Obituaries

Jan 3, 2019

Hayden Jo Ruby, a son of Joshua and Emilie Williams Ruby, went to be with Jesus Thursday, January 3, 2019, in Columbus.

He was preceded in death by a grandfather, Jack Ruby.

Also surviving are a brother, Jaxon Ruby, two sisters, Gracie and Jaina Ruby, grandparents, Janie (Jeff) Case, Todd Williams, Tangie (Joe) Ruby and...

Jan 2, 2019

Luther Scarberry, 78, of Jackson, formerly of West Portsmouth, died suddenly at his home on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, with his family present. Born on March 15, 1940, he was a son of the late Homer and Stella Eldridge Scarberry and was a retired city bus driver in Toledo.  Luther was also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force....

Dec 27, 2018

Donald “Smurf” Murphy, 38, of Sciotoville, died Thursday, December 27, 2018, in the SOMC Hospital emergency room from an apparent pulmonary embolism.  Donny’s family was by his bedside.

Born on October 2, 1980 in Cincinnati, Smurf was a son of Danny Ray and Lou Ann Reeder Murphy of Sciotoville and was a self-employed tattoo artist.

...

Dec 12, 2018

Lynda S. Swick, 74, of Portsmouth, died Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus.  Born on July 9, 1944 in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late Donald and Elizabeth Smith Jennings and was a homemaker.

Also preceding her in death were a daughter, Kristi Jennings, and a brother, Rick Jennings.

Surviving...

Dec 11, 2018

Linda Alley, 69, of Portsmouth, passed away December 11, 2018 at SOMC.  She was born on March 15, 1949 to the late Vernon and Mildred Stiltner.

She was also preceded in death by her husbands, Chuck Brown and Jessie Alley; a daughter Kimmy Johnson; a granddaughter, Jackie Ruby; four brothers and three sisters.

Surviving are...

Dec 9, 2018

Walter Estep, 63, of Portsmouth, died December 9th.  Arrangements were under the directions of the BRANT FUNERAL SERVICE.

Dec 8, 2018

Wilma J. Rishty, 88, of Portsmouth, died Saturday, December 8, 2018, in the SOMC Hospice Center with her family by her bedside.  Born on February 5, 1930 in Columbus, she was a daughter of the late Leonard and Lottie Perigo Ramey.

Wilma was a member of Cornerstone United Methodist Church and enjoyed bowling and reading.

...

Dec 8, 2018

Carl E. McKinney, 72, of Sciotoville, died Saturday, December 8, 2018, at his home.  Born on January 15, 1946 in Prichard, WV, he was a son of the late William and Edna McGuire McKinney and was a retired saw operator for casting steel at Quality Castings with 20 years of service.

Also preceding him in death were...

Dec 6, 2018

Keith Albert McDowell, 46, of Jackson, died Thursday, December 6th.  Arrangements are under the direction of the BRANT FUNERAL HOME IN SCIOTOVILLE.

Dec 6, 2018

Russell “Rusty” Coyle, 55, of Eden Park, died suddenly Thursday, December 6, 2018, at his residence.  Born on January 5, 1963 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the James Coyle and the late Sarah McGraw Coyle.

Rusty was a graduate of East High School, cabinet maker at the former Mills Pride, and was an avid fisherman...

Nov 30, 2018

Ronnie Lee Smoot, 61, of Portsmouth, died Friday, November 30, 2018, at Heartland of Portsmouth.  Born on April 9, 1957 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late John William Smoot and Jean Sylvia Kelly Smoot.

Ronnie was a 1975 graduate of Clay High School and an accomplished carpenter.

Surviving are a son, Ronnie...

Nov 28, 2018

Ruth E. Hershfield, 84, of Portsmouth, died peacefully on Wednesday at the Southern Ohio Medical Center ICU with her family by her bedside.  She fought a courageous battle for the past 8 months.  Born on May 24, 1934 in Seaman, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Mildred Wolfe Theiss and was a retired data processing supervisor...

Nov 15, 2018

Ron Munn, 78, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away Thursday, November 15, 2018

Nov 3, 2018

Phillip E. Kinker, 61, of Wheelersburg, died peacefully at home on Saturday, November 3, 2018 in Wheelersburg.  Born on February 19, 1957 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Waldo and Frankie Bradshaw Kinker and was a self-employed auto body   mechanic.

He was a member of Cedar Street Church of Christ in Christian Union in...

Oct 29, 2018

James Arthur Vallance, 89

We bid our beloved father farewell on Monday morning, October 29, 2018, in our home, where he passed over Jordan’s stormy banks into God’s tender mercy and into his deceased wife and daughter’s arms.

James Arthur Vallance was born on July 15, 1929 to the late James and Mable Grose Vallance...

Oct 17, 2018

Ray Lee Vestal, Sr., 71, of Franklin Furnace, died Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at  King’s Daughters Medical Center.  Born on September 28, 1947 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Roy and Ellajean Riley Vestal, and was a retired laborer from OSCO.

Also preceding him in death were his wife, Shirley Springs Vestal, his son,...

Oct 10, 2018

John Charles Thieken, 68, of Loris, SC, formerly of Portsmouth, died Wednesday, October 10, 2018 at Embrace Hospice House in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Born on October 24, 1949 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Paul and June Nagel Thieken and was of the catholic faith.

Chuck was a graduate of Portsmouth High School and...

Oct 3, 2018

James W. Schaeffer, 75, of Beavercreek, died Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at Ohio Hospice of Dayton.  Born on April 29, 1943 in South Webster, he was a son of the late James Odas Schaeffer and Geraldine Howard Schaeffer.

Jim was a retired middle school teacher in Centerville, where he coached football.  His pastime was racing sled dogs...

Oct 3, 2018

Ronald L. Gregory, 77, of Sciotoville, died Wednesday, October 3, 2018, in the Southern Ohio Medical Center emergency room.  Born on February 10, 1941 in Sciotoville, he was a son of the late Carl Gregory, Sr. and Vada Dillon Gregory and was a retired conductor for the Norfolk and Southern Railroad with 43 years’ service.

Ron attended...

Sep 28, 2018

Nettie Marie (Cooper) McClain, 93, of Lexington, KY, left her loving family on Friday, September 28, 2018.  She was born on February 22, 1925 in Portsmouth to the late Letha Marie McGlone and Lester Benson Cooper.  Nettie was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, a sister, Emma Jean Howland and a grandson, Robby Burns III.

A...