Obituaries

Aug 19, 2020

Ronald Carl Arn, 64, of Franklin Furnace, died peacefully at home Wednesday evening, August 19, 2020, with his family present.  Born on April 29, 1956 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Carl and Sylvia Ball Arn and was a retired carman for the CSX Railroad with 29 years of service.

Red was a 1974...

Aug 5, 2020

Thelma Hughes, 94, of Wheelersburg, died on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at her residence.  Born on May 24, 1926 in Iaeger, WV, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Whitsil and Sarah Thompson Smith.

Thelma was active at the former Rosemount Road Church of Christ in Christian Union.

Also preceding her in death were...

Aug 2, 2020

Rodney T. Backus, 90, formerly of Portsmouth, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, August 2, 2020, at his daughter’s residence in Rushville.  Born on August 24, 1929 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Charles and Marcella Backus and was a member of Riverview Wesleyan Church.

Retiring as a utility operator, he was...

Jul 19, 2020

Mareda E. Zempter, 79, of Sciotoville, died Sunday in the Southern Ohio Medical Center.  Born on October 4, 1940 in Greenup County, KY, she was a daughter of the late Leslie and Stella Hall Newsome and was a homemaker.

Mareda was a caregiver for many family members and friends, and it wasn’t so much about monetary compensation...

Jul 10, 2020

Roger Blaine Gregory, 82, of Wheelersburg, peacefully went to be with his Lord on Friday, July 10, 2020, at the SOMC Hospice Center with his family by his bedside.

Born on January 22, 1938 in New Boston, he was a son of the late George and Irene Harris Gregory and was retired from U.S.E.C.

Roger...

Jul 7, 2020

Jill Trevino, 56, of Franklin Furnace, died Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in the SOMC emergency room.  Born on July 19, 1963 in Toledo, she was a daughter of Gilbert and Judith Pierott Springstead.

Preceding her in death was her father.

Jill was a fantastic homemaker, a fabulous cook and previously worked at Best Care.

Jun 25, 2020

Gregory Thomas Maynard, 62, of Portsmouth, died in his home on June 25, 2020.  He was a graduate of Portsmouth High School.  He went on to Ohio State for one year.  He then returned to Portsmouth to work for Nationwide Insurance for 12 years and WIOI radio station.  He was currently employed by Hatcher Real Estate.

Greg...

Jun 9, 2020

Bonnie Ruth Harner, 85, of Wheelersburg, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, June 9 2020, at the SOMC Hospice Center.  Born on September 3, 1934 in Wheelersburg, she was a daughter of the late Rev. David Widdig and Isabelle Ruth Widdig.

Bonnie was a proud and devoted member of Garden City Free Will Baptist Church,...

Jun 6, 2020

Larry Holloway, 70, of Sciotoville, died Saturday, June 6, 2020, in the Southern Ohio Medical Center.  Born on May 8, 1950 in Portsmouth, he was a son of the late Dan and Mary Houston Holloway and was retired from CSX Railroad.

Larry was an integral part of the father and son team that showed cars and enjoyed...

May 31, 2020

Michael Andrew Brescia (Mike) died on May 31, 2020, at the age of 80. Born on July 7, 1939, to Andrew and Lillian Minerva Brescia, Mike graduated from Portsmouth West High School in 1957 and Ohio University in 1964.

Mike married Jean Keibler in 1963 and settled first in Portsmouth, then in Wheelersburg, to raise the family...

May 28, 2020

Stephen Eugene Downard, 66, of McDermott, passed into Heaven on May 28, 2020. Born on August 8, 1953 in McArthur, he was a son of the late Robert Allen Downard and Marjorie Wiseman Downard.

Stephen relocated from Gallipolis to Scioto County in January 2013. He attended STAR, Inc. and was supported by his Scioto Residential Services Family....

May 24, 2020

Dorothy “Dottie” Eileen Justus, 90, of Portsmouth passed away on May 24, 2020, at Southern Ohio Medical Center. She served 32 years as a public school teacher, primarily in the Portsmouth School system at Grant Middle School. Other than her strong Christian faith and her family, her love of history was perhaps her strongest passion, which she shared graciously...

May 20, 2020

Pamela Slark, 64, of Lucasville, died peacefully at the SOMC Hospice Center on Wednesday afternoon.  Born on August 27, 1955 in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late Harold “Bud” Slark and Louella Slark-Tackett.

Pam attended New Life Family Worship Center and was an avid bingo player.

Also preceding her in death were her...

May 16, 2020

Barbara J. Cooper, 84, passed on May 16, 2020, with her family at her bedside in Maysville, KY.  Barbara was born to Paul Spry and Thressa M. Sykes Spry on April 30, 1936 in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Graduating from Wheelersburg High School on May 19, 1952, she then went on and earned her Registered Nursing Certificate at Bethesda...

May 7, 2020

Debra S. Monroe, 65, of Sciotoville, died Thursday, May 7, 2020, in the Southern Ohio Medical Center.  Born on July 10, 1954 in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of Barbara Dodds Maynard of South Webster and the late Claude Maynard.

Debbie was a proud housewife, but most importantly, was “Mamaw Debbie” to her special grandkids.

...

May 3, 2020

Kathy Sue Hale, 68, of Portsmouth, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, May 3, 2020, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus with her family by her bedside.  A daughter of the late Robert and Virginia Fodge Lockhart, she was born on August 12, 1951 in Portsmouth.

Sue was a member of the Church of Christ on...

Apr 26, 2020

Hettie Ruth Shoemaker, 86, of Sciotoville, died peacefully on Sunday April 26, 2020 at Best Care in Wheelersburg.  Born on February 25, 1934 in New Boston, she was a daughter of the late Arthur and Oral Asche Sisler and was employed at the former Hallmark Gift Store in New Boston.

Ruth was a 1952 graduate of East...

Apr 25, 2020

Michelle Renee Smith, 47, of Portsmouth, died Saturday, April 25, 2020, in the Southern Ohio Medical Center emergency room.  Born on September 18, 1972, she was a daughter of Johnnie Smith of Wheelersburg and the late Dora Rose Smith.

Michelle graduated from the Scioto County Vocational School, was a former member of the Jaycees, and was formerly...

Apr 20, 2020

Juanita E. Elliott, 88, of Hill View, died Monday, April 20, 2020 at the SOMC Hospice Center with her daughter by her bedside.  Born on June 26, 1931 in Portsmouth, she was a daughter of the late James Lewis Hill and Mary Ellen Doyle Hill.

Juanita was so proud of her family and their accomplishments and was...

Apr 2, 2020

Wanda M. Lore, 83, of Portsmouth, died Thursday, April 2, 2020 in the SOMC Hospice Center.  Born on October 4, 1936 in Greenup, KY, she was a daughter of the late David and Norma Armstrong Phillips and attended Bonser Run Christian Baptist Church.

Wanda was a designer for Colonial Florist with over 46 years of service.