Dennis ‘Junior’ Edwards
SUNBURY — Dennis D. “Junior” Edwards, 73, of Sunbury died suddenly Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville.

He was born June 16, 1931, in Sunbury to Dennis “Jake” and Edith Cora (Stewart) Edwards. A lifelong resident of the Sunbury area, he served in the U.S. Navy during the early 1950s. He was a mechanic by trade and could fix anything. Known as “a carburetor man,” he specialized in rebuilding carburetors.

Junior helped develop the Big Walnut Youth Athletic Association in 1974 and coached Little League football. He was actively involved and supported any program that benefited area youth. He ran the time clock for the Big Walnut football team for over 20 years. Junior also helped with the down markers and stripped the Big Walnut football field for over 25 years. He was often complimented by area referees, as one of the better timekeepers in the Ohio athletic system. A member of the Sunbury VFW Post 8736, he enjoyed NASCAR, following Rusty Wallace. He was a fan of all athletics, especially football, and more importantly the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Pat A. (Wallace) Edwards; daughters, Mindy (Scott) Runyan of Galena, Deborah (Charles) Meade of Johnstown; grandchildren, Jamie, Sam, Chelsea, Alexis, Dan, Amanda, Jennifer, and an expected grandson who will follow with his namesake; brothers, William D. (Dolly) Edwards of Mansfield, Don “Red” Edwards of Sunbury.

He was preceded in death by daughter, Nancy June; an infant son; brother, Robert; and sister, Marjorie Cantrell.

Friends may call Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury, where service will follow on Saturday 11 a.m. Burial, with military honors provided by the Sunbury VFW Post, will follow in Sunbury Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be directed to his family. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Helen R. Mellott
HANOVER, Pa. — Helen R. Mellott, 92, of Hanover, Pa., died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at the Hanover Hospital. She was the wife of the late Howard A. Mellott who died Oct. 25, 1984.

Born Jan. 18, 1913, in Hanover, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Aaron and Edna (Mondorf) Geiman.

Mrs. Mellott was an active member of Four Square Gospel Church in Hanover. She was employed with Hanover Shoe and Bowman Shoe in Hanover for a number of years. She was also very active at the Golden Visions Adult Day Care Center.

Surviving are two daughters and one son, Janet I. Dice of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Dorothy M. McAdams of Hanover, Pa., and Robert L. Mellott, New Oxford, Pa.; two sisters, Evelyn Zartman of Hanover, Pa.; Mary McAdams of York; 11 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death two brothers, Clark and Charles Geiman; one sister, Nadine Zartman; one grandson, Steve W. McAdams; and one great-granddaughter, Amy Nicole McAdams.

The funeral service will be Monday, June 6, at 11 a.m. at Four Square Gospel Church, 518 Wilson Ave., Hanover, Pa., with the Pastor Kevin D. Orwiler officiating. Viewing will be Monday at 9:30 a.m. to time of service at the church. Burial will be in Marburg Memorial Gardens, Hanover, Pa.

Pallbearers will be Helen’s grandsons, Clark McAdams, Park McAdams, Jeff Mellott, Dan Mellott, Tom Dice and Dennis Dice.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Foursquare Gospel Church, 518 Wilson Ave., Hanover, PA 17331; or to Golden Visions Adult Day Care, 1157 Eichelberger St., Hanover, PA 17331.

Virginia E. Noell
MOUNT VERNON — Virginia E. Noell, 87 of Mount Vernon died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon. The arrangements are under the care and direction of the Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Vernon. The obituary and online guest registry are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

David Thrift
MOUNT VERNON — David Thrift, 54, of Mount Vernon died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Mount Carmel-St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville. Friends may call Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Covenant Christian Church of God, New Delaware Road, Mount Vernon. A service giving glory to God for the life of David Thrift will follow at 7 p.m. at the church. A full obituary will appear in the Friday edition of the Mount Vernon News. These arrangements are under the care and direction of the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. The obituary and online condolences to the family are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Shirley M. Turner
MOUNT VERNON — Shirley M. (Eggert) Turner, 78, of Mount Vernon died Thursday, June 2, 2005, at the home of her son, Harry Turner, in Mount Vernon. The arrangements are under the care and direction of the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home. The obituary and online guest registry are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Laura A. Wilson
TOLEDO — Laura A. Wilson, 94, of the Woodlands at Sunset House, Indian Road, Toledo, passed away Monday afternoon, May 30, 2005, in her home.

One of eight children born to Jesse and Amanda McIntire on the family farm in Berlin Township, Knox County, Laura pursued her dream of being a teacher. Beginning her tenure at Bowling Green State University in 1964, she became a full professor in 1975 and completed her career in 1977 as professor emeritus.

A 1928 graduate of Fredericktown High School, Mrs. Wilson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1932 from Manchester College, in North Manchester, Ind. She pursued postgraduate studies there and received her master’s degree in 1941 from The Ohio State University. During her teaching career she engaged in advanced studies at the New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, Ohio State, Kent State and the Texas Women’s Universities.

Laura began teaching at the high school level in 1933 in Butler, and also taught in Bellaire, Massillon, Centerburg and Parma through 1964. She began her college teaching career at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware.

At Bowling Green State University, she taught in the Department of Home Economics specializing in the area of textiles and clothing. She was instrumental in designing and developing a comprehensive Interior Design program and initiating a relationship between BGSU and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

She held memberships in the National and Ohio Education Associations, the American Home Economics Association, the National Association of College Teachers of Textile and Clothing, and the American Association of University Professors. In 1989, Laura’s high school women’s basketball team was honored at the Fredericktown High School’s first Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet.

Mrs. Wilson was involved through the years with the Order of the Eastern Star, generously volunteered her time at the Sunset House, Epworth United Methodist Church, Flower Hospital, and served a term as president of the Ottawa Hills/Sylvania Chapter of AARP. She held honorary affiliations in Pi Lambda Theta and Alpha Lambda Delta. In 1976, she was honored as one of the Women of the Year in the Bowling Green Chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta, National Honorary. Laura enjoyed gardening and traveled extensively through the years.

In 1986, Manchester College awarded her the Alumni Honor award. In December 2001, Mrs. Wilson established and endowed the Laura McIntire Wilson Foundation at Manchester College to offer scholarships to deserving students majoring in education.

Laura Wilson was a devoted mother and grandmother. She is the widow of Lawrence A. Wilson, who died in 1956. Her sisters, Estella Stanfield and Pauline Cruse; and brothers, George and Hoy McIntire, preceded her in death.

Surviving are her daughters, Pamela (Jack) Straub of Ottawa Hills and Deborah (Peter) Lipman of Providence, R.I. The grandchildren are Cecily (Joel) Denny, Jessica and Laura Straub, and Abigail and Rebecca Lipman. She is the sister of Howard J. McIntire of Fort Worth, Texas; Virginia Wisecup, Columbus; and Maxine Isett, Mount Vernon.

Friends may call Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Road, Toledo. The funeral will be celebrated by Pastor Robert Ball on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Epworth United Methodist Church, 3077 Valleyview Drive. Burial will follow in Ankenytown.

Memorials may take the form of a contribution to the Laura McIntire Wilson Endowed Scholarship at Manchester College, P.O. Box 365, North Manchester, IN, 46962; or Epworth Church or the charity of the donor’s choice. A guest register may be viewed and signed at www.CoyleFuneralHome.com.