Obituaries — 6/20/13
Published 9:32 am Thursday, June 20, 2013
Elmer Johnson
Elmer L. Johnson, 82, of Proctorville, transitioned peacefully to his heavenly home on Monday, June 17, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Lois Ann Morrison Johnson, who was the love of his life, his best friend, and loving caregiver.
Elmer was born in Ironton, on Jan. 7, 1931, to the late Rev. Andrew H. Johnson and Maude Mae Wills Johnson. He graduated from Elizabeth Rural High School in Pedro in 1949. In 1960 he obtained his degree in tool engineering from Allied Technical Institute in Chicago. A Korean War Veteran, he spent four years in Korean waters aboard the U.S. Navy Hospital ship, USS Haven. After 27 years of service, he retired from Huntington Alloys, which is now known as Special Metals.
Elmer was a man of great faith who walked humbly before God and served as a deacon and board member for many years at Bethel Temple Assembly of God in Huntington, WV. Since he loved being in the woods and on the water, he was a naturally avid hunter and fisherman.
Elmer is survived by his three children and their spouses, Ramona G. Runyon (Charles) of Huntington, James C. Johnson (Ellen) of Cape Coral, Fla., and the Rev. Gregory A. Johnson (Rebecca) of Lexington, Ky.; four grandchildren, Angela Williamson (Brad) of Huntington, Joshua Runyon (Elaine) of Baltimore, Md., Austin Johnson of Lexington, Ky. and Kelsey Johnson of Lexington; four great grandchildren, Hope, Grace, Bryce and Cole Williamson of Huntington; and three siblings, William H. Johnson of Columbus, Francis Travis of Ironton and Carrie Lee Thornton of Ironton. Preceding him in death were three brothers, Thoral, Paul, and Andrew H. Johnson, Jr.
In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Elmer was a gentle and loving man, and will be missed by all who were privileged to know him. We are all comforted by knowing that he is now resting in the arms of Jesus.
Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Phillips Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Gregory A. Johnson officiating. Burial, with military rites, will follow the funeral service at Sugar Creek Cemetery. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.
Contributions in memory of Elmer may be made to www.lovinggodfellowship.org or to the Ohio Alzheimer’s Association.
Eileen Smith
Eileen Smith, 87, of South Point, died, Monday, June 17, 2013, at Cabell Huntington Hospital. Funeral will be at noon Saturday at Hall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Rome Cemetery. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.
Dale Schneider
Dale Edward Schneider, 63, of Burlington, died at home on Monday, June 18, 2013.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, South Point, with Pastor Gary Edwards officiating. Visitation from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.
Sandra Delawder
Sandra Sue Delawder, 58 of West Portsmouth died Monday, June 17, 2013, at home. She was born May 25, 1955, in Ironton, to the late Francis and Ernestine Ward Delawder. She graduated from high school in Chicago, then attended Ohio State University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree and followed her education up with a master’s degree from Lindsey Wilson College in counseling. Sandra worked more than 12 years as a counselor at Stepping Stones Counseling Center in Portsmouth. She enjoyed spending time with her family and especially loved helping others and transforming the lives of people who suffered from drug and alcohol abuse.
Sandra is survived by a son Jeffery (Gretchen) Franc of Chicago; and two daughters, Kristina Franc of Portsmouth and Sarah Hunt (Kevin) Darby of Portsmouth; two brothers, Francis Delawder Jr. and Lawrence Delawder of Portsmouth; two sisters, Linda Delawder (Dwayne Stevens) of West Portsmouth and Dianna Delawder (Calvin Kersey Sr.) of Portsmouth; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth with Pastor Pete Shaffer officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday one hour prior to the service. Condolences may be sent to www.rogerwdavisfuneralhome.com.
Betty Adkins
Betty F. Adkins, 59, of Canal Winchester, formerly of Ironton, passed away Monday, June 10, 2013. The Ironton native was born Sept. 4, 1953, the daughter of the late George E. and Justine Anderson Brown.
Ms. Adkins was a graduate of Ironton High School and a former owner/operator of Browse A Bit Florist and Gifts, for 32 years, retiring in 2002. She attended the First Baptist Church in Russell, Ky., and was a former president of the Ironton Business Association.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, George A. Brown.
She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Lisa Adkins of Canal Winchester; two granddaughters, Isabella Adkins and Abigail Adkins both of Canal Winchester; a brother and sister-in-law. David and Cindy Brown of Ironton; and a sister-in-law, Janet Fraley of Georgetown, Ky.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Woodland Cemetery with Pastor Ken Gowin officiating. There will be no public visitation. Phillips Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Home Reach Hospice of Columbus, 800 McConnell Road, Columbus, OH 43214. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.
Ruth Covell
Ruth (Whitrock) Covell, 91, of Springfield passed away Monday, June 17, 2013, in the Springfield Regional Medical Center. Born on Sept. 6, 1921, in Wilgus, she was a daughter of the late George and Nellie (Massie) Whitrock.
Survivors include two daughters, April (James) Pemberton of Flanders N.J. and Debbi (Chris) Ioannidis of Lima; a son, Michael D. Covell of Alto Pass, Ill.; four grandchildren, Sue Pemberton of Brooklyn, N.Y., Matt (Christine) Pemberton of Clinton, N.J., Kim (Mike) Maurer, of Columbus and Glen (Lisa) Bauman of Delaware; and two great granddaughters, Lauren and Avery. Ruth is also survived by nephews, Lee (Delores) Callicoat of Florida and Greg (Linda) Fox of Kitts Hill; a niece, Gloria (Mike) Hopper of Ironton; sister-in-law, Barbara Whitrock of Texas and numerous great nieces, nephews and great great nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by husband, George W. Covell in 1984; sisters, Daisy Fox and Ferne Callicoat; brother, George E. Whitrock; and grandson, Michael James Pemberton.
Ruth had been employed at Mercy Medical Center, Springfield and Mercy Memorial Hospital, Urbana, retiring from the latter. She owned and operated a medical transcription service from her home for up until shortly before her death.
A private memorial will be held at the convenience of the family. The family thanks her loving and devoted friends for their many, many kindnesses and special thanks to granddaughter Kim and niece Heather for their TLC. Atkins-Shively Funeral Home, 216 S. Springfield St., Saint Paris, is serving the family. Condolences to the family may be sent to www.shivelyfuneralhomes.com.
Clarence Sexton
Clarence Harvey Sexton, Sr., 73, of South Point, died Monday, June 18, 2013, at the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, Huntington, W.Va.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Hall Funeral Home, Proctorville, by Pastor D.L. Webb. Burial will follow in Rome Cemetery, Proctorville. Visitation will be held 6 to 9 p.m. today at Hall Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent to Hospice of Huntington. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/hall.
Jack Whitehead
Jack Leslie Whitehead, 86, of Willow Wood, died Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at home. There will be a private graveside service at Perkins Ridge Cemetery. There is no visitation. Arrangements are by Hall Funeral Home.
James Russell
James Donald Russell, 57, of Kitts Hill, died Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was the husband of Ruth Ann Morgan Russell, who survives. Arrangements are pending at Hall Funeral Home.