USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
William T. "Bill" Mellen
William T. "Bill" Mellen, 59, of West Liberty, died at 10:54 a.m. Sunday, April 23, 2006, in The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.
He was born in Cincinnati on Oct. 19, 1946, a son of William R. Mellen, who survives in Elkhart, Ind., and the late Bessie Mae Graham Mellen.
On July 13, 1980, he married the former Lorry E. Pearson and she survives, along with a son, William "Andy" Mellen, of the home; daughter, Courtney L. Mellen, of the home; sisters, Patricia (Darrell) Holycross of Bellefontaine and Mary Beth (Robert) Wilmore of Elkhart; father- and mother-in-law, Abe and Ginny Pearson of Bellefontaine; sister-in-law, Julia (Bill) Armstrong of Bellefontaine; brothers-in-law, Robert (Mary) Pearson of Marion and Larry (Deana) Pearson of Cable; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Bellefontaine High School graduate and U.S. Army veteran, he worked in the warehouse at Nash Finch/Super Foods.
Rick Petty conducts a funeral at 11 a.m. Thursday at Kauffman-Eichholtz Funeral Home, West Liberty, where calling is from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Interment is in Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Ohio Diabetes Association.
Rachel Piner Church
Former Bellefontaine resident Rachel Piner Church, 85, of Morehead City, N.C., died Tuesday, May 9, 2006, at Harborview Nursing Home in Morehead City, after a long illness.
She was born in Morehead City on March 19, 1921, a daughter of the late Grace Reel and Lewis Kirby Piner. In 1937, she graduated from Morehead City High School and worked locally until she married Philip S. Church of Dayton in 1943, when he was stationed in Morehead City.
After World War II, they lived in Miami, Fla., then Dayton and Bellefontaine, where they were involved in operating radio and cable television businesses. They returned to Morehead City in 1978.
Her husband survives, along with three children, Philip S. Church Jr., Ann Church and Jon Church, and five grandchildren, Courtney May, Scott Woodland May, Paul Church, Ross Church and Joanna Rachel Church, all of the Washington, D.C., area; and sisters, Mattie Roberts of Morehead City and Grave Boshamer of Raleigh, N.C. Three brothers, Woodland, Woodrow and Lewis Piner preceded her in death.
The Rev. Charles Royal conducts a service at 2 p.m. Saturday at Munden Funeral Home Chapel, Morehead City. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carteret County Humane Society, 853 Hibbs Road, Newport, N.C. 28570.
Douglas Brian Huber
Douglas Brian Huber, 53, of Columbus, died Wednesday, May 10, 2006, at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus.
A member of Linworth Road Community Church, he was employed for 25 years by the Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation Developmental Disabilities, where he helped manage Arc Industries North.
Throughout his life, he was devoted to the family farm, the workshop, and his family and friends. He loved spending time with kids of all ages and was a big kid at heart. He loved spending time outdoors, hiking, running, gardening and traveling.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harley Huber.
Survivors include his loving wife, Jane; loving mother, Lois A. Huber of Bellefontaine; adoring son, Nick; brother, Bruce (Kathy) Huber of Colorado; brother-in-law, Howard (Pam) Griffith of Cortland; and many dear aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Calling is at Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel, 3100 N. High St., Columbus, from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, where the funeral is at 11 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Chris Martin officiating. There is private family inurnment.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Centennial Stars Swim Team and Marburn Academy memorial funds at any Fifth/Third Bank.
Lois A. Plikerd
Lois A. Plikerd, 74, of Russells Point, died at 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2006, in Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus.
She was born in Marion on Nov. 3, 1931, a daughter of the late Curtis and Irene Columber Gibson. On Nov. 14, 1954, she married Robert M. Plikerd and he died June 26, 2002. Two sisters also preceded her in death.
Survivors include three daughters, Kathy (Al) Anderson of Bellefontaine, Barbara Wilson of New Lebanon and Lori (Gene) Templeton of Wapakoneta; a son, Robert M. (Pandora) Plikerd II of Bellefontaine; seven grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; three great-granddaughters; and six greatstepgrandchildren.
A cook, she was a member of the First Church of God in Bellefontaine. Pastor Gary Brown conducts a funeral at 1 p.m. Friday at Sanford-Eichholtz Funeral Home, Lakeview, where calling is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Burial is in Huntsville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lung Association and Diabetes Association.
James H. Tullis
James H. Tullis, 73, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, died at 11:05 a.m. Sunday, May 21, 2006, at Mary Rutan Hospital.
He was born at Waterville on Feb. 5, 1933, a son of the late Henry Mayer and Beatrice Disher Tullis. He was adopted and raised by the late Gerald N. Tullis.
On June 20, 1952, he married the former Dixie L. Dowell and she survives, along with a son, Tabor L. (Vicki) Tullis of Bellefontaine; and a half-brother, Charles W. (Sue) Tullis of Piqua.
