Charles W. Ayers
MOUNT VERNON — Charles W. Ayers, 84, of Mount Vernon died Friday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2006, at Knox Community Hospital. The North-Dilley Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Harold F. Bakewell
DANVILLE — Harold F. Bakewell, 80, of Danville passed into the Lord’s arms on Dec. 29, 2006, at Ohio Veterans Home, Sandusky, after a prolonged illness.

Harold was born July 6, 1926, in Brownsville, Pa. He was a World War II Marine serving in the South Pacific. He moved to Akron, Ohio, and married Ethel Barta; in 1979 he moved to Danville, Ohio. Harold was a teacher, salesman, carpet cleaner, farmer and restaurant owner. He attended Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ethel; son, George (Deb Whitmore); daughter, Peggy; son, Brian (Fay Cline) of Atlanta; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers, John of Sandusky and Bill of Maryland; and a sister, Peg of Huron.

Memorial Service will be Sunday, Dec. 31, at 3 p.m. at Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene, 16001 Glen Road, Mount Vernon. Visitation with family will be held prior to the service at 2 p.m. Burial will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Veterans Cemetery at Sandusky.

Eric ‘Rick’ Balcom
HOWARD — Captain Eric “Rick” Balcom, 61, of Howard, Ohio, passed away Dec. 27, 2006, from an aircraft accident.

He was born on Aug. 4, 1945, to Perry and Marjorie Balcom (who preceded him in death). He proceeded to graduate from Milan High School (Milan, Ohio) in 1962 earning varsity letters in baseball, basketball and track. He then attended Kent State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration graduating Cum Laude in only three years, 1965. It was through the Kent State Flying Club, where his love of flying prospered into a career. His perseverance culminated in a commercial airline pilot position with Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 1967. During his career he piloted a multitude of aircraft including: B-707, B-727, L-1011, DC-9, MD-80, B-757 and B-767. He achieved the rank of captain in 1992. After 40 years of service, and over 27,500 hours in the cockpit he retired in August 2005. An active lifetime learner, he most recently earned certification, endorsed by the U.S. Coast Guard, in sailing and sea navigation in Florida. His professional affiliations included the Air Line Pilot Association (ALPA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

He is dearly missed as a husband and father. He is survived by his loving wife, Sue Balcom, his children who are Mount Vernon High School alumni; daughter Jenni Balcom, son Joel Balcom, MD (wife Jen, granddaughters Sophie and Ella, grandson Avery) and daughter Jessica Shetler (husband Chris, grandson Jonathan). His sisters include Debby Warr (husband Richard), Marilyn (husband Glenn), and Carol (husband James). He will be remembered most for his love and devotion to his family, his strong desire to teach and learn, his easy sense of humor and above all else his generosity.

Friends may call on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, 619 E. High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. The family will observe a private service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice. This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

A poem for our everything ... our beloved “Rick”, “Dad”, “Grandpa”, “Pa-Pa”, “Captain”, “Sky King”

“When once you have tasted flight,
You will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward,
For there you have been,
And there you will always long to return.”— Leonardo da Vinci

R. Malcolm Bone
GENOA, Mich. — R. Malcolm Bone, 85, of Genoa, Mich., formerly of Mount Vernon, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, in Michigan. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home, 201 Newark Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050.

To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Pauline L. Doup
MOUNT VERNON — Pauline L. Doup, 91, of Mount Vernon died Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, at the Country Club Retirement Campus in Mount Vernon.

Pauline was born July 3, 1915, in Coshocton County to Henry Richard and Alice Adelia (Tyson) Apple, and had spent most of her lifetime in the Mount Vernon area. She retired from the former Victory Market in Mount Vernon after 20 years’ employment. Pauline was a member of the Colonial City Moose Lodge in Mount Vernon, and her hobbies included playing euchre, listening to country music and square dancing. Although Pauline enjoyed many hobbies the focus of her life was her family, and she received her greatest pleasure in preparing a home-cooked meal for her family to enjoy.

Surviving are her daughter, Barbara Thatcher of Walhonding; her four sons, Richard (Shirley) Doup of Howard, James (Phyllis) Doup of Richwood, Paul (Marilyn) Doup of Anchorage, Alaska, and William (Saundra) Doup of Mount Vernon; 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, her husband, Earl E. Doup in 1998, three brothers and four sisters, preceded her in death.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Pastor Steve Sandison will officiate. Burial will follow at Amity Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. To send an online condolence to the family visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

David Hollabaugh III
MARENGO — David A. Hollabaugh III, 53, of Marengo died unexpectedly Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at his residence.

He was born on July 20, 1953, in Canton to the late David A. and Margaret (Carrick) Hollabaugh Jr. and has lived in the Marengo area since 1987 coming from Canton. David was a mechanical engineer for the former Flxible Bus Co. in Delaware and most recently for Ariel Corp. in Mount Vernon.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Ruth Weaver Hollabaugh and they were married Sept. 18, 1976, in Canton; son, David A. Hollabaugh IV of Marengo; daughter, Jamie (Nick) Terry of Edison; two grandchildren; sisters, Diana (Don) Warner of Canton, Doreen (Galen) Burns of Navarre and Darlene Young of Canton.

Friends may call Monday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury, where services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Bob Ludwig officiating. Interment in the Marengo Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Komen Race for the Cure, P.O. Box 16842, Columbus, OH 43216. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.