Elaine B. Dayton
MOUNT VERNON — Elaine B. Dayton, 90, of Mount Vernon, formerly of Marion, died March 20, 2005, at the Ohio Eastern Star Home.

She was born May 13, 1914, in Union County to Thomas A. and Ethel M. (Downs) Ballinger. She was a member of the Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, where she was active with the Women’s Society of the church and the Mary Circle. She was also a former member of the Prospect Street United Methodist Church in Marion. She graduated from the Ohio University School of Journalism in 1938. For 10 years she worked for the Ohio Christian News in Columbus. She retired in 1976, after serving 34 years as the featured editor for the Marion Star Newspaper.

She is survived by a sister, Althea (Col. Hugh E.) Hookway of Mount Vernon; a nephew, the Rev. Hugh (Judith) Hookway Jr. of Alliance; two nieces, Judith M. Hookway of Alliance and Margaret (Gary) Shanks of Lynchburg, Va.; and several more nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Dayton; and her mother-in-law, Mildred Brenner Dayton.

The funeral will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, with the Revs. Hugh Hookway Jr. and Rodney Buchanan officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to services. Graveside service will be Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Marion Cemetery at Marion.

Memorial contributions may be made to Prospect United Methodist Church Choir, 185 S. Prospect St., Marion, OH 43302. This obituary, along with an online guest registry page, may be viewed at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

‘Ned’ Kilkenny
MOUNT VERNON — “Ned” William Edward Kilkenny, 73, of Mount Vernon died March 20, 2005, at St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville.

He was born Dec. 13, 1931, in Mount Vernon to Charles A. and Irma B. (De Brucque) Kilkenny. Ned loved the Lord, his family, friends and everyone he met. His grandchildren were the light of his life. He enjoyed music, singing and dancing, and was in the minstrel shows when he was a teenager.

He was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, where he had served as a past knight. He was also a member of the Cum Christo of Columbus. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from 1951-55 in San Diego, Calif., aboard the USS Huntley, and was stationed at Pearl Harbor working in communications. He was a member of the Marriage Encounter group. He began working at the age of 14, at the former Pitkin’s Corner, and later at the Lamb Glass factory as a foreman. He retired in 1989, after serving 30 years as a postal carrier with the U.S. Postal Service. Upon retirement, he assisted Jerry Scott auctioneer and Dan Nagy at the Flower Basket.

He is survived by his wife, Mary (Zuccaro) Kilkenny, to whom he had been married 42 years; three daughters, Virginia (Steven) Cater of Mount Vernon, Maureen Kilkenny of San Diego, Calif., and Kathleen King of Mount Vernon; four grandchildren, Olivia, Francesca and William Cater and Cecelia King; and his four-legged companion, Melke.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Clark; and a brother, Charles J. Kilkenny.

Friends may call Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, where the funeral Mass will follow at 3:30 p.m. with the Revs. Ted Thomas and David Orians officiating. A graveside service will be Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens. Burial with military honors will be conducted by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council. The North-Dilley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 1373 Grandview Ave., Suite 200, Columbus, OH 43212; or the Lupus Foundation of America, Marcy Zitron Chapter, 6161 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229.

This obituary may be viewed, along with an online guest registry, at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Estella Williams Reffitt
MOUNT VERNON — Estella A. Williams Reffitt, 85, of Mount Vernon passed away Sunday, March 20, 2005, at her residence.

She was born March 1, 1920, in Glouster, daughter of James S. and Jessie (Humphrey) Roberts. She attended the First Church of the Nazarene in Mount Vernon.

She is survived by three sons, James E. (Georgia) Williams of Fredericktown, Jack E. (Rella) Williams of Dayton and Hoyt S. (Peggy) Williams of Mount Vernon; a stepdaughter, Debbie (Robert) Legge of Nashville, Tenn.; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a brother, James Forrest Roberts of Jacksonville; and a sister, Eva Medley of Zanesville.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husbands, Dallas D. Williams and Charles Reffitt; four brothers; and three sisters.

Funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Cardaras Funeral Home, 30 Main St., Glouster, with the Rev. Gary Griffith officiating. Interment will be in Hollister Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

To send an expression of sympathy or sign an online guest registry, visit www.cardaras.com.