville, PA, Wayne and Kelli Getz of Delphos, OH and John H. Warren, III of Solebury Township, PA. and five great nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at the New Holland United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeffrey Jewell, pastor at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the New Holland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church Saturday, January 15, 2022, from 10 a.m. until time of the service.

Memorial contribution may be made to the New Holland United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Nikki Sheets, 154 East Front Street, New Holland, Ohio 43145 or the Edwin and Patricia Family Scholarship Fund (for students majoring in agriculture or dietetics), 14205 Clarksburg Pike, New Holland, Ohio 43145.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Mary Sexton Marchant, 95, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Friday, January 7, 2022, at 9:35 a.m. at her home.  She had been in failing health

Mary was born January 25, 1926, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Charles Virgil and Bessie A. Warner Sexton.  She was a graduate of Washington High School and received a bachelor’s degree in education from the Bowling Green State University.  She was also a registered nurse and received her training at Kettering College.  She was a lifelong resident of this community.

She formerly was a teacher at Jeffersonville school and later was a substitute teacher.  She worked as a registered nurse at the Chillicothe Veterans Administration Medical Center and had been an EMT and was a founding member of the Fayette County Life Squad.

Mary was a member of the First Presbyterian Church; had been a member of the board of directors of the Paint Valley Council of the Campfire Girls and had also served as a leader; was a founding organizer of Meals on Wheels; was Master Gardener and an avid backyard gardener; she enjoyed cross stitching and was a longtime season subscriber to the Cincinnati Symphony.

She was preceded in death a daughter and son-in-law, Jayne Marchant and Scott Haslam in 1992; her parents; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Edward W. and Gladys Sexton and Charles V. and Carol Sexton; a sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Robert Olinger and a sister-in-law, Marie Marchant.

Mary is survived by her husband, Rollo M. Marchant whom she married December 22, 1948; three daughters, Teresa Voegeli and her husband, George, of Brighton, MI; Ann Marchant and her partner, Russell Anderson, of Philomath, OR and Nancy Marchant and her husband, Mark James, of Medina, OH; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A private family service will be held Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with the Rev. Steve Brand, pastor at the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the Washington Cemetery.

A public visitation will be held Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 214 North Hinde Street or Ohio’s Hospice of Fayette County, 222 North Oakland Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

In order to ensure the safety of everyone, Mary’s family respectfully requests that all visitors wear masks.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Betty Jean Eakins, 91, of Washington Court House, Ohio, died Monday, January 3, 2022, in Columbus.

Betty was born November 20, 1930, in Highland County, Ohio to Mora and Elosie Curry Coss.  She was a graduate of Leesburg High School and Wilmington College and had lived most of her life in Fayette County.

Before her retirement, she had been an elementary school teacher for 40 years.  She began teaching at Wayne Elementary School in Good Hope, then taught several years at Belle-Aire Elementary School. but the majority of her teaching career was at Cherry Hill Elementary School.  She and her husband owned and operated the Courtview Restaurant in Washington Court House from 1960 until 2014.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Eakins on November 16, 1984.

Betty is survived by a daughter, Lana Eakins and her husband, Mike Pope, and two grandchildren, Landen and Liam Pope, all of Orient, Ohio.  Also surviving is a sister, Loretta Stuckey; a niece, Marisa Smith and a nephew, Terry Stuckey, all of Washington Court House.

The funeral will be Friday, January 7, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Mell Wickensimer, director of visitation at the Grace United Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial will follow in Highlawn Cemetery

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Karen Sue Peters, 70, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Saturday, January 1, 2022, at 4:35 a.m. at Signature HealthCARE of Fayette County where she had been residing since September of 2020.

Karen was born September 27,1951, in Knox County, Ohio to Darrell and Betty Hardy Saunders.  She lived most of her life in this community.

She formerly was an aide at the Orient State Institute.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Rodney Saunders and Neil Saunders; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joshua and Ora Peters; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Elmer, Lawrence “Butch,” and Jack Peters, Raymond Bills and Clarence Cruse, Donna and Ruth Peters, Barbara and James Rhoads and Genevieve Smith.

She is survived by her husband, John H. Peters whom she married May 29, 1981; a brother, Rickey A. Saunders of Lebanon, OH; sisters-in-law, Joan Bills, Louise Cruse and Alice Peters and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Todd Maurer, involvement minister at the South Side Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 12:00 Noon Wednesday until time of the service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

L. Russell Klontz, 85, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, December 30, 2021, at his home. His death was sudden and unexpected.

Russell was born June 11, 1936, at Octa in Fayette County, Ohio to Eugene Russell and Frances Lorene Harper Klontz.  He was a 1954 graduate of Washington High School, attended The Ohio State University and a lifelong resident of this community.

