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.

Rita L. Ripberger Rita L. Ripberger, age 81, of Liberty, passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at The Springs in Richmond. Born on August 31, 1940, in Hamilton, OH, she is the daughter of the late Loren and Bernice Dare. In June of 1965, she married James Ripberger in Liberty. They shared more than 48 years of […] — (Posted March 24, 2022)

Earl H. “Bud” Surber Earl H. “Bud” Surber, 94, of New Castle passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Glen Oaks Health Campus. He was born June 1, 1927 in Tateville, KY to the late Otis and Flonnie (Walker) Surber. He retired from Borg Warner in Muncie following 42 years of service, and was a member of UAW #287. […] — (Posted March 24, 2022)

Walter R. Gray Walter R. Gray, age 82, Richmond, went to be with the Lord Tuesday March 22, 2022 at Ambassador Healthcare. He was born in Manchester, Ky on March 3, 1940 to Gus and Bam Howard Gray. Walter was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. He enjoyed bowling, going to family reunions, traveling to watch […] — (Posted March 23, 2022)

William A. “Bill” Smith William A. “Bill” Smith, age 79, of Richmond, Indiana, died peacefully Sunday, March 20, 2022, at his home. Born March 6, 1943, in Richmond, Indiana, to Alfred and Elizabeth Sims Smith, Bill lived in this community his entire life. He retired as Director of Building & Grounds Maintenance for Wayne County after 18 years of […] — (Posted March 23, 2022)

Martha Tiernan Hartke Martha Tiernan Hartke. A locally- and nationally connected mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt has died. She was preceded in death by her husband, former U.S. Senator Vance Hartke. Her biggest love was her family, seven children, many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Martha was just six weeks short of her 102nd birthday when she died at Shenandoah Assisted […] — (Posted March 23, 2022)

Phyllis A. Sheppard Mrs. Phyllis A. Sheppard, 102, of Lynn, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, March 20. She was born in Richmond, Indiana on April 23, 1919 to Marco and Carmela Alterizio DeLucio. She was a 1937 graduate of Morton High School. She married Noble M. Sheppard on June 21, 1941. They shared 41 years of marriage […] — (Posted March 23, 2022)

Ricky Cline Ricky Cline, 68, Dublin, passed away early on the first day of Spring, Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Ambassador Healthcare in Centerville, Indiana. Born in Richmond, to Charles George and June Lyla Cline on July 6th, 1953, Ricky grew up in Middleboro and graduated from Richmond High School. Ricky lived his entire life in Wayne […] — (Posted March 22, 2022)

Elvina Williamson Elvina Williamson, 88, of New Castle, went to be with Jesus on Sunday evening, March 20, 2022 following an extended illness. She was born June 4, 1933 in Burr Oak, Michigan to the late Leo and Elizabeth (Nussbaum) Currier. In Michigan, Elvina worked at Kirsch Drapery Company. After moving to New Castle, she worked at […] — (Posted March 22, 2022)

James C. “Jim” Bennett James C. “Jim” Bennett, 80, a resident of Kokomo and formerly of New Castle passed away Friday, March 18, 2022 at St Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born April 10, 1941 in New Castle to the late Cecil Wood “Curley” and Mildred Irene (Godfrey) Bennett. Jim retired from Chrysler Corp. in 2003 after 37 […] — (Posted March 22, 2022)

William Todd William Todd, 77, died March 19, 2022 at Majestic Health in Connersville, Indiana. The third of five children of Wendell and Geraldine Harris Todd, he was born October 31, 1944 in Connersville. He was a 1962 graduate of Connersville High School. Bill was employed at various industries in Connersville including D&M and also at Carpenter […] — (Posted March 22, 2022)

Jimmy Doulen Jimmy Doulen, 72, of Connersville, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Reid Health, Richmond. He was born May 4, 1949 in Kentucky, one of five children of Oliver and Lucille Hazlet Doulen and came to Connersville as a child with his family. A veteran, he served in the United States Marine Corps. For a […] — (Posted March 22, 2022)

Norma Bishop Norma Bishop (nee Emrick) passed away of natural causes on March 20, 2022. She was raised in and around Eldorado, Ohio, graduated from Monroe High School in Preble County, and moved to Richmond, Indiana. She worked at Belden Wire in Richmond for 31 years until she retired in 1984. She was preceded in death by […] — (Posted March 22, 2022)

Judy Jenkins Judy Jenkins, 75, of Richmond, passed away at Reid Health on Tuesday, March 15. She was born Judith Marie Robinson on December 8, 1946 in Richmond, Indiana to Charles Edwin & Dorothy Lucille Lichtenfels Robinson, both of whom preceded her in death. Judy was a 1965 graduate of Centerville High School. Judy formerly worked in […] — (Posted March 21, 2022)

Richard W. Coffman Sr. Richard W. Coffman Sr., 80, Lewisville, passed away early Saturday morning March 19, 2022 at his home with his wife and son at his side. A son of the late Burton and Ada Coffman, Richard was born in Rush County, Indiana on May 24, 1941. Richard was a longtime member of the Lewisville community and […] — (Posted March 21, 2022)

Johnnie E Douglas Johnnie E Douglas, Richmond, was born in Fairfield Alabama, to parents Walter and Laura Douglas. The Youngest of three sons, Johnnie retired after working 30 years from Dana Corp Plant 6. He was a Vice President and life time member of the NAACP (Richmond chapter), Former Commander of the American Legion #359, Former leader of […] — (Posted March 19, 2022)

