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.

Marquita Anna Allen (Kitty) Marquita Anna Allen (Kitty), 89, was taken home by angels on July 10, 2022. She was born in Richmond to Jeanetta and Lester Phenis on November 3, 1932. Kitty enjoyed playing Bingo and always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. Survivors include a daughter: Tonya (Bill) Hutzell; two sons: Rob Allen and […] — (Posted July 12, 2022)

John A. Smith John A. Smith, age 68, of New Castle, Indiana, passed away on Friday, July 8, 2022, at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. He was born August 21, 1953, in New Castle, to the late William & Betty (Foster) Smith. John proudly served his country in both the United States Army & Air Force […] — (Posted July 11, 2022)

Verdie L. Morgan Verdie L. Morgan, age 87, formerly of Connersville, passed away on July 9, 2022, at Ridgewood Health in Lawrenceburg, IN. Verdie was one of twelve children born to the late Shirley J. and Allie Smith Smith, on November 12, 1934, in Manchester, Clay County, Kentucky. She was united in marriage on May 5, 1952, to […] — (Posted July 11, 2022)

Tracy Allen Reno Tracy Allen Reno, 57, of New Castle passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at his residence. He was born June 1, 1965 in New Castle, Indiana. A lifelong resident, he was employed at Jiffy Lube in New Castle for the past 4 years. He had attended Open Arms Church. Tracy had coached and umpired […] — (Posted July 11, 2022)

Jerry Ray Smith Jerry Ray Smith, 71, of New Castle passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at I.U. Health Ball Memorial in Muncie. He was born January 18, 1951 in Alpine, Tennessee, a son of the late Clevis and Nova Smith. Jerry was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Viet Nam War. He had been […] — (Posted July 11, 2022)

Violet R. Kissick Violet R. Kissick, 85, of New Castle passed away Friday, July 8, 2022 at Hickory Creek of New Castle, following a long battle with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. She was born August 6, 1936 in Murl, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Johnnie W. and Iva E. (Matthews) Denney. Violet was a 1954 graduate of […] — (Posted July 11, 2022)

M. Annette Cross M. Annette Cross, 79, of New Castle passed away Sunday, July 10, 2022 at I.U Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. She was born on March 9, 1943 in Albany, KY, a daughter of the late Thurston and Goldie (Ballenger) Jones. Annette loved her family and was the magnet that drew everyone together. She would rather […] — (Posted July 11, 2022)

Michael R. Thalls Michael R. Thalls, 84, of New Castle passed away Friday morning, July 8, 2022. He was born February 12, 1938 in New Castle, a son of the late Russell Eugene and Mary Helen (Valentine) Thalls. A 1956 graduate of New Castle High School, Mike attended New Mexico Western University on a golf scholarship before returning […] — (Posted July 11, 2022)

John Alvin Mengedoht John Alvin Mengedoht, 57, of Connersville, IN passed away on July 5, 2022 at his residence. John was born in Connersville, on January 4, 1965, to the late Charles and Betty Scott Mengedoht. On March 2, 2000, John married the love of his life, Lucher Garner, at their home in Connersville. John worked most of […] — (Posted July 10, 2022)

Freida Lucile Teeguarden Bennett Freida Lucile Teeguarden Bennett, age 84, formerly of Connersville, passed away on July 4, 2022, in Cape Coral, Florida. She was born in Connersville, IN on June 19, 1938, the daughter of the late Robert and Arzella Hammer Teeguarden. Freida was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother that enjoyed decorating for the holidays and spoiling […] — (Posted July 10, 2022)

Angela French Angela French, age 55, of Connersville, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 7, 2022, at Reid Health in Richmond. She was born on December 29, 1966, in Connersville, the daughter of the late Kenneth and Gaynell Louise Crawley Burch. She was united in marriage on April 13, 1985, to Gerald […] — (Posted July 10, 2022)

Donald Eugene “Gene” Berry Donald Eugene “Gene” Berry died in his sleep Wednesday evening, July 6, at Friends Fellowship Retirement Community. He was 96 years old. A lifelong resident of Wayne County, he worked for 37 years for Wayne Dairy, rising from a milkman, delivering door-to-door, to be manager overseeing relationships with dairy farmers. He retired with his wife, […] — (Posted July 8, 2022)

Alan D. Bowman Alan D. Bowman, 60, of Cambridge City, passed away on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at his home. He was born in New Castle on October 24, 1961 to Howard J., and Marilyn J. (Vallandingham) Bowman and lived his entire life in this area. Alan, or “Big Al” as his friends called him, graduated from Lincoln […] — (Posted July 8, 2022)

Bessie Marie Tapley Bessie Marie Tapley, 94, of New Castle, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 1, 2022 at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis following a brief illness. She was born on April 14, 1928, in Albany, Kentucky, a daughter of the late William “Bill” Lee and Myrtle (Means) Griffin. Bessie was a […] — (Posted July 8, 2022)

Deborah Ruth Riggs Deborah Ruth Riggs, 69, of New Castle, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Stonebrooke Rehabilitation Center. She was born on February 19, 1953 in Ft. Benning, Georgia, a daughter of the late Alfred Lee and Ruth Ann (O’Brien) Hale. Debbie was a 1971 graduate of Union High School. She married the love […] — (Posted July 8, 2022)