He was graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1951 and served with the U.S. Naval Air Corps during the Korean Conflict.
He was an avid fisherman most of his life and during his retirement years, enjoyed his home atmosphere and meeting and talking with people.
Calling hours were Tuesday at Eichholtz Funeral Home, Bellefontaine, where Gene Marine conducted a funeral today. Interment was in Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mary Rutan Foundation or the Salvation Army.
Robert A. Coffman
Robert A. Coffman Sr., 89, of Lima, died at 3 a.m. Sunday, June 11, 2006, in St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.
He was born in Lima on Aug. 17, 1916, a son of the late Clarence and Emma Lewis Coffman.
On June 18, 1935, he married the former June M. Miller and she died Sept. 13, 2005. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Louise Coffman; a brother, James Coffman; and brother-in-law, Paul Jackson.
Survivors include two sons, Robert A. (Suzanne) Coffman Jr. of Huntsville and Ronald Eugene (Jane) Coffman of Mansfield; a daughter, Angelique (Joseph) Suarez of Lima; a brother, Virgil (Darlene) Coffman of Lima; a sister, Helen E. Jackson of Lima; a sister-in-law, Pauline Coffman of Lima; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; five stepgrandchildren; and six great-stepgrandchildren.
A drill press operator, he retired in 1979 from Clark Equipment. The U.S. Army veteran of World War II and last surviving member of the 1933 Ohio National Guard G-Company 148th Infantry unit, he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, BPOElks 54, life member of VFW 1275 and was a former member of FOE 370.
A service begins at 11 a.m. Thursday at Chiles and Sons-Laman Lewis Chapel, Lima, where calling is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to the funeral Thursday. Burial with military rites by VFW Post 1275 is in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lima.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.
Cleta Mae Kurtz King
Cleta Mae Kurtz King, 93, of Urbana and formerly of West Liberty, died at 8:37 a.m. Sunday, June 11, 2006, in McAuley Center, Urbana.
She was born in Fairview, Mich., on March 17, 1913, a daughter of the late Orvin and Maida Hershberger Kurtz.
On June 3, 1934, she married Floyd Y. King in West Liberty, and he died Sept. 5, 1998. She also was preceded in death by sons, Jimmy and Melvin King; brother, Marvin Kurtz; and sisters, Letha Shantz, Freda Kauffman and Hilda Troyer.
Survivors include sons, Calvin (Lois) King of Asheville, N.C., Walter (Doris) King of Northfield, Wes (Judy) King of Urbana, Duane King of Lancaster, Pa., and Harlan King of Fridley, Minn.; a brother, Melvin Kurtz of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A homemaker, she was a 70-year member of the South Union Mennonite Church in West Liberty.
Her favorite Scripture passage was Romans 8:31-39. She was known for her artistic talents, decorating wedding cakes, painting landscapes, writing an illustrated book for her grandchildren and composing poems.
Pastor Howard Schmidt
conducts a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at South Union Mennonite Church, where calling is one hour prior. Kauffman-Eichholtz Funeral Home, West Liberty, handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the McAuley Center, 906 Scioto St., Urbana 43078.
Lee Roy Collinsworth
Lee Roy Collinsworth, 71, of West Liberty, died at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, 2006, in Mary Rutan Hospital.
He was born in Paintsville, Ky., on Oct. 4, 1934, a son of the late Frank and Lucy Jackson Collinsworth.
He also was preceded in death by brothers, James, Frank Jr. and Billy Collinsworth; and sisters, Betty Collinsworth, Thelma Saylor and Dorothy Conley.
Survivors include two sons, Chris Collinsworth of Longmount, Colo., and Mark Collinsworth of West Liberty; two daughters, Lisa (David) Comer of Zanesfield and Nicole (Will) Morgan of Snowflake, Ariz.; loving companion, Barbara Lones of West Liberty and her daughters, Karen Miller, Linda Gooding, Kay Reed, Jeanie Rice and Jan Reed; a brother, Tillman (Janet) Caudill of Mt. Vernon, Ky.; sisters, Opal LaFallette of West Liberty, Margaret (German) Wells of Urbana, Myrtle Eberwein of Piqua, Sylvia Tackett of Louisville, Ky., and Janet Conley of Oil Spring, Ky.; six grandchildren, Nakkia Simpson, Chayse and Devyn Comer, Christopher Fraley and Dustin and Leiann Spaine; and six great-grandchildren.
A construction foreman for Mason and Lawrence Ribstone Silo in Urbana, he retired in 1992. He enjoyed gardening and remodeling homes. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
A funeral begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at Kauffman-Eichholtz Funeral Home, West Liberty, where calling is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Interment is in Highland Memorial Cemetery, West Liberty.
