Beverly J. Berger
MOUNT Liberty — Beverly J. Berger, 72, of Mount Liberty was called by her Lord to her promised home on Friday, April 20, 2007, following a long illness.

Lovingly called B.J. by her family and friends, she leaves behind her loving husband, Jay; two sons, John of Mount Vernon and Dale (Nona) of Mount Vernon; one daughter, Franchin of Florida; a sister, Jean (Bill) Harris of Howard; and brother, Raymond Willis of Mount Vernon. She was blessed with two outstanding stepchildren, Angie (John) Schmitt of Gahanna and Jeffery (Debbie) Berger of Mount Vernon. She has several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many loving friends. She enjoyed playing piano and singing at her home church, the Church on The Rise. B.J. will be missed by her church family and many nursing home residents and staff where she assisted her husband Jay in his ministry, playing piano and singing for them.

She was an artist, an excellent painter and enjoyed many craft projects. Two sons preceded her in death, James and Daniel, as well as her parents, John and Zetta Whipple of Florida.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where funeral services will be held Wednesday at noon with Pastor Richard Hite officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Liberty Cemetery.

To view this obituary or send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Imogene M. Boston
SUNBURY — Imogene M. Boston, 92, of Sunbury died unexpectedly Friday, April 20, 2007, at home.

She was born in Johnstown on Dec. 30, 1914, to the late Delbert and Bertha J. (Stewart) Burgoon.

She is survived by children, Larry (Sandra) Boston of Brandon, Fla., Wayne (Carol) Boston of Summershade, Ky., Anita (Bill) Westfall of Galena, Ron Boston of Mount Vernon, Charma (Perry) Kimberly of Newburg, Ore., and Curt Boston of Delaware; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Andy Wallick; sister, Betty Peters; sister-in-law, Ruth Burgoon; many nieces and nephews; and dear friend, Maggie Stith.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Cloyce, in 1971; daughter, Donna Wallick; grandson, Craig Feazel; sisters, Bernice Blackstone, Dorothy Searfos; and brothers, Bob, Harold, Russell Burgoon.

Friends may call Tuesday 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 held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at New Bethel Christian Union Church, 14144 Bethel Road SW, Croton, with Pastor Jon Dotson officiating. Interment will follow in Trenton Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to her church. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Richard A. Callahan
CARDINGTON — Richard A. Callahan, 66, of Cardington died unexpectedly at his home on Friday, April 20, 2007.

He was born Feb. 1, 1941, in Marion, the son of Juanita (Plotner) Callahan of Marion and the late Allen B. Callahan. Richard was a graduate of the Mount Gilead High School Class of 1959. He and his wife, Elfa, had just returned to the area after being away for nearly 40 years. While away, they lived in Rossford, where he worked for U-Haul as their area marketing president of northwest Ohio. He was also a member of the Rossford Jaycees. They later moved to Middletown, where he became a Realtor and was employed by Coldwell Banker. As a Realtor he was a member of the Ohio Association of Realtors, President’s Club, in 1996, 1997 and 1999. He is currently employed by Ron Harper Realty in Mount Gilead.

Through the years and miles Richard had memberships at various churches, but was recently an active member of the Green Valley Chapel UMC in Mount Vernon.

Richard loved country music and played the guitar. He was an avid NASCAR fan, never missing a race even when Dale Earnhardt Sr. was no longer racing. He will be remembered as a wonderful grandfather who loved his grandkids and the time he spent with them.

In addition to his mother he will be missed by his wife, Elfa L. (Hack) Callahan, whom he married on Aug. 28, 1960; their two children, Lynn (Bob) Burns of Mount Vernon and Martin (Lisa) Callahan of Lewis Center; seven grandchildren, Katie, David and Molly Burns, and Mitchell, Nolan, Audrey and Clara Callahan; two brothers, Ron (Carolyn) Callahan of Temple Terrace, Fla., and Jim (Tina) Callahan of Nashville, Tenn.; and a sister, Sandy (Marvin) Guider of New Bloomington, Ohio.

Friends may call on the family Tuesday, April 24, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Snyder Funeral Homes, Craven Chapel, 67 N. Main St., Mount Gilead, Ohio. Pastor Samuel Troyer will conduct services there on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Marion Cemetery.

Memorial contributions if desired can be made to the Mitchell A. Callahan Autism Foundation, 6236 Westwick Place, Lewis Center, OH 43035. Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Myron C. Franklin
SUNBURY — Myron C. “Punk” Franklin, 70, of Sunbury died unexpectedly early Sunday morning, April 22, 2007, at his home.

He was born Feb. 21, 1937, in Columbus to the late Charles W. and Virginia (Frye) Franklin. A graduate of Central High School in 1955, he lived the majority of his life in Sunbury. Punk was a longtime trucker he spent his life on the highway delivering various goods.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Doris Jean (Segraves), whom he married Oct. 7, 1956, in Centerburg; son, Todd (Terri) Franklin of Sunbury; grandsons, Todd Jr., Jack and Chris; sisters-in-law, Betty L. Blanton of Volga, Ky., and Lissie J. Volkmar of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by daughter, Waneta Sue Franklin, in 1975; and a infant, brother Robert F. Franklin.