Before his retirement, he had worked in quality control and purchasing at Armco for 40 years.

He attended the Grace United Methodist Church; was a member of Jefferson Lodge #468 F. & A.M. in Jeffersonville; 32^nd, Degree Masons, Valley of Columbus; Aladdin Temple Shrine; Washington Shrine Club; Washington Court House Lodge #129 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and was a member of the auxiliaries of Paul H. Hughey Post #25 of the American Legion and O.E. Hardway Post #3762 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He enjoyed gardening, home improvement projects and being with his family.

On November 15, 1956, he married the former Natalie McLean.  She preceded him in death on April 4, 2014.  He was also preceded by two sons, Keith Russell Klontz in 1960, and Kevin Ryan Klontz in 2011; a grandson, Keith Russell Klontz in 2015, and a brother, Roger Klontz.

He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law,  Kurt and Sherie Klontz of West Chester, Ohio; a daughter and son-in-law, Karin and Duane Litteral of New Holland; nine grandchildren, Katie (Tim) Karwatske, Becky (Ryan) Bernard, Kara (Mark) White, Kalyn (Aubrey) Sarna, Kyle (Julia) Klontz, Marissa (Ren) Lawwell, Allison Rife, Gretchen Rife and Kenneth Klontz and 13 great grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Vernon and Sandra Klontz of Circleville; a sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Gary Herdman of Sabina and several nieces and nephews..

The funeral will be Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House with Russell’s granddaughter, the Rev. Becky Bernard, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Milledgeville-Plymouth Cemetery.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children; c/o the Washington Shrine Club, P.O. Box 164, Washington Court House, Ohio  43160 or a charity of the donor’s choice.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Wanda P. Taylor, 96, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Monday, December 27, 2021, at 6:02 p.m. at Court House Manor where she had been residing since September 19, 2019.

Wanda was born July 18, 1925, at Williamsport in Pickaway County, Ohio to Clarence E. and Zelma Mae Donahue Conaway.  She was a 1943 graduate of Bloomingburg High School where she was class poet.

She had worked at Aeronautical Products, Inc. in Washington Court House and had served as a supervisor at Western Electric in Columbus.

She recent years she attended the Church of Christ on State Route 38 and formerly had been an active member of the First Christian Church where she was a member of the Martha Guild and the Good Fellowship Class.  She also was a Bible school teacher; taught ten years in the primary department; was assistant director of the Sunlight Chorus for 16 years and was a member of the Memorial Fund Committee.  She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Paul H. Hughey Post #25 of the American Legion and a life member of the Fayette County Historical Society.  She formerly was a member of the Washington Country Club and the Ladies Golf Association; the Eagles Lodge Auxiliary and the Fayette County Humane Society.  She had served on the board of directors of the Fayette County Unit of the American Cancer Society and was information and special events chair.  Her pet project was “Send A Mouse to College” for which she received the state award for raising the most money per capita for the project.

On March 9, 1962, she married James Talmadge (Pappy) Taylor.  He preceded her in death on December 11, 1996.  She was also preceded by five brothers, Orville, Alfred, Clarence, Bill and Robert Conaway and four sisters, Ruby Kingery, Jean Mendenhall, Franke Souther and Opal Anderson.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald Craig and Donna Knisley of Leesburg. OH; a daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia “Susie” and Dennis Knisely of High Springs, FL; four granddaughters, Shana Brooke Knisley and Julie, Jenni and Jill Knisely; a great granddaughter, Abbey Yoder; a brother, Stan Conaway of Mount Sterling and numerous loving nieces and nephews.,

The funeral will be Friday, December 31, 2021, 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 New Holland Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House Friday from 11:30 a.m. until time of the service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Charoula Dontopoulos, 81, of Williamsport, Ohio died Sunday, December 26, 2021, at 9:45 a.m. at her home.

Charoula was born March 1, 1940, in Athens, Greece to Gianni and Agalaia Dontopoulos. She moved to the United States in 1957, and was a graduate of Vassar College where she majored in art history and political science.  She also studied at the Institute of Holistic Health Careers in Columbus.  She was a dual citizen of Greece and the United States and spoke four languages.

She was an herbalist/holistic health educator and an integrative practitioner.  She also enjoyed gardening.

Charoula is survived by her partner of 59 years, Gail Ellen Dunlap of Williamsport; a sister and brother-in-law, Glory and Christos Rossakis of Athens, Greece and other relatives and friends in the Williamsport community.

In keeping with her wishes, cremation will take place.

A private celebration of her life will be observed by her family.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com