Chad L. Banning
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Chad Luke Banning died May 25, 2006, at his home in Las Vegas, Nev., leaving his loving family, Kathy and Chip Banning (parents); Drew Banning (brother); Inamarie Walker Curtis of Mount Vernon (paternal grandmother); Charles and Susan Banning of Assumption, Ill., (paternal grandparents), John Banning of Springfield, Ill., (uncle); and Davina Curtis Hsiao of Escondido, Calif., (aunt).

He was born June 22, 1981.

He will be greatly missed by many.

Memorial service was held May 31, 2006, at the Desert Spring United Methodist Church in (Summerlin) Las Vegas, Nev.

God saw you getting weaker, so
He did what he thought was best,
He came and stood beside you
and whispered, “Come to rest.”
We could not understand it, no
matter how we tried,
If love could have saved you,
you never would have died.

Howard E. Cochran
CENTERBURG — Howard E. Cochran, 76, of Centerburg, formerly of Martinsburg, died June 13, 2006, at the Heartland of Centerburg. He was born May 4, 1930, in Mount Vernon to Walter and Esther (Long) Cochran. He was a member of the Milford Church of Christ.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy C. (Hoyt) Cochran, to whom he had been married 55 years; his children, David Cochran of Mount Vernon, Esther (Ron) Waddell of Sidney, Mark (Debbie) Cochran of Austin, Texas, Rebecca Cassinger of Centerburg and Sarah (Bill) Slaughter of Marine City, Mich.; six grandchildren, Andrew Frye, Michelle Buffington, Mark Cochran Jr., Bryan Hamler, Stacey Stackhouse and Kristen Diamond; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by four brothers, Wayne, William and Louis Cochran and an infant brother; two sisters, Betty McMannes and an infant sister.

Friends may call Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harris-Dilley Funeral Home in Bladensburg. The funeral service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Martinsburg Church of Christ. Victor Slutz, David McGaughy and Gary Thomas will officiate. Burial will be in Martinsburg Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Milford Church of Christ, Martinsburg Church of Christ or Martinsburg Christian Church.

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

Mary Ann McLeod
MOUNT VERNON — Mary Ann McLeod of North Concord Drive, Mount Vernon, passed away Thursday morning, June 15, 2006, at her residence. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Vernon.

Robert W. Smith
MOUNT VERNON — Robert W. Smith, 71, of Elliot Street, Mount Vernon, passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

He was born Jan. 23, 1935, in Mount Vernon to Frank and Helen (Kaufman) Smith. Robert served in the U.S. Army.

He is survived by his loving family, six sons, Frank Smith, Eddie (Darlene) Smith, Gary (Pam) Smith and Mike Smith, all of Mount Vernon, Philip (Annette) Smith of Brinkhaven, Jim (Ronnie) Smith of Columbus; a daughter, Helen Berger of Mount Vernon; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Floyd (JoAnne) Smith of Howard, Frank (Mildred) Smith of Texas, Joseph (Pam) Bowen of Columbus; a sister, Pauline Smith of Columbus; and a daughter-in-law, Helen Smith of Mount Vernon.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Isabell Smith; a granddaughter, Jamie Smith; great-granddaughter, Ashley Regal; a brother, Leroy Smith; four sisters, Beverly Wright, Mary Beckholt, Becky DeWitt and Ernestine Githens.

Friends may call Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home, where a funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Burial, with military honors provided by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council, will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Cleo M. Varnes
MOUNT VERNON — Cleo May Varnes, 89, of Plaza Drive, Mount Vernon, formerly of Chestnut Street, Coshocton, died June 13, 2006, at the Country Club Nursing Center in Mount Vernon.

She was born Jan. 18, 1917, in Republic to the late Eber and Bessie (Shireman) Snay. She was a homemaker and a member of the Pleasant Hill Missionaries of Coshocton.

She is survived by two daughters, Patricia Hines of Bradenton, Fla., and Kathy Crawford of Mount Vernon; a sister-in-law, Audrey Varnes, and friend, Dick Tatten of Coshocton; five grandchildren; one stepgrandchild; 13 great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; a cousin, Lela Myant of New Orleans; one niece; and one nephew.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Draper Varnes, on Sept. 5, 1992; they were married Aug. 1, 1937. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Charles Snay; and a sister, Caroline Thorne.

A memorial service will be held Friday, June 16, at 1 p.m. at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw with the Rev. Jamie Gump officiating. The family will receive friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The obituary is at www.fischerfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Paul Wolford
MOUNT VERNON — Paul Wolford of Lewis Street, Mount Vernon, passed away Wednesday afternoon, June 14, 2006, at his residence. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Vernon.