Leah C. Bechtel
MANSFIELD — Leah C. Bechtel, 84, formerly of Mansfield, died Feb. 12, 2006, in Lexington Court Center.

She was born Sept. 4, 1921, in Liberty Township, Knox County, to Delmer and Alice (Eppley) McClead. She was a 1939 graduate of Fredericktown High School and a graduate of Mansfield Business College. She formerly worked for Dairy Queen Snack Bar and Sears Credit at Mansfield, and retired in 1982 from Sprint with 10 years of service.

She is survived by two daughters, Linda (Melvin) Mishey of Mansfield and Gay Grafton of Ontario; and two grandchildren.

On Nov. 12, 1944, she married Howard J. Bechtel, who died Jan. 7, 2006. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Neal Grafton; and a sister, Lois Hall.

The family will receive friends Saturday, Feb. 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home, where funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Pastor T.J. Waters will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery at Fredericktown. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Ruth Latos Memorial Service
DANVILLE — A memorial service for Ruth B. Latos, 82, of Flat Run Road, Danville, will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at 11:30 a.m. at the Greer Wesleyan Church in Greer. Pastor Lloyd Miller will officiate. The obituary can be viewed at www.fischerfuneralhome.com.

Grace B. Merillat
MOUNT VERNON — Grace B. Merillat of Mansfield Road, Mount Vernon, went to be with her Lord on Feb. 16, 2006, at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, following a short illness.

She was born in Lucas County on Sept. 4, 1914, the daughter of the late William and Ada Hildreth. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, her greatest joy was to be surrounded by her family. She graduated from Lyons High School in 1933 and played on the girls basketball team. On Feb. 26, 1938, she married Vernon E. Merillat and they spent their 46 years together farming in northern Ohio and also after moving to Knox County in 1960. Gardening was her passion and she loved to see the beauty of sunsets. She was a lifelong member of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Mount Vernon.

Grace will be lovingly remembered by her children, Duane (Joyce) Merillat, Terry (Patricia) Merillat and Vicki (Jerry) Gear; her four grandchildren, Vernon J. “VJ” Merillat, Bonnie Garmon, Stacie Hauke and David Merillat; her seven great-grandchildren, Garrett, Carter, Adam and Grace Hauke, Tonya, Kaitlyn and Tyler Merillat; and her four sisters, Ella Mae Sparks, Bettie Noonan, Beatrice Myers and Colleen Borck.

She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon E. Merillat, five brothers: James, Adrian, Lewis, Donald, and Robert Hildreth, and three sisters: Donna Cassis, Geneva Alnutt, and Neva Robasser.

Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, where a service will be Monday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Dan Whisner Sr. will officiate. Burial will follow in Mound View Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Grace’s name to a charity of one’s choice. This obituary can be viewed online and condolences can be made at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Gladys L. Pollard
FREDERICKTOWN — Gladys L. Pollard, 89, of Fredericktown, died late Wednesday evening, Feb. 15, 2006, at the Morrow County Hospital Extended Care Facility.

She was born in Grove City on Oct. 6, 1916, the daughter of the late Carlton G. and Flonnie I. (Spangler) Vance.

She is survived by three daughters, Dixie (Russell) Smegal, Mary Carpenter and Flonda (Jerome) Ball; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Zona Mason.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of over 40 years, True Pollard; son, Wesley C. Pollard; her daughter, Dolores Ann Baker; a brother; and three sisters.

The family will greet friends on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Home, 76 S. Main St., Mount Gilead, where funeral service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Larry Carnes officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Cemetery in Mount Sterling.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Sparta United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Morrow County. Condolences can be expressed to the family at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Ronald E. Thomas
MOUNT VERNON — Ronald E. Thomas, 67, of Mount Vernon died Wednesday morning, Feb. 15, 2006, at The Laurels of Mount Vernon.

He was born June 17, 1938, in Mount Vernon to Floyd and Martha (Totman) Thomas. Mr. Thomas retired after 35 years with American National Can.

He is survived by two sons, Ronald E. Thomas Jr. and Raymond E. Thomas, both of Mount Vernon; two daughters, Teresa (Mike) Ackerman of Bellville and Linda (Rick) Joens of Dearborn, Mich.; a brother, Roy Thomas of Mount Vernon; five sisters, Dorothy (Encil) Doup of Fredericktown, Arlene Cooper, Marilyn (Chuck) Bagent, Annabelle (Deb) Smith, all of Mount Vernon, and Joann (Rod) Smail of Bellville; his close friend and former wife, Doris Stiltner of Mount Vernon; five grandchildren, Sara, Cody, Alex, Katie and Christian.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Floyd Thomas Jr.

There will be no calling hours. The family will observe private services at Brandon Cemetery.

The North-Dilley Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made in Ronald’s name to American Red Cross, 300 N. Mulberry St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. This obituary, along with an online guest registry page, may be viewed at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Dewey J. Wilfong
MARTINSBURG — Dewey J. Wilfong, 80, of Martinsburg died Feb. 16, 2006, at Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon.

Friends may call Saturday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, where the funeral will be Sunday at 2 p.m. The full obituary will appear in Saturday’s edition of the Mount Vernon News.