Obituaries

Oct 6, 2016

Henry “Hank H.C.” Craft, 61, of Chesapeake, died Thursday, October 6, 2016, at the SOMC Hospice Center.  Born on June 3, 1955 in Portsmouth, he was a son of Paul and Melba Williams Craft.  Hank spent most of his adult life in water distribution for the residents of Scioto County and was a sales representative/consultant of Utilities Service and...

Oct 6, 2016

William F. Essman, 82, of Sciotoville, died Thursday, October 6, 2016, at the Southern Ohio Medical Center.  Born on February 14, 1934 in Sciotoville, he was a son of the late William C. and Margaret Will Essman and was a purchasing agent for Aristech.

Bill was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church and the Knights of...

Oct 1, 2016

Viola Margaret Roe, 91, of Minford, died Saturday, October 1, 2016, at the SOMC Hospice Center.  Born on July 12, 1925, she was a daughter of the late Gilbert and Helen McDonnel Sparks and was a retired receptionist for the late Dr. Harlan Williams for 20 years.

Margaret was dedicated to the Nazarene faith and was a member...

Sep 22, 2016

Michael Paul Schiltz, 23, of Columbus, died Thursday, September 22, 2016, in Columbus.  Born on February 4, 1993 in Portsmouth, he was a son of Melissa Lovely and Michael M. Schiltz and a graduate of Upper Arlington High School.

Surviving are his mother, Melissa (Michael Tyler) Lovely of Columbus; his father Michael M. Schiltz of Piketon; two...

Aug 27, 2016

Frank A. Yerardi, age 69, of New Boston, died Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the SOMC Hospice Center.  Born on January 4, 1947 in Portsmouth, he was a son of Ross and Norma Ramey Yerardi and was retired from the police department for Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Frank was a very proud Army veteran of the Viet Nam...

Aug 23, 2016

Curtis Wayne Besco, 56, of Wheelersburg, died Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at home.  Born on April 16, 1960 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Harry and Clara Helen Roof Besco.

Curtis was a carpenter by trade, loved farming and playing his guitar and enjoyed his bluegrass music.

Also preceding him in death...

Aug 23, 2016

Mary Ann Newman, 78, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at her home in Casselberry, Fla after a long battle with cancer.  Born on November 6, 1937 in Akron, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Randig, and graudated from South High School in Akron.

Mary Ann thoroughly enjoyed bingo, her morning...

Aug 18, 2016

Freida Mae James, 84, of Hill View, died Thursday, August 18, 2016, at Hill View Health Care.  Born on October 26, 1931 in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late Edgar and Mattie Ruth Kuhner and was a retired scrub nurse at the former Mercy Hospital.

Freida attended the First Church of God in New Boston...

Aug 7, 2016

Paul McGinnis, 90, of Sciotoville, went to be with Jesus, on Sunday, August 7, 2016.  On this same date in 1943, he married his loving wife of 72 years, who preceded him in death three months to the day.  They celebrated their 73rd anniversary together in heaven.

Born on June 9, 1926 in Olive Hill, KY, he...

Aug 6, 2016

Charles Frederick Henry, 64, of Portsmouth, died Saturday, August 6, 2016, at the Southern Ohio Medical Center emergency room.  Born on June 25, 1952, he was a son of the late Curtis and Margaret Roll Henry and was retired from S.T.A.R. Workshop.

Charlie attended Cornerstone United Methodist Church and Temple Baptist, and was a family member of...

Jul 26, 2016

Edward Norman Jacobs, Sr., 90, of Springfield Masonic Community, formerly of Portsmouth, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016, at his masonic residence.  Born on January 23, 1926 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Edward and Irene Brown Jacobs, and was a retired pipefitter for Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Ed was a proud member of Aurora Masonic...

Jul 18, 2016

Brenda Sue Ball, 67, of Taylors, SC, formerly of Portsmouth, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 18, 2016.

Born in Portsmouth, she was the daughter of the late Garnet and Juanita Ball and graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1967 and Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC in 1971. She also earned a Masters...

Jul 9, 2016

Virginia Mae “Ginny” Garrett, 74, of North Moreland, died Saturday, July 9, 2016, at the SOMC Hospice Center with her family by her bedside.  Born on January 27, 1942 in New Boston, she was a daughter of the late Lane and Lena Billings Yarnell and was a retired nursing assistant at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center.  Ginny attended Cornerstone...

Jul 4, 2016

James “Bo” Bailey, 56, of Portsmouth, died Monday, July 4, 2016, at his home.  Born on April 22, 1960 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Robert and Wilma Fitch Bailey and was a brick mason.

Bo was also preceded in death by the children’s mother, Sandra Marie Bailey.

Surviving are two sons,...

Jul 3, 2016

Arnold “Ed” Nichols, 73, of Wheelersburg, died Sunday, July 3, 2016, at his home.  Born on April 15, 1943 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Orville and Marjorie Cole Nichols and was a former machinist at Mitchellace.

Ed was a proud Army veteran, having served in the Vietnam War from 1965-1966.

Also...

Jul 3, 2016

Dr. Owen Bruce Martin, DDS, 65, of Granville, died Sunday, July 3, 2016, at 12:17 a.m. at Court House Manor, where he had been a resident the past month.

Born on July 15, 1950 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Roy and Doris Moorhead Martin.  Following his graduation in 1968 at valedictorian from East...

Jul 1, 2016

Rufus “Junior” Williams, 87, of Slocum Station, died Friday, July 1, 2016, at the SOMC Hospice Center.  Born on July 24, 1928 in Wheelersburg, he was a son of the late Ellis Martin Williams and Dora Olive France Williams and was retired from Detroit Steel Corporation.

Junior was also preceded in death by five brothers, Marvin, Leroy...

Jun 25, 2016

Darryl J. Collins, 34, of Sciotoville, died Saturday, June 25, 2016.  Darryl was born on August 2, 1981, and was a cook at Ponderosa in Wheelersburg.

Survivors include his parents, Darryl E. Collins and Rita Dickerson Collins of Wheelersburg; a son, Ethan Terry of Ashland, KY; two daughters, Gabby Collins of Portsmouth and Aaliyah Collins of Ashland,...

Jun 21, 2016

Joyce A. Russell, 78, of Sciotoville, died peacefully on Tuesday afternoon at the SOMC Hospice Center with her family at her bedside.  Born on January 17, 1938 in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late Edgar and Ruby Nolan and was formerly employed at the Southern Ohio Medical Center.  Joyce attended Salem Community Church.

Also preceding...

Jun 20, 2016

Gladys E. Harris, 82, of Portsmouth, died Monday, June 20, 2016 at the emergency room at the Southern Ohio Medical Center.  She was born on December 4, 1933, in Toronto Ontario, Canada.  Gladys was a homemaker and a member of the South Webster Over 55 Club.

Survivors include her husband, Robert L. Harris; a son, Wayne (Jennie)...