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.

Carl W. Kleinknecht It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Carl W. Kleinknecht on December 4, 2020, in Naples, Florida, at the age of 103, and honor his remarkable life. Carl was born August 10, 1917, in Richmond, Indiana, to C.A. and Charlotte B. Kleinknecht. He graduated from Morton (Richmond) High School, class of 1935, […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Robert L. Bond Robert L. Bond, age 78, of Richmond, Indiana, died Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at Ambassador Healthcare. Robert was born October 18, 1942, in Connersville, Indiana, to Jimmy T. and June Coats Bond. He graduated from Union County High School in 1960 and was a 1965 graduate of Indiana University. Robert proudly served in the United […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Max Bahnweg Max Bahnweg, age 78, of Richmond, Indiana, died Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at Reid Health. Born March 17, 1942, in New York, New York, to Max E. and Mary Gladosky Bahnweg Sr., Max was a 1960 graduate of East Huntington High School in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Max moved to […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

John E. Steele John E. Steele, 88 of Connersville passed away Thursday, December 10, 2020 at his home. One of three children of Crit and Pearl Steele, John was born in Butler County, Ohio on December 26, 1931. On April 8, 1950, John married Mary Ellen Stone. Mrs. Steele survives. For several years, John and his father-in-law owned […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Cletus Ray Owens Cletus Ray Owens, age 77, a New Castle resident, passed away Thursday, December 10, 2020 at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born August 30, 1943 in Murrl, Kentucky, a son of Enock and Clara Wallace Owens. He was a New Castle resident most of his life and was a graduate of New Castle […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Phillip Warren Neal Phillip Warren Neal, 72, passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020, following a brief illness at Majestic Care Center in Sheridan, Indiana, where he had resided for two years. Phillip was a former resident of Mt. Summit. He was born June 24, 1948, to Sam and Phyllis (Brown) Neal in New Castle, Indiana, the third oldest […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Lois B. House Granting her only wish of the past several months, on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Jesus gently escorted Lois Britt House quietly and peacefully to her eternal Home. She is once again whole, healthy, and vibrant, and at long last reunited with the love of her life. Lois left this earth as she […] — (Posted December 11, 2020)

Margie J. Lineback Margie J. Lineback 87 of Richmond passed away on December 10, 2020. she was born in Richmond on May 15, 1933, and was the daughter of the late Robert and Nellie Clark. She loved being a mother and grandmother as well as a seamstress, craft vendor, and volunteer at Reid Health. She was a member […] — (Posted December 11, 2020)

Mary Lois Root Mary Lois Root, 69, of Muncie, passed away on the morning of Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. She was born on August 30, 1951 in New Castle, Indiana, a daughter of Mary Louise (Blevins) and John C. Root, Jr. Mary was a 1969 graduate of Hagerstown High School […] — (Posted December 11, 2020)

Debra Mason-Haskett Debra Mason-Haskett, 55, of New Castle, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 surrounded by her loving family following a lengthy battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was born on July 6, 1965, in Dayton, Ohio, a daughter of the late Charles Mason and Frances M. (Chilcoat) Atkinson. Debra grew up in the […] — (Posted December 11, 2020)

Carol J. “Peggy” McQueen Carol J. “Peggy” McQueen, 81, of Pershing passed away Tuesday evening, December 8, 2020 at Reid Health, Richmond. The daughter of Riley and Juanita Yates Smith, Peggy was born in Flint, Michigan on March 23, 1939. She graduated from Lincoln High School in Cambridge City with the class of 1957, and attended Indiana University, Bloomington. […] — (Posted December 11, 2020)

Betty Rosalee McConkey Betty Rosalee McConkey 85 of Richmond died Thursday, December 3, 2020, at Reid Health. She was born May 5, 1935, in Richmond to Thomas B. and Lyda Lorene Reed Campbell and lived here all her life. She was a Nurse, worked at Dillard’s Department Store, and volunteered at Reid Health. She was a member of […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Joseph M. Smith Joseph M. Smith, 86, went Home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. He was a lifelong resident of Hagerstown, where he resided with his wife of 48 years, Julia L. Owens Smith. Born August 13, 1934, to Forest C. and Ada Pitman Smith, Joe was a United States Army Veteran, and […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Carol S. Pendleton Carol S. Pendleton, age 79, of Richmond, Indiana, died Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at Reid Health. Born January 23, 1941, in Manchester, Kentucky, to William and Zylphia Tipton Philpot, Carol moved to Richmond in 1966. She was a certified nursing assistant. Carol was a member of Cornerstone Church in New Castle, Indiana. She enjoyed fishing, […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Ruth Ann (Davis) Dake Ruth Ann (Davis) Dake, 86 of Liberty, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at Reid Health Hospital surrounded by her children. She was born on May 25, 1934 in Everton, Indiana to George and Daisy Callahan Davis. She married James Melvin Dake on October 4, 1952 in Everton, Indiana. They were able to 65 […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Melanie L. Ferguson Melanie L. Ferguson, 74, passed away unexpectedly from a Pulmonary Embolism at her residence on December 5, 2020. Melanie was born November 28, 1946, in Richmond, Indiana, the daughter of Mark and Phyllis (Wallin) Garrett. She attended Boston High School and graduated from Richmond High School in 1964. On November 28, 1965, she married Ray […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Ronald L. Sparks Ronald L. Sparks 63, of Richmond, passed away December 9, 2020. He was born November 6, 1957, in Bettyville, Kentucky to Heber and Betty Jean Sparks and lived in this area most of his life. He retired in august of this year from the City of Richmond Street Department where he had worked for 44 […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Paula M. (Walker Davis) Moeller Paula M. (Walker Davis) Moeller, 87, of Morristown and formerly of New Castle passed away Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in Morristown Manor. She was born February 13, 1933 in St. Peter, Illinois, a daughter of the late John P. and Gladys M. (McGraw) Walker. A homemaker, she was a 1951 graduate of New Castle High […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Kathryn Absher Kathryn Absher, 43, of Middletown passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at I.U. Health Ball Memorial in Muncie, Indiana. She was born February 17, 1977 in Salt Lake City, Utah to John Gordon Clarke & Joellen (Wagner) Clarke. She was a 1995 New Castle High School graduate and a 2011 Ball State University graduate. She […] — (Posted December 10, 2020)

