Donald Sands

Aug. 18, 1926 — Dec. 8, 2016

Donald Allen ”Blondie” Sands, 90, of South Point, passed away Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at his residence. He was born Aug. 18, 1926 in Ironton, a son of the late Charles Sands and Nancy Louise Moore Sands. He was also preceded in death by a son, the Rev. James Allen Sands and a granddaughter, Joy Andrea Sands.
Donald was retired as a consultant for Allied Chemical Company and was a long-time member of South Point United Methodist Church. He worked closely with Lawrence County’s Special Olympics and Boy Scouts Troop 115, where he served as an assistant scoutmaster and as a soccer coach. He also served on four boards, including the Ironton Board of Education, the county’s first vocational school board, Ohio University Southern Campus’ advisory board and four years on the South Point Board of Education. He was also active with the Tri-State Junior Golf Circuit and was president of the Allied Golf League for several years. Donald was named Lawrence County Citizen of the Year in 1994.
Survivors include his loving wife and high school sweetheart of 70 years, Mary Lou Norris Sands; his children, Jeffrey Lee (Susan) Sands and Janet Fitzpatrick; a daughter-in-law, Patty Ann Sands; a brother, Herbert Thomas Sands of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; 6 grandchildren, Eric Fitzpatrick, Ethan Fitzpatrick, Emily Gorby, Jennifer Prall, Shellie Sands and Stacey Sands; and 12 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Slack and Wallace Funeral Home with Pastor Terry Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery in Ironton. Friends may call from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.slackandwallace.com.

Regina Willis

Reginia Willis, 72 of Greenup, died Friday, Dec. 9 2016, at Our Lady Of Bellefonte hospital. The family has entrusted her care to brownfuneralchapel.org of Ironton.

George W. Patterson

George W. Patterson, 80, of Ironton, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, at the Sanctuary Of The Ohio Valley. The family has entrusted his care to brownfuneralchapel.org of Ironton.

Frank Griffith

Frank Griffith, 78, of Ironton, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, from the Kings Daughters Hospital in Ashland, Kentucky. The family has entrusted his care to brownfuneralchapel.org of Ironton, Ohio

Phillip Russel Carter

Phillip Russel Carter, 78, of Ironton, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at the St. Marys Hospital lronton Campus. The family has entrusted his care to brownfuneralchapel.org

Jim Bishop

Jim Bishop, 83, of Rush, Kentucky, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Sparks Funeral Home, David Stephens, minister. Burial will follow at the Garvin Ridge Cemetery.Visitation will be Wednesday from 6-9 p.m. at Sparks Funeral Home. Online condolences at www.sparksfh.com

Billy Sparks

Billy Gurvin Sparks, 79, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, died Saturday Dec. 10, 2016, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
Funeral services will be at noon on Wednesday at the Bowen Chapel Church in Olive Hill. He will lie in state from 11 a.m. until time of service.   Burial will follow at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Sparks Funeral Home in Grayson. Online condolences at www.sparksfh.com.