Friends may call Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury, where services will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Sunbury Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Delaware County Senior Nutrition Program, 236 W. Central Ave., Delaware, OH 43015. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Kyle R. Manning
SUNBURY — Kyle R. Manning, 17, of Sunbury died unexpectedly Sunday evening, April 22, 2007, at Grant Medical Center from injuries sustained in an accident following his junior prom.

He was born Jan. 5, 1990, in Columbus to Greg A. and Joyce E. (Biller) Manning of Sunbury. He was a junior member of the Big Walnut High School Class of 2008.

In addition to his parents, he is also survived by a sister, Megan; brother, Trent; paternal grandmothers, Pam Tysinger and Connie Manning; maternal grandparents, Sandy and Dick Stewart and Garnet Biller; paternal great-grandmother, Katie Kitchen; 13 aunts and uncles; girlfriend, Chelsea; and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Jack Manning Sr. and John Biller; great-grandparents, Ed Kitchen and Thelma Pence.

Friends may call Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury, where services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Bill Brown officiating. Interment will be in Sunbury Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Delaware Area Career Center. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Thelma M. Sasser
CARY, N.C. — Thelma Mae Sasser, 82, died peacefully on Friday, April 20, 2007, at Glenaire in Cary, N.C., where she had lived for the past six years.

She was born in Portsmouth on Aug. 13, 1924, the daughter of Roy and Oneida Dayberry. A graduate of Ohio University, Thelma was, for many years, an elementary school teacher in Ohio: in Waverly, in Athens, and finally at Newton Elementary School in Licking County. First and foremost, she was a devoted wife to her husband and mother to her children.

She is survived by a daughter, Mary Lou (John) Montenery of Mount Vernon; a son, Phil (Cassie) Sasser of Cary, N.C.; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by five sisters, Evelyn (Elwood) Fenhoff, Ann (Edward) Eldridge, Marie Burgess, Ethel (Gene) Huff and Joyce (J.C.) Fletcher.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Sasser, in the year 2000.

A funeral service will be Tuesday, April 24, at 11 a.m. in the Apex Funeral Home Chapel, 550 W. Williams St. (Ohio 55) in Apex. The family will receive friends for an hour prior to the funeral service, from 10 until 11 a.m. Graveside service will be Thursday, April 26, at 11 a.m. in Mound View Cemetery in Mount Vernon.

Lynda Smith
HEATH — A funeral service for Lynda Smith, 64, of Heath will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home in Newark, with the Rev. Robert Knox officiating. Cremation will follow.

Mrs. Smith, a nursing home housekeeper, passed away April 21, 2007, at her residence. She was born Aug. 28, 1942, in Mansfield, the daughter of Lynn and Hazel (Perkins) Hyatt.

Lynda married Ronald Smith, who survives of the home. Other survivors include two sons, David (Robin) Pickens of Utica and Michael Pickens of Hebron; a stepson, Scott (Dawn) Smith of Newark; two stepdaughters, Tonya (Kevin) Ohde of St. Louisville and Kellie Smith of Newark; two sisters, her twin Lynne Warner of Newark, and Alyce (James) Poland of Utica; her twin brothers, Thomas Hyatt of Newark and Gerald Hyatt of Mount Vernon; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Friends may call Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

To sign an online guestbook, visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com and click guestbook/obituary.

Barbara L. Wells
MOUNT VERNON — Barbara L. Wells, 72, of Mount Vernon died April 22, 2007, at the Elyria Memorial Hospital.

She was born Feb. 5, 1935, in Lancaster to John H. and Velva (Baker) Forrest. She was a member of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. She had been a registered nurse for many years.

She is survived by two sons, John (Barbara) Wells of Hilliard and Steven (Beth) Wells of South Amherst; one daughter, Melissa (Tom) Schluter of Bucyrus; and eight grandchildren.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert W. Wells Jr., in 2006; and three brothers, James, Lyle and Walter Forrest.

Friends may call Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Rodney Buchanan officiating. Burial will follow in Mound View Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mulberry Street United Methodist Church; 205 N. Mulberry St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Carl E. Williams
MOUNT VERNON — Carl E. Williams, 72, of Mount Vernon died Friday, April 20, 2007, at his home of an apparent heart attack.

Carl was born March 3, 1935, in Marion to Floyd and Mary (McGraw) Williams and had spent his lifetime in the Mount Vernon area. He retired from the Ohio Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer 4, after 42 years of faithful service to his country. Carl was an active member of the South Vernon United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, where he had served many years as a trustee.

Surviving are his four daughters, Carla (Donald) Miller of Cape Carteret, N.C., Susan Bowen of Richwood, Ohio, and Patricia Williams and Karen (Robert) Lee, both of Mount Vernon; his son, Randy (Linda) Kennedy of Stafford, Va.; six grandchildren, Joseph, Nicole, Kathryn, Jeremy, Joshua and Megan; five great-grandchildren; his brother, Fred Williams of Mount Vernon; and two sisters, Shirley Rine and Linda Berger, both of Mount Vernon.

Besides his parents, Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Jean (Morrison) Williams; and two brothers, Larry Williams and Ronald Williams.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, 619 E. High St., Mount Vernon, where funeral services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Kevin Reed officiating. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow at Forest Cemetery in Fredericktown.

Memorial contributions can be made to the South Vernon United Methodist Church or to the Military Relief Fund. To view this obituary or send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.