Charles Roger Smith Charles Roger Smith, age 62, formerly of Wayne County, Indiana, died unexpectedly Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at his home in Meeker, Oklahoma. Born May 21, 1958, in Richmond, Indiana, to Charles H. Smith and Barbara A. Wilmoth Smith, Roger lived most of his life in Wayne County. He was a 1979 graduate of Centerville High […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Charlene Annette Mize Charlene Annette Mize, 48, of Pershing passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 8, 2020 at her residence. One of four children of Buddy and Loretta Sue Fields Mize, Charlene was born in Connersville on August 23, 1972. She was employed at local restaurants in many roles including waitress and cook. In her leisure time, Charlene enjoyed […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Darlene A. Crass Darlene A. Crass, age 74, of Richmond, Indiana, died Friday, December 4, 2020, at Reid Health. Born September 30, 1946, in Richmond, Indiana, to Keith and Laura Thompson Bostick, Darlene was a life-long resident of this community. She graduated from Richmond High School in 1964. Darlene retired from Belden, after 43 years of service. She […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Charles F. Williams Charles F. Williams, 72, of Lewisville passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2020. He was born on May 19, 1948 in Madisonville, IN, a son of the late Frank J. and Freda L. (Wines) Williams. He is survived by his two sisters, Lela (husband: Gene) Smyth of Indianapolis and Helen (husband: Leo) Holland of North […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Abie Jones Abie Jones, 80, of Connersville, passed away Monday, December 7, 2020 at his home, surrounded by the love and comfort of his wife, children, and family. He was born October 5, 1940 in Manchester, Kentucky, the eldest of six children of A.B. and Pearl Bowling Jones. He then moved to Fayette County with his family […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Brenda Jean Lawson (Daffron) Brenda Jean Lawson (Daffron) age 71, of New Castle, Indiana, passed away Friday, December 4, 2020 at Yorktown Manor Assisted Living facility from an extended illness. Brenda was a resident of Yorktown Manor and enjoyed going to bingo and spending time with her friends and family. She is survived by her three children, Kim Custer […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Helen Iacuone Fuller Helen Iacuone Fuller passed away December 7, 2020 after a few months of declining health. She was the daughter of Joseph Iacuone and Mariangiolina Lanza who immigrated to the U.S. from the village of Tocco Causaria in the Abruzzo Region of Italy. A 1941 graduate of Richmond High School, she started work at National Automatic […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Joan Young Joan Young, 94, Cambridge City, passed away at her son’s home in Mt. Auburn, Indiana Sunday evening December 6, 2020 after an extended illness. Joan was born on June 1, 1926 in Quincy, Michigan. She was a graduate of Coldwater High School in Coldwater, Michigan and has made her home in Cambridge City, Indiana since […] — (Posted December 9, 2020)

Shirley Ann Smith Shirley Ann Smith 83 of Richmond died Thursday, December 3, 2020, at Reid Health. She was born October 26, 1937, in Boston to Omer and Dorothy Berry Havens and lived here all her life. She was a homemaker and a member of the Living Faith Church of God. Shirley is survived by two daughters Mary […] — (Posted December 8, 2020)

Alex Gregory Pennington Alex Gregory Pennington 71, of Richmond, Indiana passed away on November 30, 2020. He was born July 15, 1949 in Richmond, Indiana to the late Alexander and Constance Pennington. Alex was a father, grandfather, great grandfather and a great friend to all. He never knew a stranger. He loved being surrounded by family, friends and […] — (Posted December 8, 2020)

Robert Eugene Johnson, Sr. Robert Eugene Johnson, Sr. (a.k.a.- Bob, Bobby Gene, BJ), born April 9, 1937, passed away at the age of 83 in the early hours Wednesday morning Dec. 2, 2020, leaving his last surviving sibling Irene Jett (William Sr.), his spouse Mary L. Johnson, his 5 children, Teresa (Doug) Maney, Burlington, KY., Anthony (Sheila) Johnson, Greensfork, […] — (Posted December 8, 2020)