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.
Paul Harris Paul Harris, 71, of New Castle passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2022. He was born April 9, 1951 in New Castle, Indiana, a son of the late Kenneth B. Harris and Mary Lou (Beavers) Wiatt. He was a 1969 graduate of Blue River High School and attended Ball State University. Paul had worked at IMI […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Donald Michael (Mickey) Ballard Donald Michael (Mickey) Ballard, 84, passed away Thursday June 9, 2022, at Addison Place Assisted Living, New Castle, Indiana. He was born March 4, 1938, in New Castle, son of the late Donald G and Julia (Mayer) Ballard. Mickey was a 1956 graduate of New Castle High School. He was a hardworking family man devoting […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Levi Muncy, Jr. Levi Muncy, Jr. 91, a resident of New Castle passed away Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Heritage House of New Castle. He was born September 27, 1930 in New Castle to the late Levi, Sr. and Maggie (Smith) Muncy. A 1949 graduate of New Castle High School, he was a veteran of the U.S. Air […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Violet L. Stark Violet L. Stark, 92, formerly of Connersville passed away Friday, June 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. One of seven children of Benjamin Harrison and Mina Ethel Margison Swartz, Violet was born in Harrisburg, Indiana on July 17, 1929 and graduated from Connersville High School with the class of 1947. On February 5, 1949, Violet married Paul […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Donnie Earl Wallace Donnie Earl Wallace, 64, of New Castle, peacefully passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2022 at his residence with his loving wife by his side. He was born October 20, 1957, in Albany, KY, and was the son of Arnold and Eva (Covey) Wallace. Donnie proudly worked as a Mechanic for City Tire Store in New […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Ronald T. Winchester Ronald T. Winchester, age 66, passed away Monday, June 13, 2022, at Hickory Creek Nursing Home in New Castle. He was born June 27, 1955, in New Castle, Indiana, a son of Tommie Lee and Evelyn Leta (Ford) Winchester. Ronnie attended Spiceland High School. He worked at Pendleton and New Castle Prison as a prison […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Michael William Chamberlin Michael William Chamberlin, age 68, of Richmond, Indiana, passed away Sunday, June 5, 2022, unexpectedly of natural causes. Born August 5, 1953, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to Kenneth and Janet Chamberlin, Michael was one of seven children. He graduated as Salutatorian from Washington Catholic High School in Washington, Indiana and continued his education to achieve his […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Lloyd Leslie Griffin, Sr. Lloyd Leslie Griffin, Sr., 68, of Connersville, passed away June 11, 2022 at Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis. He was born May 7, 1954 in Batesville, Indiana, the son of Alexander Griffin I and Betty Mae Swanson Griffin. On February 11, 1973, he married Virginia Drew in Connersville. Mrs. Griffin survives. Lloyd worked as a tree […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Robbie Rea Robbie Rea, 54, of Connersville, passed away Sunday, June 12, 2022 at Reid Health, Richmond. He was born January 24, 1968 in Connersville to Wilbur Rea, Jr. and Betty Jean Feeback Rea. On April 20, 2001, he married Kimberly Stephens in Connersville. Mrs. Rea survives. Robbie had worked for Caldwell Gravel and Noble Romans. He […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
William T. “Bill” Marshall William T. “Bill” Marshall, 87, of Connersville, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, June 11, 2022 at his home. He was born March 30, 1935 in Franklin County, Indiana, the son of Sam Marshall, Sr. and Violet Bowles Marshall. On September 11, 1954, he was married in Franklin County to Charlene Lykins, and […] — (Posted June 14, 2022)
Suzanne “Sue” Lee Swallow Smith Suzanne “Sue” Lee Swallow Smith went to be with the Lord on the morning of Friday, May 20, 2022. She is survived by her adoring husband, Wayne Smith, her three sons: Rick (Vickie) Guipe, Mike (Debbie) Guipe, and Pete (Tracey) Guipe, and her twin sister, Pat Griffin. Sue’s nurturing spirit was felt by all, and […] — (Posted June 13, 2022)
Judy C. Dreaden Judy C. Dreaden, age 75, of Centerville, Indiana, died Friday, June 3, 2022, at home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born May 6, 1947, in Berea, Kentucky, to William Cecil and Flora Mae Brown Purcell, Judy lived in this area most of her life. She attended Richmond High School and […] — (Posted June 13, 2022)
Janie M. Watson Janie M. Watson, age 75, of Richmond, Indiana, died Monday, June 6, 2022, at the home of her niece, Ladonna McDaniel. Born January 27, 1947, in Richmond, Indiana, to John Payne and Betty Tackleson Faddis, Janie moved back to this area in 1998. She worked most of her life as a waitress. Janie enjoyed playing […] — (Posted June 11, 2022)
Clifford Lee Lowe Clifford Lee Lowe, age 69, of New Castle, Indiana, passed away Monday, June 6, 2022, at Heritage House of New Castle. He was born December 6, 1952, in New Castle, the son of the late Oliver & Vida (Coffey) Lowe. Clifford attended Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School. He proudly served his country as a […] — (Posted June 11, 2022)
Clyde D. Legear Clyde D. Legear, 85 of Richmond, died June 9, 2022, at Reid Health. He was born October 5, 1936, in Sand Gap, Kentucky to Thomas P. and Ethel P. Hardin Legear, and lived here most of his life. He formerly worked at Richmond Power and Light and retired from Verizon working as a lineman. Clyde […] — (Posted June 11, 2022)
