Charles W. Ayers
MOUNT VERNON — Charles W. Ayers, 84, passed away Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, at Knox Community Hospital.

He was born July 15, 1922, in Mount Vernon to Elizabeth and Lawrence Ayers and was a lifelong resident of Knox County. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School and after military service during World War II, he graduated from Kenyon College and then received his law degree from Case Western Reserve Law School in Cleveland. He became a member of the Knox County Bar Association and entered into law practice with Jay S. McDevitt. Later, when McDevitt was elected Common Pleas Judge of Knox County, his son, Robert McDevitt, joined the practice.

In 1952, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Knox County and he held that position until he was appointed Common Pleas judge in 1968. He served as judge until his retirement in 1982.

He was married to his beloved wife, Alice, for 59 years until she passed away late last year. He enjoyed a wide range of music and was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he sang in the choir for many years. He was a die-hard Cleveland Indians fan and an accomplished golfer. Throughout the years, he competed in many golf tournaments in Knox County and throughout Ohio and won several Knox County and Mount Vernon Country Club championships.

He is survived by his three children, Will (Marlene) Ayers of Marlborough, Conn., Barbara (Richard) Ford of Mount Vernon and Andrew (Karen) Ayers of Maumee; four grandchildren, Erin (Brian) Humphrey of Mount Vernon, Patrick Ford of Ashland, Amanda Ayers of West Hartford, Conn., and Nicholas (Rachael) Ayers of Westerville; as well as three great-grandchildren, Noah and Anna Humphrey of Mount Vernon and Alexis Ayers of Westerville. A fifth grandchild, Elizabeth Ayers is deceased. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 1 p.m. The family will host a reception immediately following the service at St. Paul’s Parish House. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Gambier. The North-Dilley Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.

The family has asked that any memorial donations be made to Interchurch Social Services of Knox County, 114 E. Gambier St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050.

R. Malcolm Bone
BRIGHTON, Mich. — R. Malcolm Bone, 85, of Brighton, Mich., formerly of Gambier, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, in Michigan.

He was born on Oct. 6, 1921, in Mount Vernon to the late Ralph and Lettie (Vernon) Bone. Mr. Bone was the former service manager at Glackin Chevrolet, was in sales at Rhodes Chevrolet, a machinist at Cooper-Bessemer Industries and was the Knox County Sewer and Water supervisor. He was on the Gambier School Board, the Gambier City Council, was a church elder at Grove Church of Christ in Gambier and was a veteran serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He is survived by his son, Gary (Bonnie) Bone; a daughter, Barbara (Doug) Truitt; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a brother Charles Moses (Lu) Bone.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth (Beatty) Bone; a grandson, Tyler W. Bone; and a brother, Richard Bone.

Friends may call Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where funeral services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. with Evangelist Jerold Tear officiating. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow at Union Grove Cemetery near Gambier.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Gambier-College Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Betty J. Bullock
WESTERVILLE — Betty J. Bullock, 78, of Westerville died Dec. 30, 2006, at St. Ann’s Hospital.

She was retired from General Motors.

Surviving are her daughter, Linda Thompson of Mount Vernon; son, Don Bullock of Columbus; grandchildren, Nathan (Jessica) Thompson, Tiffany (Keith) Anderson and Tessa Thompson (fiancé Tim Forby); great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Morgan Thompson, Aiden and Austin Anderson; sister, Donna Lowes of Logan; brother, Jack Gaskins of Seattle, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy M. Bullock.

Friends may call Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moreland Funeral Home, 55 E. Schrock Road, Westerville, where service will be Thursday at 1 p.m. The Rev. Dan Hamilton will officiate. Interment will be in Burnside Cemetery.

Paul Doak Ewing Jr.
CAMBRIDGE — Paul Doak Ewing Jr., 85, of Cambridge, died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at Victorian Oaks in Cambridge. He was a son of the late Paul D. Ewing Sr. and Ruth Corbin Ewing, and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Cambridge.

Fruit and nurseryman Doak Ewing, longtime owner and proprietor of Ewing’s Apple House, located on old route 40 east of Cambridge. A former sousaphone player in the Ohio State University Marching Band (1941, ’42 and ’45), Doak dotted the “I” in the band’s famous Script Ohio formation his senior year. Secretary of Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity, Doak was also active in several other musical organizations on campus. He sang in the OSU Men’s Glee Club, played the tuba in the OSU concert band and was chosen for membership in both Phi Mu Alpha (OSU Music Honorary) and Kappa Kappa Psi (National Band Honorary). A member of the board of trustees of the Guernsey County Library and former Boy Scout Leader. Ewing also enjoyed playing in the Cambridge City Band. Well known locally as a “man of many hobbies,” Doak was a former member of the Antique Automobile Club of America, National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, The Archeological Society of Ohio, The International Wood Collectors Society, and the Cambridge Stamp and Coin Club.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Mildred J. Smit Ewing, whom he married on Aug. 31, 1947; and a sister, Jeanne Van Cleave.

He leaves three daughters, Linda “Linny” (James) McNeill of Mount Vernon, Anita (Howard) Montgomery of Findlay and Carol (Steve) Zellner of Pittsburgh, Pa.; a son, Doak McKinley “Mac” Ewing of Naperville, Ill.; four grandchildren, Stephen Zellner of Columbus, Tiffany Zellner of Pittsburgh, Pa., Alicia Montgomery of Columbus and Kendal (Gwen) Montgomery of Delaware; and two great-grandchildren, Chancelor Montgomery of Delaware and Landon Montgomery of Delaware.

