Gene L. Snell
MOUNT GILEAD — Gene L. Snell, 54, of County Road 97, Mount Gilead, died Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, at his residence following a battle with Multiple Melanoma Disease.

Gene was born Oct. 28, 1950, in Knox County. He spent his lifetime in Knox and Morrow counties and was a 1968 graduate of Fredericktown High School. Gene served with the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division, Corps of Engineers in Vietnam. He had been employed at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Industries in Crestline since 1973, where he was currently a quality control inspector. Gene was a member of 4-H and the National Percheron Draft Horse Association.

Surviving are his wife, Joann (Fulwider) Snell; his son, Tyler Jacob Snell; his mother, Geneva L. (Melcher) Snell; three brothers, Darrell (Silver) Snell of Fredericktown, Sam (Carleen) Snell of Bellville and Frank (Diana) Snell of Johnstown; and five sisters, Barbara (Charles) Logan of Lexington, Sandra (Ervine) Hunt of Caledonia, Sevilla Ault of Galion, Cheryl (Rodney) Furniss of Fredericktown and Janenne Burgett of Fredericktown.

He was preceded in death by his father, Floyd S. Snell; and two brothers, Dale Snell and Charles Snell.

Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown, where funeral service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. Interment, with military honors provided by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council, will follow in North Fork Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of one’s choice. This obituary and online condolences are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Linda L. Spellman
MOUNT VERNON — Linda Lee Bateman Spellman, 63, of Mount Vernon died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at her residence. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. This obituary and online condolences are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Howard L. Wheeler
FREDERICKTOWN — Howard L. “Shad” Wheeler, 66, died Dec. 3, 2004, at the Knox Community Hospital.

He was born June 18, 1938, in Columbus to Carl and Naomi (Wilson) Wheeler. Shad had led a very active life, mostly centered around his love for automobiles. Starting in his youth he was one of the founding members of Pacemakers Dragway. This led him to own and drive the quickest Chevrolet powered Top Alcohol Funny Car in the nation. With this care he won an IHRA National event in Rockingham, N.C., in 1988. He had driven a race car for the ARCA circuit as well as having worked on the pit crew for A.J. Foyt. Shad had owned or maintained a body shop for several years from which he restored, and had shown many cares. Including a 1957 Ford which was like his first new car, with this car he won several trophies. Shad had also owned several trucking businesses ranging from dump trucks to over-the-road semitrailers to an auto transport business — Wheeler Transport — which he was currently enjoying. Shad worked for several years at Cooper Energy Services as a machinist and, most recently, had retired as a millwright from General Motors in Mansfield.

He is survived by his wife, Susan (Dunn) Wheeler, to whom he had been married 18 years; four sons, Robert L. Wheeler and Douglas A. (Malani) Wheeler, both of Mount Vernon, and Michael T. (Melissa) Wheeler and Phillip L. (Sheri) Wheeler, both of Fredericktown; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two stepdaughters, Diane Stone of Butler and Gayle (Dale) Payne of Mount Vernon; three stepsons, Alan Stone and Jonny Stone of Mount Vernon and Gary (Rachel) Stone of Brinkhaven; 14 stepgrandchildren; one stepgreat-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Phoebe Paddock; and a granddaughter, Mariah Wheeler.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, where funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Mark Boucher officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1105 Mount Vernon Ave., Marion 43302. This obituary may be viewed online at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Elaine J. Williams
MOUNT GILEAD — Elaine J. (Sherman) Williams, 72, of Mount Gilead, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004, at the Morrow County Extended Care Facility.

She was a lifelong Morrow County resident, where she was born on May 17, 1932, the daughter of Ivan and Ethel (Carr) Sherman. She was a homemaker, who had also worked for Al’s Restaurant and the former L&K Motel. She was a member of the Cardington Nazarene Church and had also been a 4-H advisor.

She is survived by her husband, Carl Williams; a son, Virgil Hashman of Concord, N.H.; a daughter, Brenda Reynolds of New Mexico; 12 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Eileen (Arnold) Adams of Mount Gilead, Beverly Sherman of Mount Vernon and Faye (Charles) Poff of Fredericktown.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husbands, Charles Hashman and Melvin Pickett; a son, Keith Hashman; and a brother, Ray Sherman.

Friends may call Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Craven Funeral Home. Pastor Steve Jobe will conduct funeral service there at noon. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.