Obituaries

Mila Kay Weatherly Schlichter, 87, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 23, 2024, after a brief illness.

Mila was born July 28, 1936, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Alfred Ernest “Hap” and (Claudia) Wilma Boughton Weatherly. She was a lifelong resident of this community and member of the WCH Grace Methodist Church in Washington Court House.

In addition to raising her children and assisting with running the farm, Mila enjoyed working in retail fashion at Lazarus and later Marshall Fields. Mila was a volunteer for many years at Fayette Memorial Hospital and, as a breast cancer survivor herself, helped many who were newly diagnosed.

She was preceded in death by her parents and children, Dawn King Ewer and John Max Schlichter II, and her sister, Toni Waters.

Mila is survived by her son, Arthur E. Schlichter, six grandchildren, Kristopher and his wife, Courtlyn; Bethany and her husband Thomas; John (Trey) and his wife Elizabeth; Miles; Taylor and her husband Daniel; Madison and her husband Kenneth; seven great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly, her beloved daughter-in-law, Debbie, and special friend, Penny.

Funeral services will be private. Friends and family may express their condolences through cards in care of Kirkpatrick Funeral Home, 554 Washington Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

John Edward Link, 82, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 3:45 a.m. at home, surrounded by his loving family. He had courageously fought cancer since 2017, rarely complaining, and always wearing that infamous smile, throughout his entire journey.

John was born January 8, 1942, in Chicago, IL the son of John Sebastian and June Veita (Marchand) Link. After Graduating from Arlington Heights High School in 1960, John attended the University of Wisconsin (Whitewater Division), then transferring to graduate from Michigan State University in 1965, with a BA in Restaurant and Hotel Management. John also proudly served in the Marines (Camp Lejeune) from 1965-1971 as a Sergeant; always living true to their creed “Conquering all obstacles, both large and small, I shall never quit.”

John met his “soulmate for life” while having a snowball fight at MSU; Mary Opdyke. “You know when you know” … they met in May 1965, were engaged in June of 1965, and married March 26, 1966. Fifty-eight years later, with multiple homes in multiple states, three children, an extraordinarily successful business, traveling from coast to coast and through it all a love for God and fulfilling his greatest dream, to have a family with love in it.

John was a member and started many committees throughout his years; always with a passion to “serve others”; St. Andrews Episcopal Church (All Saints) – Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Vestry Member, Treasurer, Eucharist Assistant, President of the Proctor Conference Center Board; Symposiarch’s (The Order); Fayette County Finance Club; Venison Deer Club; Washington Court House County Club.

John was most proud of his family and the business he had built through innovation, determination, and nurtured relationships over decades of tireless work. B & B Creative Marketing started as B & B Food Sales in 1978, in Detroit MI. After spending and seeing the tremendous amount of Pizza and Italian potential in the OH market, John and Mary moved their family to Washington Court House in 1984. At that point John became known for his bold ideas and “outside the box” thinking… building a legendary legacy that his children try to live up to. Over the years John brought PREMIUM Wisconsin cheese to the region, brought his concept of high-quality PREMADE pizza dough to life and was instrumental in helping to bring sliced pepperoni to the market as well. Thousands of customers have benefited from his tireless efforts over the years. The pride John’s family feels in his ground-breaking concepts for the Pizza/Italian industry over the past decades is untouchable.

He is survived by his wife; Mary (Opdyke) Link; daughter; Leah (Keith) Foster of Washington Court House; son, Jason (Carrie) Link of Powell OH; grandchildren; Lynn (Josh) Foster-Dawson; Erik (Zoe Miller) Foster, Elizabeth (Ella) Link; John Jason (JJ) Link and Alyson Foster; sister-in-law, Jean Link; nephew; Jeremy (Kaetlyn) Link; niece, Jessica (Sean) Duffy, a special “sister” by choice; Marilyn Wootton, God daughter Christin Bracken and NUMEROUS exceptional life-long friends and colleagues that helped mold him into the loyal, kind, determined and God Loving man he proudly was.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James Link and his son, Eric Neil Link; his “brother” by choice; George Wootton and a lifetime of special furry family members; Pahoo, Magpie, Mandy, Molly and Largo.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation was observed,.

A celebration of Life service, to which all are  invited, will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Crossroads Christian Church, in Washington Court House, OH.  John’s family will greet friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Emergency Services, 115 East Temple Street, in appreciation for the many times they assisted John; the Crossroads Christian Church, 175 Halliday Drive, or the Fayette Regional Humane Society, 4 Commercial Avenue, Washington Court House, Ohio  43160.

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

“Remember me with smiles and laughs for that is how I will remember all of you.”

