Charlotte Bashore
SOMERSET — Charlotte (Silliman) Bashore, 78, of Somerset entered into eternal rest Sunday, March 18, 2007, at her residence.

She was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Fredericktown to James and Mary (Parrish) Silliman. Charlotte was married to L. Eugene Bashore for a wonderful 58 years. She worked for the board of elections; was a member of the Zion Reformed United Church of Christ; past president of Perry County Homemaker Association, and was awarded County Homemaker of the Year; and a 4-H advisor.

Charlotte is survived by her husband, L. Eugene Bashore; children, Mary Felty of Thornville, Michael (Deborah) Bashore of Canal Winchester, Nancy Bashore of Thornville, Jeffery Bashore of Somerset and Trudy Bashore of Marysville; sister, Gladys Robinson of Mount Vernon; grandchildren, Andrew (Stacy) Bashore, Amy (Dennis) Martin, Steven Felty and Eugene Sax; great-grandchildren, Hannah and Hunter Bashore, Jaden and Jackson Martin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary Silliman; brothers, Chester, Stewart and Benton Silliman.

Calling hours were Tuesday at the Boring-Sheridan Funeral Home in Thornville. Visitation was also this morning at the Zion Reformed United Church of Christ with the funeral service following. Dr. Herbert Hicks officiated the service. Burial followed at Zion Ridge Cemetery in Thornville.

In lieu of flowers to Fair Hope Hospice, 1111 E. Main St., Lancaster, OH 43130. Online condolences can be made at boringsheridanfuneralhomes.com.

Frances Dudgeon
GAMBIER — Frances Dudgeon, 90, of Gambier died March 19, 2007, at the Ohio Eastern Star Health Care Center.

She was born June 10, 1916, in Knox County to Simon and Maria (Horn) Hall. She was a member of the Grove Church of Christ, the Farm Bureau, the Percheron Horse Association and the Eastern States Draft Horse Association.

She is survived by two daughters, Laura (Tom) Hamilton of Gambier and Lena (Chuck) Stricker of Warsaw; three sons, James (Iris) Dudgeon of Fredericktown, Simon (Lavada) Dudgeon of Warsaw and Charles (Rita) Dudgeon of Gambier; 20 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Dudgeon in 2000; a daughter, Maxine Elizabeth Dudgeon; four sisters, Laura Laymon, Alice Colville, Ethel Dudgeon and Gladys Henwood; four brothers. Clarence, Clifton, Woodrow and Robert Hall.

Friends may call Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home. The funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Grove Church of Christ, with grandsons Chris and Moses Hamilton officiating. Burial will be in the Union Grove Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Cochocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Charles Isreal
CENTERBURG — Charles Isreal, 71, of Centerburg died Tuesday evening, March 20, 2007, at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. Arrangements will be announced by the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Sunbury. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Helen Kitzky
COLUMBUS — Helen Kitzky, 60, of Columbus died Tuesday evening, March 20, 2007, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Arrangements will be announced by the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Sunbury. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Clarence F. Leedy
BELLVILLE — Clarence F. “Squirt” Leedy, 72, of Ankenytown Road, Bellville, passed away Monday, March 19, 2007, at his home.

He was born Aug. 16, 1934, in Knox County to Kenneth and Martha (Gaddis) Leedy. Clarence was employed at Tappan in Mansfield and also was a self-employed farmer. He was a member of the Quarter Century Club, was a trustee for the Leedy Reunion Association. Clarence enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, and watching and attending sporting events. He particularly enjoyed NASCAR and spending time with his grandchildren. Clarence was a veteran serving in the U.S. Army.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Louise M. (Stull) Leedy; three daughters, Laurie Leedy of Bellville, Lisa (Greg) Blubaugh of Bellville, Lynelle Leedy (Joe Krempel) of Bellville; two sons, Craig (Connie) Leedy of Bellville, Todd (Marcie) Leedy of Bellville; eight grandchildren, Belinda Leedy, Lane Leedy, Monae Leedy, Olivia Blubaugh, Cade Blubaugh, Sawyer Blubaugh, Landis Blubaugh and Larson Blubaugh.

Clarence was preceded in death by a sister, Vera Morton; and two brothers, Clifford and Clark Leedy.

Friends may call today, March 21, at the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. A service will be held on Thursday, at the funeral home, beginning at 11 a.m., with Pastor Tom Ricker officiating. Burial, with military honors provided by the Irvin Hiskey Post of the American Legion in Bellville, will follow in Bellville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson Township Fire Department (or) Ankenytown Grace Brethren Church, and can be left at the funeral home. This obituary and online condolences can be accessed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Mary P. Lord
MOUNT VERNON — Mary P. Lord, born Nov. 21, 1914, died peacefully among family on March 20, 2007.

