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.

Norman Walker Norman Walker, 85, of Brownsville passed away December 10, 2020 peacefully at home after a four-year battle with cancer. He was born February 22, 1935 in Connersville to Wilbur and Mary (Sheplar) Walker. Norman married the former Anna Chaney on March 10, 1956. They enjoyed 64 years together. Norman worked at Woolworths then Philco-Ford, where […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Betty Smith-Henson Betty Smith-Henson, 76, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2020, due to complications from Covid-19. Betty was born Aug 26, 1944, to Alex J and Mary B (Reed) Warren in East Bernstadt KY. Betty was employed by Wayne County as the County Assessor since 2015. She was also the Richmond Township Assessor for 13 years. […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Lucille Wanda “Mammie” Pippin Lucille Wanda “Mammie” Pippin, Richmond, was born June 15, 1935, in Rockcastle, Kentucky, the daughter of Herman and Letha (Allen) Abney. Lucille Wanda Abney Pippin died peacefully on Sunday, December 6, 2020, at Reid Health. She was known as “Lucy” to her friends and co-workers; as she was known as “Wanda” to her brothers and […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Charles E. “Chuck” Pence Charles E. “Chuck” Pence, age 91, of Richmond, Indiana, passed away Friday, December 11, 2020, at Golden Living Center – Richmond. Chuck was born on July 3, 1929, in Richmond, Indiana, to George Cooper and Alice S. Settles Pence. He served in the U.S. Army, 47th Infantry Division, and was assigned to a National Guard […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

June Rose June Rose (Schweizer) Moorman “Through the stillness of the midnight comes a sound of peace and love. God’s assuring message from His Kingdom high above. I feel my heart grow free and light losing every fear. As the message meant for every soul is bringing Him so near. For what could be more peaceful than […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

David Michael McConkey David Michael McConkey 78, of Richmond, Indiana passed away on December 1, 2020. He was born in Richmond, Indiana on November 19, 1942 to Willard and Eileen McConkey. David graduated from New Paris, Ohio High School, where they called him “Mike”. He served in the Marine Corps 3rd division in Vietnam and Bay of Pigs. […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

Erick J. Laine Erick J. Laine, formerly of Richmond, died Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at his home in Olean, NY, after a long illness. Erkki Johannes Komulainen was born on August 13, 1933, in Petrozavodsk in the Soviet Republic of Karelia, where his Finnish parents, Ernesti and Irma (Salminen) Komulainen, had found work during the Depression. Erkki was […] — (Posted December 12, 2020)

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)