SEMPER FI

Virginia M. “Ginger” Shipley, 77, of New Holland, Ohio died Monday, May 20, 2024, at 6:22 p.m. at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus where she had been a patient one day.

Ginger was born October 21, 1946, in Columbus, Ohio to Wilbert Charles and Mildred Erskins Benedum.  She moved to Washington Court House in1960, from Columbus and was a 1964 graduate of Washington High School.  She had lived in the New Holland community since 1969.

She was a member of the New Holland United Methodist Church where she had taught Sunday school and often delivered the children’s message.  She also assisted with vacation Bible school. She loved to sing and listen to music.  She formerly served as mayor of New Holland and had been a volunteer at the New Holland school.  She loved to crochet and made many afghans for family, friends, weddings, births and graduations.  She always had an open ear to listen and would do anything she could to help.  She was honest, even if you didn’t want to hear it.  She was an amazing wife, mom, grandma, and friend.  She loved kids and was a “nanny” to many.

She was preceded in death by her parents and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Grover and Helen Shipley.

Ginger is survived by her husband of 56-years, Grover Richard “Dick” Shipley, Jr., three children and their spouses, Victoria and David Climer of Washington Court House, Charles and Cheri Shipley of Bloomingburg and  Kimberly and Dennis Bick of Washington Court House, six grandchildren, Jennifer Taylor, Samantha (Greg) Barbour, Nicholas Dresch, Trey Climer, Tori (Chris) Wehner and Ginna Climer; eight great grandchildren, Ian Taylor, Lexi Scott, Lane Scott, Leo Dresch, Aubreyann Taylor, Evelyn Dresch, Gwendolyn Wehner and Haley Barbour; two sisters, Mary Ellen (David) Kinkel of Kearneysville, WV and Nancy Benedum of Pickerington, several nieces and nephews and many friends.

The funeral will be Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in New Holland with the Rev. Linda Crew, pastor at the New Holland Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the New Holland Cemetery.  A time of food and fellowship, at the New Holland Methodist Church, will follow the graveside service.

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

Memorial contributions may be made St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or The Arbor Day Foundation, 211 North 12^th Street, Lincoln, NE 62508.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Floyd E. “Pete” Redding, 79, of New Holland, Ohio died Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 3:32 a.m. at his home.  He had been in failing health.

Pete was born September 9, 1944, in Franklin County, Ohio to Floyd Woodrow and Betty Mae Boyd Redding.  He lived most of his life in the New Holland community.

He formerly was a construction worker and farmer and had owned and operated Redding Disposal.

Pete enjoyed square dancing and took special delight in sneaking up on people and scaring the daylight out of them.

In 1965, he married Viola Southward, and then went on to marry the former Jean Ann Brown on February 4, 1995.  She preceded him in death on September 25, 2000.  He was also preceded in by six siblings, Alberta, Verner, Annabelle and William “Bill” Redding, Carolyn Pence and Lily Self.

He is survived by three children, Patrick Redding and his wife, Debbie, of New Holland, Melisa Ailing and her husband, Jeff, of Mount Sterling, Floyd E “Petey” Redding, Jr. and his fiancée, Michelle Campbell, of New Holland; three stepchildren, Charles M. “Jay” Sanderson of Florida,  Mark A. Sanderson of New Holland and Pamela Camp and her husband, Brian, of Washington Court House; ten grandchildren, Serena (Wesley) Huddleson, Patrick (Stephany) Redding, Brittany (Charles Parks) Redding, Tiffany Streitenberger, Leagh (Cody Knapp) Redding, Lexy Redding, Isiah Dunn, Tyler (Jessica) Strahler, Skyler (Kalila) Strahler and Hayden Ailing and Erica Wilson who was reared as a granddaughter; several great grandchildren, step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; six siblings, Elizabeth Pence of New Holland,  Thelma Redding of Washington Court House, Clark (Susan) Redding of Atlanta, Sherman (Danna) Redding of New Holland, Lucretia (Clarence Lunsford) Bethel of Frankfort and Berniece (Larry) Perkins of Sedalia, brothers-in-law, Chuck Pence of Atlanta and Eddie Bethel of Chillicothe; a sister-in-law, Mary Redding of Kentucky and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the New Holland Church of Christ in Christian Union with Larry Doss, minister at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Waterloo Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church from 11 a.m. Saturday until the time of the service.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Pauline Bryant, 76, of Washington Court House, Ohio left this life Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 2:40 a.m. at Adena Fayette Medical Center following a long courageous battle with cancer.

Pauline was born June 29, 1947, in Washington Court House, Ohio to Earl and Helen Slager Bryant. She was a 1965 graduate of Clarksburg High School and lived most of her life in Ross and Fayette Counties.

