Obituaries and Death Notices

Information about current and former Wayne County, Indiana residents and community members who have died. These obituaries are gathered from area funeral homes and other sources.

Henry Terence “Terry” Day Henry Terence “Terry” Day, 66, of Connersville, Indiana, passed away Monday evening, October 17, 2022 at Reid Health, Connersville. He was born September 1, 1956 in Middletown, Indiana to Frank and Fern Boyd Day, and he was a 1974 graduate of Connersville High School. A talented renovator, Terry enjoyed rehabbing houses. He was also a […] — (Posted October 20, 2022)

Kimberly Sue Gardner Kimberly Sue Gardner, 60, passed away at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, on Saturday, October 15th, 2022. Kimberly was born on Christmas Eve 1961 in Richmond, Indiana, to the late Reid Frazier and Betty Lou (Crowder) Gardner. She was raised in Richmond and graduated from Richmond High School with the class of 1980. Formerly […] — (Posted October 18, 2022)

Patricia L. Marker Patricia L. Marker, age 72, of Richmond, Indiana, died Sunday, October 16, 2022, at Heritage House of Richmond. Born July 1, 1950, in Millington, Tennessee, to Hubert L. and Folsom Jane Phillips Bunker, Pat had lived in Richmond most of her life. She was a 1968 graduate of Richmond High School. Pat worked at Reid […] — (Posted October 18, 2022)

Rodney J. Spurlock Rodney J. Spurlock, 64, of New Castle passed away Monday, October 17, 2022 at I.U. Health Ball Memorial in Muncie. He was born July 20, 1958 in New Castle, Indiana, a son of the late Ewell and Dixie (Neal) Spurlock. A self employed contractor, he built and remodeled many homes in the New Castle area. […] — (Posted October 18, 2022)

Debra S. Buckles Debra S. Buckles, 58 of Connersville passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2022. She was born on May 15, 1964, in Connersville, to Herschel Hughes and Bonnie Clark Hughes. Debbie graduated from Connersville High School in 1982. On September 3, 1983, she married George Buckles in Connersville. They were able to spend 37 years together […] — (Posted October 18, 2022)

Paul C. Leeka Paul C. Leeka, 78, of Mt. Summit passed away Saturday, October 15, 2022 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. He was born January 28, 1944 in New Castle to the late Paul B. and Emma Jean (Smith) Leeka. Paul was a 1962 graduate of Hagerstown High School and married the love of his life, Ginger, […] — (Posted October 17, 2022)

Wilma J. Hunt Wilma J. Hunt, 83, of New Castle, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Waldron Health Care. She was born on March 13, 1939, in Connersville, the daughter of the late Raymond Dance and Pauline (Rowlett) Dance. She married Paul Hunt in 1956. Survivors include her children, Sherry Tucker […] — (Posted October 17, 2022)

Betty Athelene (Gephart) Harlan Betty Athelene (Gephart) Harlan, 95 of Liberty passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2022. She was born on February 18, 1927 in Preble County, Ohio at home in the Campbells Town area to Lester Gephart and Mildred Johnson Gephart. On January 10, 1948 she married Wayne C. Harlan at Four Mile church of the Brethern […] — (Posted October 17, 2022)

Janet Frieda (Taylor) Grubbs Janet Frieda (Taylor) Grubbs, age 87, a New Castle resident, passed away in her home Saturday, October 15, 2022. She was born October 16, 1934, in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, a daughter of James B. and Marie (Derr) Taylor. Janet lived many places before settling down in New Castle. She had a very adventurous spirit and enjoyed […] — (Posted October 17, 2022)

Donald [Don] E. Hiatt Donald [Don] E. Hiatt 92 formerly of Liberty, Indiana passed away Wednesday October 12, 2022 at the Village Green in Greenville, Ohio. He was born on September 17, 1930 to the late Chester and Edna Ramey Hiatt in Richmond, Indiana. Don graduated in 1949 from Brownsville High School in Brownsville, Indiana. On October 1, 1950, […] — (Posted October 17, 2022)

Mary Lucille Cornelison Mary Lucille Cornelison, age 80, passed away at Reid Health on October 12, 2022. She was born September 25, 1942, the daughter of James and Julia Williams, in Richmond, Indiana. Mary also known as Lucy to many was a graduate of the Ivy Tech Nursing program and a member of the Marine Corps League, The […] — (Posted October 17, 2022)

George G. Ranck Mr. George G. Ranck passed away peacefully on Friday morning, September 30. He was born George G. Ranck, Jr. in Richmond, Indiana on December 2, 1928, the son of George G., Sr. and Inez Mary Swain Ranck. Mr. Ranck was a US Army veteran of the Korean War. He was an avid singer and piano […] — (Posted October 16, 2022)

Carolyn Sue Moore Mrs. Carolyn Sue Moore, 87, passed away on Friday, October 14 at Ambassador Healthcare in Centerville. Born on October 10, 1935 in Middleboro, Indiana, she was the daughter of Homer J. and Elizabeth “Libby” M. Clear Lacey. She was a 1953 graduate of Williamsburg High School and became the bride of Duane D. “D.D.” Moore […] — (Posted October 16, 2022)

Harley F. Farrar Harley F. Farrar, age 84, passed away peacefully on Saturday October 8, 2022 at Reid Hospital. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 3, 1938 to Jesse and Helen Stout Farrar. Harley served in the US Navy for over 14 years, stationed overseas in the Philippines where he met Mercedes Sagum. They were […] — (Posted October 15, 2022)