Robert Leroy “Bobby” Sheffer Jr. Robert Leroy “Bobby” Sheffer Jr. 43 of Richmond died unexpectedly on June 8, 2022, at his home. He was born December 21, 1978, in Regensburg, Germany. He was a sketch artist and enjoyed being with people. Survivors include two sons Payton Michael Sheffer, and Brayden Alexander Sheffer, and their mother Rachelle, his father Robert L. […] — (Posted June 11, 2022)
Thelma Virginia McCreary Thelma Virginia McCreary, 87, went home to be with the Lord early Thursday morning, June 9, 2022 at her home in Connersville. One of three children of Talton and Eva Belle Cornett Spencer, Thelma was born in Harlan County, Kentucky on July 9, 1934. On March 21, 1953, Thelma married Joseph B. McCreary in Jonesville, […] — (Posted June 10, 2022)
Richard Lee Sayre Richard Lee Sayre, 84, of New Castle passed away Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Stonebrooke Rehabilitation in New Castle. He was born October 11, 1937 in New Castle, Indiana, a son of the late Lawrence M. and Esta Mae (Saunders) Sayre. He was a New Castle resident his entire life. Richard retired from Chrysler Corporation […] — (Posted June 10, 2022)
Vicki M. Hinshaw Vicki M. Hinshaw, 77, of New Castle passed away Thursday, June 9, 2022 at her residence surrounded by her loved ones. She was born April 20, 1945 in New Castle, Indiana a daughter of the late John and Betty (Johnson) Conwell. Vicki was a 1963 graduate of Mt. Summit High School and a member of […] — (Posted June 10, 2022)
Janie M. Watson Janie M. Watson, age 75, of Richmond, Indiana, died Monday, June 6, 2022, at the home of her niece, Ladonna McDaniel. Born January 27, 1947, in Richmond, Indiana, to John Payne and Betty Tackleson Faddis, Janie moved back to this area in 1998. She worked most of her life as a waitress. Janie enjoyed playing […] — (Posted June 10, 2022)
Ideal Battle-Spellers Ideal Battle-Spellers, passed away on December 15, 2021. She was born on April 25, 1929, in Hurstboro, Alabama to Carrie and Fletcher Battle Sr. She was raised by her grandmother Sophie Battle. Ideal was raised in East Chicago, Indiana. She worked in factories, the school system and as a nurse’s aide. She attended East Chicago […] — (Posted June 10, 2022)
Richard L. “Dick” Berry, Sr. Richard L. “Dick” Berry, Sr., 92, of Fountain City, passed away on Tuesday morning, June 7, 2022, at Reid Health. Dick was born in Richmond, Indiana on May 2, 1930 to George & Jessie Tice Berry. He was a 1948 graduate of Fountain City High School. Dick was a graduate of the Indiana Business College […] — (Posted June 8, 2022)
Jo Anne Sager Jo Anne Sager, 83, of Hagerstown, died at her home on Monday, June 6, 2022. She was born in Cambridge City on February 12, 1939 to Louis and Helen Tague and had resided in Hagerstown since 1964. She was a member of Hagerstown First United Methodist Church. She was a retired employee of Manville and […] — (Posted June 8, 2022)
Geraldine Irene Griffin Geraldine Irene Griffin, age 89, of Richmond, Indiana, died Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Forest Park Health Campus. Born May 26, 1933, in St. Charles, Virginia, to William Rufus and Mary Elizabeth Garrett Mink Oler, Geraldine lived in Richmond most of her life. She enjoyed cooking, her trips to Virginia, attending Bible study, and spending […] — (Posted June 7, 2022)
Grant Huldane Thornburg Grant Huldane Thornburg, age 59, of Richmond, Indiana, died Friday, June 3, 2022, at home. Grant was born October 18, 1962, in Pennsylvania, to Glen and Carolyn Thornburg. He was a United States Marine Corps veteran, and a graduate of Concordia Lutheran College. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. […] — (Posted June 7, 2022)
Tobias Edwin Cornett Sr. Tobias Edwin Cornett Sr., 46, passed away Sunday June 5, 2022.  Tobias was born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona on January 6, 1976.  He grew up in the Abington/Centerville communities and graduated from Centerville High School in 1994.  Toby worked as a forklift operator and was currently employed at Hoosier Container in Richmond, Indiana.  Toby was […] — (Posted June 7, 2022)
Dagoberto “Dago” Lopez Dagoberto “Dago” Lopez passed away on June 1st, 2022, in Richmond Indiana. He was born in Cali Columbia where he lived until he came to the United States in 1979. He lived between the United States and Columbia for the remainder of his life. Dago enjoyed living his life to the fullest, was easygoing, and […] — (Posted June 7, 2022)
Neldarie “Nell” L. Cole Neldarie “Nell” L. Cole, 86, of New Castle passed away Sunday, June 5, 2022 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. She was born February 3, 1936 in Hammond, Louisiana to the late Frank and Maimie (Culbreath) Fauntleroy. Nell grew up in Hammond, Louisiana, the middle child of three. In 1954, she married Bob R. Cole. […] — (Posted June 7, 2022)
Daniel R. Greene Daniel R. Greene, of New Castle, passed away early Thursday morning, June 2, 2022, at The Waters of New Castle. He was born April 30, 1947, in Richmond, Indiana, a son of the late Carl Columbus and Ida Isabella (Honaker) Greene. Dan grew up in Cambridge City and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965. […] — (Posted June 5, 2022)
Gary Sandifar Gary Sandifar, passed away at his residence following a long illness surrounded by his loving family on June 1, 2022.  He was born August 27, 1949, the son of Dallas Sandifar and Birdie Jean Cogan, in Lafayette, Indiana. Gary lived in Centerville, Indiana, and was a former resident of Florida for five years and California […] — (Posted June 5, 2022)