Before her retirement, she worked multiple jobs at Sugar Creek Packing Company before retiring as an inventory specialist after 32 years of service.   She had formerly worked at the General Electric Lamp Plant in Circleville.

She had owned standardbred racehorses and enjoyed going to the races.  She loved the outdoors, traveling the world, being with friends and playing cards.  But mostly, she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, particularly at holiday gatherings when her entire family would be together.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Eugene Bryant.

She is survived by two daughters, Kathy Entrekin and her husband, Andrew, of Washington Court House and Angie Cutright and her husband, Shawn, of Chillicothe; her special companion, Ed Dailey of Washington Court House; five grandchildren, Tylor Haggard, Austin Caplinger, Jordan Caplinger, Haylee Entrekin and Shawn Cutright, II; four great grandchildren, Avah Mick, Kaydens Haggard, Rosalie Jahn and Lanie Capehart; two sisters, Linda (Pat) Hupp of Westerville and Carolyn Baughn of South Dakota; three brothers, Bill, Alan and Gary Menke, all of Cincinnati and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A visitation will be held Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 4-6 p.m. at the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

Cremation will follow the visitation.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Jackie L. (Jack) Pavey, 83, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Friday, May 10, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. at his residence.

Jack was born October 8, 1940, in Fayette County, Ohio to Carl Milton and Donna Belle DeWees Pavey.  Although he had formerly lived in South Carolina, he lived most of his life in this community.

Before his retirement, he worked nearly 38 years as a machinist at Armco.  He then worked for Anderson Equipment.

On October 11, 1959, he married the former Judy Lee Huff.  She preceded him in death on January 21, 2003.  He was also preceded by a brother, Bill Pavey, in 1985.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Lana Pavey of and Jerry and Denise Pavey, all of Washington Court House; two grandchildren, Brandi Smith and her husband, David, of Jamestown and Loryn Pavey of Columbus; two great grandchildren, Addison and Gabe Smith; two step great grandchildren, Sarah and Matthew Bell. and two half-sisters, Barbara (Leonard) Bick of Washington Court House and Kay (Richard Fent) Pavey, of Hillsboro and special friend, Carol Ward.  Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.  Jack’s family wishes to thank his hospice caregivers, Rebecca and especially, Barbara.

The funeral will be Wednesday, May 15, 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 Washington Cemetery.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Norma Jean Adkins, 76, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Monday, May 6, 2024, at her home.

Norma was born February 12, 1948, at Midway in Madison County, Ohio to Amos and Mildred Elliott Dawes.  She was a graduate of Washington High School and a lifelong resident of this community.

Before her retirement, she was a nursing home aide.  She had also been a grocery store clerk and a server at Frisch’s Big Boy.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Tracy Marie Adkins on August 3, 1980; her parents; five brothers, George, Bud, Amos, Jr., and Dave Dawes and Martin Smith and four sisters, Martha Wade, Marjorie Shaw and infant sisters, Margaret and Ann Dawes.

Norma is survived by her husband, Lonnie Edward Adkins whom she married July 20, 1968; three children, Stephanie (John) Coonrod of Greenfield, Lonnie E. (Laurie) Adkins, II of Greenfield and Brandon (Kayla) Adkins of Leesburg; several grandchildren and great grandchildren and a brother, Chuck (Goldie) Dawes of Staunton.

A private family graveside service will be held Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in the Washington Cemetery with memories being offered by family members.

There will be no calling hours.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Alexis Lynne Davis, 16, of Washington Court House, Ohio passed away Friday, May 3, 2024, at her residence.

Alexis was born October 12, 2007, in Colorado Springs, CO.  She was the daughter of Ashley Nicole Davis and Curt H. Curtis.   She lived most of her life in this community where she was a sophomore at Washington High School.

She was a cashier at Rancher’s Roast Beef.

Lexi enjoyed taking riding lessons at the Lost Fortune Horse Stables in Mount Sterling and participating in horse shows, especially in the cantering class.

She is survived by her parents, Ashley and Curt Curtis of Washington Court House; grandparents, Kimberly Crabtree of Grove City and Derald Davis of Washington Court House; aunts and uncles, Valerie (Shane) Davis, Rustin Bullock, Correy Davis, Brandon Bullock, Kaylee (Pat) Davis Brittany (Josh) Beverly, Melissa Lee, Candy Woods and her cousins, Taylor, Zara, Teagan, Livy and Landon, and her protector and baby, Cujo.

The funeral will be Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 5 p.m. at the South Side Church of Christ with Matthew Hippely, minister at the church, officiating.  A graveside service will be held Friday, May 10, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in the Washington Cemetery.  Burial will be under the direction of the Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Washington Court House.