Visitation will be on Thursday, Jan. 4, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Bundy-Law Funeral Home with the service on Friday, Jan. 5, at 11 a.m. Dr. Terry Litton will officiate the service with burial following in Northwood Cemetery.

Albert Johnson Jr.
BUTLER — Albert Johnson Jr., 57, of Stewart Avenue, Butler, died Sunday morning, Dec. 31, 2006, in his home following a sudden illness.

He was born Oct. 29, 1949, in Columbus to Albert Sr. and Juanita Violet (Harler) Johnson, and was graduated from Columbus Central High School in 1967. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Albert had retired from Delta Airlines with 23 years of service as a baggage handler.

He is survived by his daughter, Ronda Johnson, and her fiancé, William Bircher of Fredericktown; daughter, Denise Johnson, and her fiancé, John Born of Butler; three granddaughters, Kristina Baumgartner, Erica Baumgartner and Laiken Johnson; sisters, Darlene (Ronnie) Steele and Linda (Rick) Laney; brothers, Timothy Johnson and Dennis (Gerry) Johnson, both of Grayson, Ky.; his former wife and lifelong love, Kimberly Leichner of Fredericktown; numerous cherished nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister.

The Bellville Snyder Funeral Home is serving the family with a private celebration of his life. Interment will be in Grayson, Kentucky.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Patsy Riggleman
MANSFIELD — Patsy Lou (Banbury) Riggleman, 70, of Mansfield, died Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, at home surrounded by her loving family after a four-year battle with leukemia.

Born April 2, 1936, in Columbus, she was the daughter of Eldora E. Banbury and Clarence E. “Pat” Banbury.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Kelvin Riggleman; son, Randy (Diana) Riggleman; daughter, Christa (Wayne) Pirc; five grandchildren; her mother, Eldora Banbury of Mansfield; a very special “sister/friend,” Bev Davis of South Carolina; two aunts, Dorthy Arquilla and Doris Bonnet, both of Mount Vernon; three brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; numerous special cousins, and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clarence E. Banbury; her mother-in-law, Evelyn E. Riggleman; and many aunts and uncles.

Friends may call Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Jack Hackworth officiating. Burial will be at Mansfield Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions can be made to Cancer Care Unit of MedCentral or MedCentral Hospice. Online guest registry available at www.wappner.com.

Alma K. Shannon
SUNBURY — Alma K. Shannon, 76, of Sunbury died peacefully surrounded by her family Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at Doctors West Hospital from complications following surgery.

She is survived by daughters, Kathy (John) Whittington of Galena and Marsha Feeney Sewell of Columbus; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Auda (Frank) Reynolds of Mount Vernon and Beatrice (William) Music of Duvall; and a very special nephew and niece, Glenn and Donna Evans of Sunbury.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Donald Shannon in 2005; parents, Crate and Bessie McKenzie; son, Gary; and sisters, Lucille Evans and Imogene Kelly.

Friends may call Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Harlem Road United Methodist Church, 5520 Harlem Road, Galena, with Pastor Bud Leskovac officiating. Interment will follow in Sunbury Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions can be made to her church. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

John M. Short
UTICA — A funeral service for John M. Short, 84, of Utica will be held Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 11 a.m. at Law-Baker Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Heizer officiating. Burial will follow in Owl Creek Cemetery.

John died Dec. 31, 2006, at Knox Community Hospital, Mount Vernon. He was born March 8, 1922, in Ladiocia, Ky., to the late John Milton and Etta (McKinster) Short.

John was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He attended Owl Creek Baptist Church and was a World War II Army veteran. He retired from Columbia Gas and was a Morgan Township trustee.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Clydia L. (Kemper) Short of Utica; sons and daughters-in-law, James Denver Lee Short of Pataskala, Gary R. and Velma Short of Brinkhaven, and Lonnie E. and Josie Short of Johnstown; daughter, Loretta S. Sibley of Topping, Va.; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Pauline Valdez of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Ezra, Elza, Shelva, Jack and Brack; and sisters, Elva Hayes and Innie Harrison.

Donations may be made to Owl Creek Cemetery, 4044 Owl Creek Church Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050.

Friends may call today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Law-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., P.O. Box 456, Utica, OH.

Rosellen Taylor
TOLEDO — Rosellen Taylor, 82, formerly of Superior Street, Marion, died Sunday afternoon, Dec. 31, 2006, at St. Charles Hospital, Toledo.

She was born on Jan. 14, 1924, in Westfield, Ind., to the late Harold H. and P. Edith (Cox) Mosher. Her early life was spent in the Cardington and Mount Gilead areas, moving to Marion in 1976 and then to Toledo area in 2004.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Dwight F. Taylor, in 1994.

She is survived by daughter, Barbara (Jim) Rice of Walbridge; son, Greg (Anne) Taylor of New Philadelphia; eight grandchildren; brothers, Ralph H. (Mary) Mosher, Robert A. (Carolyn) Mosher, Charles D. (Ruth) Mosher and James E. (Joyce) Mosher.

Friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Denzer, Farison, Hottinger, and Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 6, at 10 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene, 233 W. Center St., Marion, with Pastor David Wilson officiating.

Memorial contributions can be made to Quality of Life Hospice, 278 Barks Road W., Marion, OH 43302. Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.