Robert E. Briggs
MOUNT VERNON — Robert E. Briggs, 72, of Mount Vernon died Jan. 6, 2005, at Knox Community Hospital.

He was born June 5, 1932, in Mount Vernon to Everett and Vera (Hankins) Briggs.

He is survived by a son, Robert A. Briggs of Portland, Ore.; a daughter, Sandra Briggs of Houston, Texas; a longtime close companion of 27 years, Alice Matthews of Mount Vernon; a sister, Kate Thomas of Mount Vernon; and four grandchildren.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Briggs, in 1967.

Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the North-Dilley Funeral Home, where funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

This obituary may be viewed online along with a guest registry page at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Melvin ‘Wink’ Holland
AMITY — Melvin D. “Wink” Holland, 74, of Amity passed peacefully from this earth and into heaven Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Oct. 15, 1930, in Ashland to Howard and Thelma R. (Yonally) Holland. He grew up in the Washington County, Ohio, area and graduated from Somerset High School in 1948. Melvin served as a cook in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, N.C., from 1951 to 1953, during the Korean War. He was a 30-year member of the American Legion. Melvin moved to the Amity area in 1999 from Dalton after retiring from Consolidated Freightways in Canton as a truck driver for 42 years. Mel loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter, fisherman and farmer. He was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Amity.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 17 years, Sharon (Ransom) Holland; daughter, Melissa Mason of Mount Vernon; son, Michael (Judy) Holland of Wooster; stepdaughter, Anna (Adam) Horlacher of Amity; stepsons, Matthew Pealer of San Francisco and Chris (Amy) Martin of Wooster; sisters, Donalene Griffin of New Matamoras and Ruth (Harold) Wilson of Thornville; brothers, Raymond Holland of Mansfield and Ralph (Mary Katherine) Holland of Somerset; brother-in-law, Rick Ransom of Mesa, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Patricia Carter of Amity; grandchildren, Angela and Augustina Horlacher of Amity and Tyler, Brandon and Sara Holland of Wooster.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home. Funeral will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Amity United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Philip McMurrin officiating. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will be in Amity Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Amity United Methodist Church. This obituary and online condolences to the family are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Ruth G. Hunter
MOUNT VERNON — Ruth G. Hunter, 85, of Mount Vernon passed away Friday, Jan. 7, 2005, at the Country Court Nursing Center.

She was born May 13, 1919, in Mount Vernon, the daughter of Neil and Myrtle (Speck) Gilt.

Ruth is survived by a son, William M. (Tina) Hunter of Mount Vernon; three daughters, Gladys A. Hunter, Christine (Michael) Wooden and Roxanne (Kenneth) Hart, all of Mount Vernon; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen McPherson of Mount Vernon; and a daughter-in-law, Sharon Hunter of Mount Vernon.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, William M. Hunter; a son, James Hunter; four brothers, Oscar Gilt, Chester Gilt, Lawrence Gilt and Paul Gilt; and two sisters, Hazel Riffle and Lois Arzella Gilt.

Friends may call Tuesday, Jan. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, where a funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Paul Merki will officiate. Interment will follow in the Tiverton Regular Baptist Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 302 E. High St., Mount Vernon 43050. This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Betty J. Alverson Knefley
FREDERICKTOWN — Betty J. Alverson Knefley, 81, of Fredericktown died Friday, Jan. 7, 2005, at the Ohio Eastern Star Home at Mount Vernon. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown. The full obituary and online condolences to the family are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Lucile Streby
FREDERICKTOWN — Lucile (Cochran) Streby, 98, of Fredericktown died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, at the Morrow Manor Nursing Home in Chesterville.

Lucile was born Feb. 7, 1906, at Fredericktown to Benjamin F. and Edna (Miller) Cochran. She was a 1923 graduate of Fredericktown High School, attended the Berlin Conservatory for one year and had spent her lifetime in the Fredericktown area. Lucile had worked as an aide for the former Salem Nursing Home in Fredericktown. She had been a member of the Gilead Mennonite Church for 32 years and prior to that had been a member of the Batemantown United Methodist Church.

Surviving are her foster son, Lavern (Patty) Warner of Gahanna; her daughter-in-law, Wilma Streby Conant of Fredericktown; six step-grandchildren; two foster grandchildren; nine stepgreat-grandchildren; two foster great-grandchildren; 14 stepgreat-great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Amelia Cochran of Fredericktown.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Jennings B. Streby; her son, Jennings J. Streby; two brothers, Paul Cochran and Carroll Cochran; her sister-in-law, Audrey Cochran; and her foster grandson, Barry Warner.

Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown. A funeral service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the Gilead Mennonite Church with Murray Krabill officiating. Interment will follow in the Forest Cemetery.

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