Nancy J. Conant Nancy J. Conant, age 78, of Richmond, Indiana, passed away peacefully after a long illness on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Brookdale Senior Living, surrounded by her family. Born March 27, 1944, in Wabash, Indiana, to Wilbur Lamoine and Eliza Gladys Underwood Ohmart, Nancy had lived in Richmond since childhood. She was a 1962 graduate […] — (Posted October 15, 2022)

Helen E. Kunkel Helen E. Kunkel, 96, of Connersville, passed away Sunday morning, October 9, 2022 at Reid Health, Richmond. She was born October 28, 1925 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Adolph and Clara Messerschmidt Meyer. On October 30, 1948, Helen married Robert J. Kunkel in Taylors Creek, Ohio, and they moved to Connersville for residence. Mr. Kunkel passed […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Dewey “Doug” Douglas Sparks Dewey “Doug” Douglas Sparks, 62, of Everton, passed away Tuesday morning, October 11, 2022 at Reid Health, Richmond. He was born November 15, 1959 in Connersville to Dewey Sparks and Janice Richter. He was a 1978 graduate of Connersville High School and also attended Hanover College for two years. On November 28, 2018, he married […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Mary A. Trent Mary A. Trent, 74, of rural Connersville, passed away Thursday morning, October 13, 2022 at her home surrounded by her loving family after courageously battling Parkinson’s Disease for the last 27 years. Mary was born October 14, 1947 in San Jose, California to Felipe and Manuela Hernandez Acosta. She moved to Benson, Arizona in 1949 […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Janet Burch Janet Burch, age 66, passed away at her residence in Boston, In on October 10, 2022. She was born in blue Island, Illinois on January 24, 1956, the daughter of George and Lorraine Kirkpatrick Patterson. She is survived by two daughters, Jamie Burch and Kathy Maloney, and three grandchildren. She is preceded by her husband, […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Robert Dwight Christensen Robert Dwight Christensen 90 of Richmond died October 12, 2022, at Reid Health, he was born September 18, 1932, in English Lake, Indiana to the late Christian C. and Lucinda Koster Christensen. Robert served in the U.S. Army in Korea from February 1953 to February 1955. He arrived with his fighting unit the 176th Armored Field […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Keith Simmons Keith Simmons, age 65, of Centerville, Indiana, died Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Reid Health surrounded by his family. Born December 10, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio, to Walter and Sarah Deeter Simmons, Keith pastored many churches around the country. He received a Master of Divinity in 2006. Keith served at Union City Church of the […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Billy Dan Farmer Billy Dan Farmer, age 85, of New Paris, Ohio, died Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. Born February 7, 1937, in Corbin, Kentucky, to William and Vinnie Begley Farmer, Billy had lived in this area for over 60 years. He was a tow motor operator at Richmond Gear. Billy enjoyed hunting […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Jeannine Hatfield Ferriell Jeannine Hatfield Ferriell, age 93, of Centerville, Indiana, died Monday, October 10, 2022, at Reid Health surrounded by her family. Born March 30, 1929, in Richmond, Indiana, to Kenneth and Ula Pike Hatfield, Jeannine was the seventh generation of her family to live on Hawthorne Farm in Centerville. Growing up during the depression, Jeannine and […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Brenda Joy Dryden Brenda Joy Dryden, age 74, of Richmond, Indiana, died Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at Reid Health. Born October 29, 1947, in Richmond, Indiana, to Larry E. and Wanetta Laswell Watts, Brenda was a life-long resident of Richmond and retired from Stevens Wire. Brenda enjoyed quilting, bowling, gardening, and was very active at church. Brenda did […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Shelva “Shelley” J. Shuminoff Shelva “Shelley” J. Shuminoff, age 61, passed away at Reid Health on October 7, 2022. She was born February 12, 1961, the daughter of Robert and Wanda Ross, in Richmond, Indiana. Shelley was a resident of Lynn, Indiana, but her heart was in Hagerstown, Indiana. She was a graduate of Hagerstown Jr/Sr. High School, with […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Charles William Stigall Charles William Stigall, age 81, resident of New Castle, passed away Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at Golden Rule Care Center in Richmond, Indiana. He was born November 25, 1940, in Tateville, Kentucky, a son of the late William Earl and Ethel Mae (Surber) Stigall. Charles became a boy scout in 1951 at the age of […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Graham S. Fitzpatrick, Sr Graham S. Fitzpatrick, Sr., age 62, resident of New Castle, passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, October 9, 2022, at Ball Hospital in Muncie, Indiana. He was born November 26, 1959, in Baumholder, Germany, a son of the late Edward L. Fitzpatrick and Jessie (Rigby) Fitzpatrick. Graham was a 1976 graduate from Hendra High School located in […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Bonnie L. Smith Bonnie L. Smith, age 93, a New Castle resident, passed away Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Ambassador Health Care in Centerville, Indiana. She was born January 5, 1929, in New Castle, a daughter of the late John and Laura (Johnson) Dabney. She is survived by two sons, Randy (Deborah) Smith, Kerry Smith; one daughter, Susan […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Donna Jean Shaw Donna Jean Shaw, 77, of New Castle passed away Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield. She was born September 16, 1945 in Henry County, Indiana, a daughter of the late Theodore Roosevelt and Florence Lavona (Cook) Shaw. A former resident of Kennard, she attended Knightstown High School. Donna was a very […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)

Lola Mae Mills-Cross Lola Mae Mills-Cross, 80, of New Castle went to be with the Lord on October 11, 2022 at Henry Community Health. She was born October 9, 1942 in Clinton County in Albany, Kentucky, to the late William Addison and Ruby Jewell (Hudson) Mills. She lived in Albany, Kentucky until she met her husband, Joe Shelby […] — (Posted October 14, 2022)