Henry Cole Henry Cole, 74, Winchester, passed away in his home on March 17, 2022. He was born on September 12, 1947, in Hamilton, Ohio, to William and Pauline (Peters) Cole. Henry attended Richmond High School. On June 20, 1998, Henry married Janice (Mills) Woods. Henry worked at D&M in Connersville and OMCO Cast Metals in Winchester. […] — (Posted March 19, 2022)

David “Doc” Gene O’Conner, Jr. David “Doc” Gene O’Conner, Jr., age 52, passed away at Reid Health on March 15, 2022. He was born July 22, 1969, the son of David O’Conner Sr. and Wilma O’Conner. David was born in Richmond, Indiana, and had lived here his whole life. He never met a stranger and was liked by anyone who […] — (Posted March 19, 2022)

Nancy L. Sanford Nancy L. Sanford, age 78, of Richmond, Indiana, died Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Reid Health. Born June 29, 1943, in Richmond, Indiana, to Oliver L. “Hosey” and Norma I. Blunk Dalbey, Nancy was a life-long resident of this community. She graduated from Richmond High School in 1961 and attended Ball State University. Nancy worked […] — (Posted March 19, 2022)

Delois Jewett Delois Jewett, age 81, of Richmond, Indiana, died Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Delois was born on June 12, 1940, in Grundy, West Virginia, to Thomas and Martha Norman White. She moved to Indiana at the age of 10 and lived here for the rest of her life. Delois […] — (Posted March 19, 2022)

Michael Neil Rodgers On May 4th, 2017 in Richmond Indiana about 9:00 a.m. Michael Neil Rodgers passed away in his Richmond home from his long-term sickness. He was born on August 13,1969 at Reid Hospital to Rosemary Rodgers and Robert Rodgers. He was not employed anywhere at the time, but he did have a work history of a […] — (Posted March 18, 2022)

Ronald D. Erk Ronald D. Erk, age 79, died unexpectedly at his home on March 12, 2022. Ron was born in Richmond, Indiana July 25, 1942, to Wilbur and Violet Vore Erk. Ron was a 1960 graduate of Richmond High School and lived here all of his life Ron was an Air Force Veteran from 1963 to 1967; […] — (Posted March 18, 2022)

Suzanne Renee Pollard Wyatt Suzanne Renee Pollard Wyatt, 43, of Centerville, died unexpectedly at Reid Health on March 16, 2022. She was born December 5, 1978, in Richmond and lived here all her life. Suzanne worked as a Para-Professional at Richmond Senior High School. She was a 1997 graduate of Centerville High School, attended I.U East, and received an […] — (Posted March 18, 2022)

Lillian McCreary Lillian McCreary, age 90, went home to be with the Lord on March 12, 2022, at Hickory Creek in Connersville. Born on December 26, 1931, in Connersville, she is one of two daughters of the late Paul and Grace Garrison Myer. She is a 1950 graduate of Connersville High School and had attended Central Christian […] — (Posted March 17, 2022)

Thomas M. Hudson Thomas M. Hudson age 82, of Connersville, passed away on March 12, 2022, at Caroleton Healthcare in Connersville. Born on March 15, 1939, in Tell City, Indiana, the son of a the late Ollie and Leora Phillips Hudson. On February 13, 1961 in Connersville, he married the former Mary Rowe and they were blessed with […] — (Posted March 17, 2022)

Elaine C. Barnes Elaine C. Barnes, age 92 of Richmond, passed away on Monday March 14, 2022. She was born in Waukegan, Illinois on February 6, 1930, the daughter of Ernest and Hildur Erickson Carlson. Elaine married Howard Barnes on July 2, 1949, at the First United Methodist Church in Connersville. They were blessed with two sons and […] — (Posted March 17, 2022)

Pansy Day Pansy Day, age 81 of Hagerstown, passed away on Monday March 14, 2022, at her home. Born in Charleston, West Virginia on January 16, 1941, she is the daughter of the late Delbert and Grace Rose Fannin. In Richmond, Indiana on July 6, 1960, she married Lawrence Day. They were blessed with two sons. Pansy […] — (Posted March 17, 2022)

Martha Ann Toney Martha Ann Toney, 76, passed away at her home in Cambridge City Tuesday evening March 15, 2022 after a brief illness. Martha was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on February 23, 1946. She lived most of her life in the Cambridge City community and worked as a nurse’s aide in area nursing homes and for home […] — (Posted March 17, 2022)

Franklin Hoke Franklin Hoke, age 86, of Eldorado, OH passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at Vancrest of Eaton Health Care Center. Franklin went to be with the Lord, his wife Shirley, his son Dennis, his two dogs, and baby Brantley. He was born in Phillipsburg, OH on June 23, 1935 to the late Cleo and […] — (Posted March 17, 2022)

Kyler Nicole Mock Kyler Nicole Mock, age 34, unexpectedly went home to be with our Lord and Savior on March 6, 2022. She was born March 6, 1988, the daughter of William Perry Jr. and Angela Tout, in Richmond, Indiana. Kyler was a graduate of Richmond High School and entered the United States Air Force shortly after graduation. […] — (Posted March 16, 2022)

Mary Ann Conder Mary Ann Conder, age 92, of Richmond, Indiana, died Sunday, March 13, 2022, at Reid Health. Born April 14, 1929, in Richmond, Indiana, to Jerome and Caroline Wolke, Mary was a life-long resident of this community. She graduated from Morton High School. Mary worked in the cut flower division at Hills’ Roses. She enjoyed being […] — (Posted March 15, 2022)