Charles Saunders

Sept. 23, 1929 — Feb. 18, 2017

Charles Lee Saunders, 87, of Ironton, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, at Jo-Lin Health Center in Ironton. The Lawrence County native was born Sept. 23, 1929, the son of the late John E. Saunders and Effie Mae Cremeans Saunders.
He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Helen Louise Kingrey Saunders, whom he married on Jan. 24, 1948, in Gallipolis.
Charles was a graduate of Waterloo High School and was employed at the Lawrence County Highway Department for 32 years.
He was a member of Okey Chapel Church and an avid Ohio State Buckeye and Cincinnati Reds fan. Charles was a devoted husband, brother, dad, grandpa and great-grandpa.
He was completely committed to his three generations of “kids” and attended every baptism, ballgame, church and school program, and pig show and piano recital. Regardless of how much he did or did not enjoy these many activities, he was always there to show his love and encouragement.
A highlight for Charles every August was the Saunders Reunion, held at his home place near Okey Chapel Church at Lecta where he was born and raised. He truly enjoyed this gathering to show his love and support for his large extended family. He will surely be deeply missed and never forgotten.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by daughter, Shirley Fulks Maughan; three sisters, Hazel White, Mildred Green and Irene Robinson; and four brothers, Omar, Vernard, Edward and Ray Saunders.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by son, Charles “David” (Mary) Saunders, of South Point; daughter, Tammy Jo (John) Smith, of Texas; sister, Betty Gilmore, of Kitts Hill; grandchildren, Paul Fulks, Jody Allen, Joshua Saunders, David Saunders and Jeremy Tomlin; and great-grandchildren, Molly Saunders, Cody Spencer, Olivia Wolkowicz, Madison Fulks, Joshua Saunders, Gracie Saunders, Lydia Saunders and Peyton Tomlin.
He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be noon Thursday at Phillips Funeral Home, Ironton, with pastor Sammy Cooke officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Wednesday evening or 11 a.m. until the time of the service Thursday at the funeral home. Pallbearers for the service will be Paul Fulks, Joshua Saunders, Jeremy Tomlin, David Saunders, Joshua Saunders and John Smith. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Aaron Ratliff

April 13, 1994 — Feb. 16, 2017

Aaron David Ratliff, 22, of Ironton, passed away Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017.  The Ironton native was born April 13, 1994.
Aaron was a 2012 graduate of Ironton High School and was an assistant manager for McDonald’s in Flatwoods, Kentucky.
Aaron was preceded in death by maternal grandmother, Penny (Conaway) Lemon.
He is survived by parents, Jayson (Rebecca) Ratliff, of Ironton; two sisters, Danielle (Jessica) Branham, of Flatwoods, Kentucky, and Sarah Ratliff, of Ironton; one brother, Jerod Ratliff, of Ironton; paternal grandparents, Danny Jay Ratliff, of Ironton, and Patricia Webb, of Ironton; maternal grandfather, Gary (Kristina) Marcum, of Columbus; girlfriend, Michaela Johnson; and two best friends, Brandon Haney and Ray Lawson, all of Ironton.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Phillips Funeral Home, Ironton, with pastor Jeff Cremeans officiating. Burial will follow in Hanging Rock Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the funeral home.  To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuenralhome.net.

Richard Heyard, Jr.

April 1, 1959 — Feb. 18, 2017

Richard A. Heyard, Jr., of Ironton, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in the Cleveland Clinic. Richard was born on April 1, 1959, in Canton, the son of the late Richard and Virginia (Violand) Heyard.
He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Susan Burcham Heyard.
Richard was a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Walsh College. He was a dedicated high school science teacher, who was devoted to his students.
In addition to his wife, Richard is survived by his sister, Gerilyn (Don) Shimek; his niece, Alicia, of Canton; daughter, Noel (Jeff) Smith; and son, Mark (Brooke) Vass, both of Ironton; and grandchildren, Ali (Kyle) Hankins, Conor Markins, Maddox and Malee Vass, and Ayden Hankins, who were his pride and joy.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Tracy Brammer-Monroe Funeral Home, Ironton, with Dr. Kevin Willis officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery and the family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until time of the service. Pallbears will be Donald Shimek, Mitch Mascotti, Jeff Smith, Conor Markins, Kyle Hankins and Mark Vass. To offer the family online condolences, please visit www.tracybrammerfh.com.

 

Helen Aldridge

Jan. 8, 1924 — Feb. 17, 2017

Helen Aldridge, wife of the late Kenneth O. Aldridge of Ironton, Ohio passed away on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017.
Helen was born in Hanging Rock, Ohio on Jan. 8, 1924. She was the daughter of the late Harry and Bridget Christian. She attended Hanging Rock Schools, where she graduated with the class of 1941.
While a senior, she was a member of the girls singing ensemble trio, which, consisted of Helen, the late Imogene (Jean) Richendollar Howell and the late Ruth Watts. They won the Ohio State Championship in the Ensemble Division in April of “41”. She was a soloist and a member of the adult choir of the Central Christian Church, of which, she was a member for more than 50 years.
Helen loved music with all her heart, and she sang most all her life at churches, funerals, weddings, club meetings, etc., and she had participated in many cantatas. Helen was also an artist, she has shown her paintings at art shows all over the Tri-State area. Helen also loved to write poetry. Helen belonged to the Ironton Women Music Club, the Ironton Artists Association, Eastern Star Lawrence Lodge 437 and the Red Hat Society at Jo-Lin’s.
In addition to her parents and husband, Helen was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, the late Sharon Perry Aldridge.
Helen is survived by her loving children, Ken “Butch” Aldridge and Julie (Aldridge) Boggs (Toby), and by special friends, Nancy and Mike McKee.
Her children would also like to thank Willie Purdee, Steve Harvey and a special thank you to the management and staff at Jo-Lin Health Center.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home, 1004 S. 7th Street, Ironton, with Reverend Glenn Carmon officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the same of service on Tuesday at the funeral home.
To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Ronald Kelley

Oct. 1, 1935 — Feb. 19, 2017

Ronald Lawrence Kelley, 81, of Pedro, passed away Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, at his residence. The Lawrence County native was born Oct. 1, 1935, the son of the late Roy E. Kelley and Minnie Ferguson Kelley.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Louise Magnago Kelley, whom he married on Dec. 11, 1965, in Readsboro, Vermont.
Ronald attended Pedro Schools and attended Lawrence Furnace Church. He was a former pipefitter for Local Union #104 in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and enjoyed working around the house and building model cars.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl E. “Jack” Kelley and Chester H. Kelley.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by son, Glen A. (Elisha Bond) Kelley, of Ironton; daughter, Nancy (Chad) Crabtree, of Jackson; two granddaughters, Courtney Gayle Crabtree and Sylvia Kaye Crabtree, both of Jackson; sister, Donna Jean Dickerson, of Ironton; sister-in-law, Charlotte Kelley, of Ironton; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted on a later date, at the convenience of the family. Phillips Funeral Home, Ironton, is assisting the Kelley family with arrangements. To offer condolences to the Kelley family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

James Wimer

James Dale Wimer, 86, of Huntington, West Virginia, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, at Madison Park, Huntington. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Wimer.
There will be no services. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, is in charge of arrangements.

 

Andy Hogsten

Andy Michael Hogsten, 72, of Ironton, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington, West Virginia.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Woodland Cemetery, Ironton. Family and friends will be received from 10:30-11 a.m. at the cemetery. Schneider-Hall Funeral Home, Chesapeake, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.schneiderhallfuneralhome.com.