Leah Ledington Leah Ledington, age 63, of Connersville, passed away on June 30, 2022, at Golden Rule in Richmond, where she had been a resident since February. Born in Connersville on October 10, 1958, she is one of four children of the late Donald E. and Goldie Darlene Conner Maze. Over the years, Leah had worked at […] — (Posted July 8, 2022)

Cynthia “Cindy” Handy Cynthia “Cindy” Handy, age 63 of Connersville, passed away on Monday July 4, 2022. Born on March 3, 1959, in Connersville, she is the daughter of the late Lester, Jr. and Mary Neeley Poe. She was united in marriage with Tom Handy on January 26, 2009. They were able to spend 13 years together before […] — (Posted July 8, 2022)

Jack Evans Mr. Jack Evans of Richmond, Indiana died peacefully in the home of his family on July 1, 2022, in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania at the age of 86. Jack is survived by children Jackie Evans (Debbie), Melanie, Joseph Evans, Errol A. Huffman Jr. (Elizabeth), Frances F. Mundhenk, brothers, Bill, Tim, Sam, Johnny, sister Helen, and many […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Michael Anthony Welsh Michael Anthony Welsh, 63, of Connersville, passed away early Monday morning, July 4, 2022 at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born April 16, 1959 in Connersville, Indiana, one of six children of James Joseph and Mary Ann Risch Welsh. He was a 1978 graduate of Connersville High School. He was […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Amy Dean Hicks Amy Dean Hicks, 55, of Brownsville Indiana, went home to be with Jesus on July 6, 2022 after a courageous 3 year battle with lung cancer. Amy was surrounded by friends, family, and her beloved dog Stella during her last days on this earth. Amy had a passion for her career as a beautician the […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Florence L. “Marty” Herron Florence L. “Marty” Herron, age 79, passed away on July 2, 2022 at Reid Health. She was born in Marion, Ohio on May 14, 1943 to Vera Fadely. She graduated from Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1962. Marty met Angela Joy Lacy in April of 1986 and were legally married on June 27, […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Debra Sue Riley (Goodwin) Debra Sue Riley (Goodwin), age 64, died at her residence on June 29, 2022 after battling with heart failure and kidney disease for several years. She was born in Richmond, Indiana on June 6, 1943 to Vadia Ann (Powell) Turner and Earnest Grays Jr. Debbie enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, shopping, watching T.V. and […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Candace “Candy” L. Owens Candace “Candy” L. Owens, 67, of College Corner, Ohio, formerly of Connersville, passed away Monday, July 4, 2022. She was born February 2, 1955, one of eight children of Robert Lee and Janice Lee Doub Gough, and she was a 1973 graduate of Connersville High School. For over 20 years, she was the secretary and […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Tina Marie Hyden Tina Marie Hyden, 60, a lifelong resident of Connersville, went home to be with the Lord Monday afternoon, July 4, 2022 at her residence following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born December 4, 1961 in Connersville, one of three children of William T. and Charlene Lykins Marshall. She was a 1980 graduate of […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

William “Ed” Willard William “Ed” Willard, 87, of Hagerstown, passed away on Monday, July 4, 2022 at The Springs of Richmond. He was born on April 10, 1935 in Plainfield, N.J. to Ray and Wilma (Miller) Willard. Ed lived in Moral Township, Shelby County, then Indianapolis, Greenfield and Cambridge City before moving to Hagerstown in 1951. He often […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Wanda M. Boyd Wanda M. Boyd, 84, of Cambridge City, passed away on Friday July 1, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Milton on January 26, 1938 to Hugh and Ruth (Waugh) Wilson and lived her whole life in this area. Wanda graduated from Lincoln High School in1956 and then worked 55 […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Michael R. Wilson Michael R. Wilson, 71, of Centerville, passed away on Friday, July 1, 2022 at Ambassador Health Care. He was born on January 29, 1951 in New Castle to Grover R. and Kathleen V. (Kinnaman) Wilson and lived most of his life in this area. He was a 1969 graduate of Lincoln High School and received […] — (Posted July 7, 2022)

Glenn Wayne Fultz Glenn Wayne Fultz, age 75, of Webster, Indiana, died Saturday, July 2, 2022, at Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center. Born February 2, 1947, in Richmond, Indiana, to Stella Margaret Burton, Glenn was a life-long resident of Richmond. He worked at Wayne Works Corporation and also owned an auto repair business. Glenn liked old classic cars, […] — (Posted July 6, 2022)

Violet (Judy) Louise Evans Violet (Judy) Louise Evans was born July 28, 1952, to Morris and Hollie Smith. Violet was called home July 2nd, 2022, at home surrounded by family. Violet graduated from Ivy Tech with a degree in Phlebotomy and made the Dean’s List. She was called Mamaw by many but given the nickname Judy which turned into […] — (Posted July 6, 2022)

Florence J. Albano Florence J. Albano, 98 passed away July 2, 2022. She was born November 11, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pa.; she was the youngest of nine children. Florence was a loving mother and a woman of deep faith. Her family takes great comfort in knowing she will be reunited with “Big Red”, her family, and cherished friends. […] — (Posted July 6, 2022)