OBITUARIES

Oct 23, 2023

Estel ‘Ace’ Spurlock, age 87, of Wilmington, passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones, on Monday, October 23, 2023.

Born in Sabina on January 23, 1936, he was the oldest of the thirteen children of Howard ‘Happy’ and Alice Scowden Spurlock.

He leaves behind his devoted and loving wife, Patricia Roberds Spurlock.  The...

Oct 21, 2023

Jenny L. Brooks, 81, formerly of Wilmington, departed this life for her eternal home on October 21, 2023.  She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.

Born in Wilmington on November 22, 1941, Jenny was the daughter of the late Howard and Lulah Chesnut.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Brooks.

Oct 21, 2023

James Leroy Smith, age 87, of Sabina, passed peacefully on Saturday, October 21, 2023.

Born in Fayette County on October 10, 1936, he was the son of the late Otties and Anna Spurgeon Smith.

Leroy is survived by his dedicated wife of 69 years, Dorothy Ryan Smith. The two were united in marriage on January...

Oct 16, 2023

James Richard Gilpen, Sr., age 43, of Sabina, passed unexpectedly on Monday, October 16, 2023.

Born on July 16, 1980, in Fayette County, he was the son of Barbara (Albert Knox) Gilpen.

He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Penny Morris Gilpen.  The two were united in marriage on June 21, 2002.

Oct 11, 2023

Charles E. Kuhn, age 43, of Sabina, passed unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

Born on April 10, 1980, in Springfield, he was the son of Robert Kuhn and Joan Creamean Kuhn, all of Sabina.

Charles attended East Clinton Schools and worked as a dishwasher and cook at Denny’s in Jeffersonville.  He had previously worked...

Oct 9, 2023

Edith A. Perry, age 76, of Wilmington, passed peacefully on October 9, 2023.

Born in Schwalbach, Germany, on June 24, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Fritz and Elle Speiss.

In 1966, with two little girls, Edith immigrated to the United States from Germany.  Knowing no English, she taught herself the language by...

Oct 8, 2023

Della F. Pence, age 97, of Sabina, passed away at Autum Years Nursing Center on Sunday evening, October 8, 2023.

Born in Cynthiana, Kentucky, on June 28, 1926, she was the daughter of Jim and Sudie Fooks Funk.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy L "Pete" Pence in 2006.

Della...

Oct 8, 2023

Karen Jane Long Belcher, age 79, of Morrow, and formerly of Sabina, passed peacefully on Sunday, October 8, 2023, at Bethesda North Hospital.

Born on February 5, 1944, in Clarksville, she was the daughter of the late Ralph H. and Illene Brown Long.

Karen was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years,...

Oct 7, 2023

Kenneth D. Ewing age 78, longtime Sabina resident, passed away at his home on October 7, 2023.

He was born on March 11, 1945, in Clinton County to the late Leona Mae Lee Ewing.

Kenny retired from Lazarus and Airborne and worked at Uhl’s IGA and was a member of the Rodgers Chapel AME Church...

Sep 28, 2023

Bill Lee Moore, age 65, of Washington Court House, passed away on September 28, 2023, at Fayette Memorial.

Born March 17, 1958, in Washington Court House, the son of Leroy Moore and Thelma Pendergraft Gookenbarger.

He was a general foreman with Nelson Tree Services for many years and enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with...

Sep 28, 2023

April Lynne Laufer Foster, age 63, of Lynchburg passed away on September 28, 2023, at the Miami Valley Hospital.

Born October 4, 1959, in Jamestown the daughter of the late Charles and Betty Sanderson Laufer.

April is survived by her husband Eric, whom she married December 31, 1994.

She was a professional painter,...

Sep 22, 2023

Mary Lou Haines, age 96, of Sabina, passed away at her daughter’s home in Greenfield on Friday, September 22, 2023.

She was born June 30, 1927, the daughter of Ralph and Ruth Pelkey Morris.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Max Haines in 1994.

A member of the Catholic church in...

Sep 21, 2023

Keith Sandells, age 64, of Wilmington, passed away at his home on Thursday, September 21, 2023.

He is survived by his wife Crystal Blackburn Sandells whom he married December 17, 1977.

Born December 10, 1958, in Coventry, England, the son of the late Harold and Margaret Giles Sandells.

Keith had worked at Airborne...

Sep 16, 2023

Nathan T. ‘Ted’ Wright, age 75, of Sabina, passed unexpectedly on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

Born on September 5, 1948, he was the son of the late Delbert and Gladys Carpenter Wright.

Ted is survived by his devoted wife, Carrie Wright.

Ted loved the Lord, Jesus Christ and loved to teach and preach...

Sep 12, 2023

James R. Spurlock, age 78, of Leesburg, passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

Born on May 5, 1945, in Sabina, he was the son of the late Howard ‘Happy; and Alice Scowden Spurlock.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan R. Briggs, in 2014.

Jim worked at Pennington...

Sep 10, 2023

Shirley Dianna (Eckhart) Culp, age 75, formerly of Wilmington, passed on September 10, 2023, at Doctors West Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Shirley was born December 14, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the daughter of Sampson and Garnett (Morris) Eckhart.

She was a devoted mother of Bridget Sue Smith and Lee Michael (Kim) Culp. She...

Sep 7, 2023

Dianna R. Taylor, age 77, of Sabina, and formerly of Dayton, passed peacefully on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at Miami Valley Hospital.

Born in Dayton on May 11, 1946, she was the daughter of the late James Phillips and Ruth Williams Heckman.

She is survived by her husband, William L. Taylor of Sabina.  The two...

Sep 2, 2023

Dennis I. Ross, 69 of Wilmington, passed away on Saturday evening September 2, 2023 at Miami Valley Medical Center after a short illness. Born September 18, 1953 in Wilmington, the son of Irvin C. Ross and Margaret Blair Hoskins. Denny is survived by his wife Kimberly Bills Ross. A 1973 graduate of East Clinton, he went on to be a...

Aug 29, 2023

Wilma Jean Campbell Kelso, age 94, of Wilmington, passed peacefully on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

Born in Fayette County on August 24, 1929, she was the daughter of Edith Michael Parsons.

Wilma retired from the Ohio Development Center in 1989.  After retirement, she lived in Zephyrhills, Florida, for 20 years.  She was an active member...

Aug 28, 2023

Darrell G. Goodman, age 65, of Sabina, passed at home on Monday, August 28, 2023.

Born on September 20, 1957, he was the son of the late Barbara Ross Waits and Denvil Goodman.

Darrell was preceded in death by his wife, Alma, on September 24, 2022.

He is survived by children; Alma Graham...