Friends may call at the church, Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 2 p.m. until time of the service.

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Mary Suzanne “Sue” Maddux, 86, of Washington Court House, Ohio died Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 9:04 p.m. shortly after arrival at Adena Fayette Medical Center.

Sue was born January 29, 1938, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the only child of Charles Bernard and Mary Etta Grosse Renneckar.  She was a 1955 graduate of Anderson High School in Cincinnati and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959 from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health.   She moved to Washington Court House in 1967, from Cincinnati.

She was a public health nurse with the City of Cincinnati Board of Health from 1959-1960.  She also was a maternity ward nurse at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati.  After moving to Washington Court House, she was a nurse at Quiet Acres Nursing Home from 1967-1970.  She worked at the Fayette County Health Department from 1970 until 2000, at which time she retired as director of family planning.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she had been a Sunday school teacher.  She had also served as an elder and deacon and chairperson of the trustees and was a past president of the Women’s Association.  She joined the Eastern Star on April 26, 1956, and was a member of Jefferson Chapter #300 of the Order of the Eastern Star.  She was past president and served on the board of directors of Community Action.  She had also served on the boards of the United Way, Head Start, Ohio Public Health Association, Ohio Family Planning and Campfire, of which she had also been a local leader.  She was the local health department’s representative to the food bank.  She was on the curriculum planning committee at Miami Trace and served as a grief counselor at both Miami Trace and Washington Schools. She served on the advisory board of the Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center and the Fayette County Community Concert Association. She was past president of the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health Alumni Association, the Fayette County Professional Nurses Association, and the Washington Court House Kiwanianne Club.  She had been a member of Mother’s Circle of DeMolay and was a member of the Fayette County Commission on Aging.  She loved traveling, especially to Hawaii.

She had a passion for making cross bookmarks and giving them to people, not only locally, but also to people of other countries, including celebrities.  She made over 6000 bookmarks and has them in approximately 40 countries and has letters of gratitude from many people, including the Queen of England.

On March 13, 1959, she married Richard Harold Maddux.  He preceded her in death on May 19, 2016.  She was also preceded by a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Phillip and Shirley Maddux.

Sue is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jill and Graham (Butch) Roberts of Washington Court House; two sons and daughters-in-law, Craig and Karla Maddux of Murfreesboro, TN and Roger and Tracey Maddux of Washington Court House;  seven grandchildren, Joshua, Bryan, Jacob, McKenzie, Tyler, Erik, and Laura; seven great grandchildren, Rilyn, Kahlen, Kyron, Karleigh, Kaia, Slone and Harrison and three nieces, Pam Cindy and Lori.

An Eastern Star service, which is open to the public, will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.  A celebration of life service will immediately follow the Eastern Star service with the Rev. Steve Brand, pastor at the church, officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church, Saturday from 12 Noon until the time of the service.

Burial of the cremains will be at a later date in the Rest Haven Cemetery in Cincinnati.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fayette County Food Pantry at the First Presbyterian Church, 214 North Hinde Street or Shriner’s Hospital, c/o The Washington Shrine Club, P.O. Box 164, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160.

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com

Barbara Ann Somers, 72, of Bloomingburg, Ohio died Friday, May 3, 2024, at 12:13 a.m. at the Kettering Health Center in Hamilton, Ohio where she had been a patient since Monday.

Barbara was born October 14, 1951, in Columbus, Ohio to Paul Vernon and Iris Eloise Grube Shafer.  She was a graduate of Miami Trace High School and attended The Ohio State University and the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley.  She had formerly lived in Columbus and Colorado before returning to this community in 1997.

She was a special education teacher and fostered one of her students, Michelle, for 16 years.  She had been a freight handler at Airborne Express in Wilmington; a cook at Fayette County Head Start and also worked at Sugar Creek Packing Company.

Barbara was a member of Grace Community Church.  She enjoyed gardening, quilting, cooking, baking and was an avid canner.  However, her main love was being with her grandchildren and attending their extracurricular events.

She is survived by her husband, Dale Robert Somers whom she married February 7, 1991; a son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Nichole Somers of Washington Court House; four grandchildren, Amea, Joseph, Callie and Paislee Somers; a brother and sister-in-law, David and Shirley Shafer of South Carolina and a sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Greg Miller of Bloomingburg.

The funeral will be Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 12 Noon. at the Grace Community Church, 525 Glenn Avenue, Washington Court House, with Jay Lucas, pastor at the church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Plattsburg Cemetery in Clark County.

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

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

www.kirkpatrickfuneralhome.com