Mary was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was the first child of George Bassett Pitts, a patent lawyer, and Mary Cornelia Woodward Pitts, a school teacher. She was 92 years old.

Mary grew up in Cleveland Heights, where she attended Epworth-Euclid United Methodist Church and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. Her Cleveland childhood firmly formed her lifelong devotion to music, church and reading, particularly history, nonfiction and The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mary was a serious piano student such that she played on the Cleveland radio at the age of 12. From an early age on, she made classical and sacral music a constant part of her life. Mary studied chemistry at The College of Wooster for three years, and then transferred to Flora Stone Mather College, where she earned a bachelor’s in dietary science (now Case Western Reserve University).

In 1936, she married Raymond Sterling Lord, M.D. They moved to Knox County in 1938; Ray wanted to have a small town family practice in the place where he grew up. They had three boys. Then in 1942, Ray joined the war effort and was sent to Persia (Iran). Mary moved with her children back to Cleveland Heights to be with her parents. In 1945, Ray returned, and they had two more children.

Mary was an active leader in the Fredericktown and Mount Vernon community. She was a member of The Thursday Club, Readers Review Club, Beethoven Club, College Women’s Club, Knox County Medical Auxiliary and the Knox County Historical Society. She began the first Girl Scout Club in Fredericktown. She accompanied the Community Choir, and was a member, organist and choir director for the Fredericktown United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Tru-Lo-So Sunday School class and president for many years of the Women’s Society for Christian Service.

Mary cared for anyone she knew in need, taking families into her house frequently who needed food, a home, or medical care. Mary and Ray helped sponsor two refugee families to come to Knox County. Mary enjoyed planning and cooking for the church with other church members. Mary loved to entertain and often hosted friends in her home. She loved to try new recipes and her recipe box is a prize possession. Most of all she loved her family.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond S. Lord, M.D.; and two sons, William H. Lord of Springfield, George E. Lord of Delaware; and three grandchildren, Karen S. Lord, Jonathan A. Lord and Stephanie A. Lord; and two brothers, George B. Pitts Jr. and Morris W. Pitts.

She is survived by her sons, Dr. Raymond S. (Arija) Lord of Kalamazoo Mich., and Thomas A. (Nita) Lord of Lebanon, Ohio; one daughter, Fran (Robert) Rodstrom of Mount Vernon; two daughters-in-law, Donna A. Lord of Springfield and Donna Lord of Delaware; 10 grandchildren, Dr. Ellen (Steve) Tamburello of Westerville, Diane (Brian) Grant of Kennebunk, Maine, Amy Lord and Dr. William (Michelle) Lord of Springfield, Michael (Heather) Lord of Covington, Ky., David (Maura) Lord of Longmont, Colo., Sarah Lord of Waynesville, Andrew Rodstrom of Pullman, Wash., Mary-Alice Rodstrom of Columbus and John Rodstrom of Mount Vernon; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Graveside funeral service will be Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m. in Forest Cemetery, West Sandusky Street, in Fredericktown. A memorial service will be held on the same day at 11 a.m. at the Gay Street United Methodist Church, 18 N. Gay St., Mount Vernon.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Early Learners Scholarship Endowment Fund at The Community Trust of Mount Vernon and Knox County, 1 S. Main St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. To view this obituary or send an online condolence to the family visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Gladys P. Norris
UTICA — A graveside service for Gladys P. (Maxwell) Norris, 85, of Utica will be held Friday, March 23, at 11:30 a.m. in Homer Cemetery.

Gladys passed away Monday, March 19, 2007, at Knox Community Hospital, Mount Vernon, following a brief illness. She was born Sept. 13, 1921, in Laurel Bloomery, Tenn., to the late John and Pearl (Gentry) Maxwell.

Mrs. Norris was a long-time resident of Columbus and was retired from the Federal Glass Co. She was married to Dave S. Norris who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her son, Vance B. Norris of Columbus; her sisters, Margaret Simcox and Mackie Hand, both of Tennessee; and son-in-law, Donald Beyer of Columbus.

She is survived by her son, Kinnith (Debbie) Norris of Cape Coral, Fla.; daughters, Lois A. Beyer of Columbus and Barbara S. (Charles) Roderick of Utica; sisters, Grace Gleckler of Utica and Emma Lea Warner of Tennessee; brother, John J. Maxwell Jr. of Tennessee; daughter-in-law, Donna J. Norris of Columbus; three grandchildren, Jason Beyer, Randy Norris and Donald Norris and their families; and special neighbors and friends, John and Nancy Gleckler, Janice and Gene North, Paul Hensley and Betty Gayheart, all of Utica.

Friends may call Thursday, March 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Law-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., Utica.

Dale L. Van Fossen
MOUNT VERNON — Dale Leon Van Fossen, 85, of Pine Street, Mount Vernon, passed away Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at his home. The arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home.