Robert R. Koppert
JELLOWAY — Robert R. Koppert, 83, of Jelloway died Nov. 23, 2006, after suffering a heart attack at a Thanksgiving Day gathering with his entire family and close extended family. Born May 27, 1923, in Mount Vernon, Bob was a lifetime resident of the Jelloway area.

During World War II, Bob left Baldwin-Wallace College and joined friends, Jacque Lingenfelter and Ted Young on a trip to Fort Hayes in Columbus, to investigate enlistment in the Navy. While there, Bob noticed a sign for enlisting in the Army Air Corps, and chose the sky over the sea. He trained first as a pilot, but with better scores as a marksman, which he attributed to hunting quail in Knox County as a boy, he was made a side-door gunner. Bob later blamed his hearing loss on the airplane’s 50-caliber machine guns. Bob served in Central Europe, earning two bronze stars. He flew 10 missions over Germany in a B-24 Liberator bomber, once making a forced landing in occupied France with an engine on fire.

As a young man, Bob enjoyed the big bands that provided dance music at area clubs, including the Sunset Club in Mount Vernon, which was at the time owned by his father. He never lost his love of the big band sound.

At the end of World War II, Bob returned to Knox County to help his parents with their farming businesses, and began a career in banking and later in insurance. He purchased the JJ Welsh Insurance Agency in Loudonville in 1964, which he eventually operated in partnership with his son, Eric. He continued to be active in the business until very recently.

Bob married new Loudonville resident and school teacher, Jean Sutton, in 1949. They were married for 57 years and had three sons and four grandsons. They enjoyed traveling together, especially trips to England and Spain, and annual trips to Myrtle Beach, S.C., with close friends.

In 1969, Bob’s younger brother, Jack, was killed in a plane crash in the Smoky Mountains. Bob made and helped organize numerous trips to the area searching for Jack’s plane. It was found after a very difficult year and a half for Jack’s family and extended family. The loss of his younger sister, Mirriem, in 1994 was equally hard on Bob.

Bob loved being a Loudonville business owner, a Jelloway resident, a Knox County Republican, a Rotarian, and a member of the Loudonville High Class of 1941. He enjoyed playing golf and tennis. He and classmate, Dr. Charles McMullen, had a running debate over which of the two was the best-looking man in their graduating class, with each signing notes and cards to the other as “Number Two.” Bob loved and respected his family and his friends and had a rare optimism and enthusiasm for life, which was elevating and reassuring to those who spent time with him.

He is survived by his wife, Jean (Sutton) Koppert; sons, Rob Koppert of Manhattan, N.Y., Bruce Koppert of Worthington, and son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Dana Dodge Koppert of rural Jelloway. He is also survived by four grandsons, Eric, Sam, Tom and Jack, all of Jelloway; nieces, Jill (Tom) Charlton of Jelloway and Jami (Bob) Gray of Traverse City, Mich., Stephanie Sutton of Atlanta, Ga., Rae (Mark) Harriott-White of Columbus and Toni Koppert of Powell; and nephews, Cary (Donna) Koppert of Upper Arlington and Harold (Mary) Sutton of Vienna, Va. He is also survived by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Richard (Sandy) Segrist of Apple Valley, Walt (Edie) Sutton of Louisville, Ky., Jean (Ted) Smith of Sarasota, Fla.; and cousins, Dave (Sarah) Dowds of Greensboro, N.C., and Leon Pore of Hayesville.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ray R. Koppert; and mother, Edna (Stout) Koppert; his brother, Jack; sister, Mirriem Segrist; and nephew, Kevin.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Jelloway United Methodist Church in Jelloway at 1:30 p.m. with the Rev. Ross Gooch, officiating. Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville, is handling arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to the Loudonville High School Class of 1941 Scholarship Fund, c/o Mike Bandy, Farmers & Savings Bank, 120 N. Water St., Loudonville, OH 44842; or to the Jelloway United Methodist Church, 21248 Wooster Road, Danville, OH 43014. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.Byerly-Lindsey.com.

Crispin J. Webb
COLUMBUS — Crispin J. Webb, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, formerly of Tyler Mountain, suddenly went to be with the Lord on Nov. 23, 2006.

He was born Dec. 12, 1977. He was preceded in death by his infant niece, Kaitlyn E. Brown. Crispin was a graduate student at Ohio State University in Columbus. This spring he was to receive his MFA degree from Bard College in New York and also from Ohio State University. He was an accomplished artist, having several exhibition pieces of his work sold. He was working for OSU, as an artist and several independent Web site design jobs.

He is survived by his mother, Janet K. Webb of Tyler Mountain; father, Richard J. Webb of Charleston; sister, Heidi K. Brown and her husband, David, of Cincinnati, Ohio; maternal grandparents, William K. “Bill” and Maxine Tustin of Clendenin; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Webb of Fayetteville, N.Y.; and two nieces, Sarah E. Brown and Ashley E. Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio; and numerous friends from around the world who loved him.

Funeral service will be held today at 7 p.m. at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, W.Va., with the Rev. Larry Kale officiating. An additional funeral service will be held Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Nazarene University Chapel, Mount Vernon, Ohio. Burial will be at a later date in Elk Hills Memorial Park.

Crispin gave his heart to Jesus and let the Lord work through him and his artwork. He was always witnessing for the Lord and telling people about salvation and how Jesus could change their lives. He helped people in all aspects of life and he served others.

His greatest desire was for people to be able to go to Mount Vernon Nazarene University and major in art. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050, for the MVNU Art Alumni Memorial Fund for Crispin Webb.

Arrangements are in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, W.Va.

John Calvin Young
MOUNT VERNON — John Calvin Young, 75, of Harcourt Road, Mount Vernon, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, at his residence.

He was born on Dec. 25, 1930, in Springfield to the late William and Mary (Schnault) Young. John retired in 1970 as a Chief E7 from the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by two daughters, Patricia Charles of Ledyard, Conn., and Karen Sciamacco of Warwick, R.I.; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by four brothers, Clarence Young, David Young, William Young and Karol Young; and a sister, Pearl Stuckey.

The family will observe a private graveside service at a later date in Crooksville Cemetery. These arrangements are under the care and direction of the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home. This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.