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.

Jerry M. Cline Jerry M. Cline, 72, of New Castle, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Monday, November 9, 2020 at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. He was born on October 28, 1948 in New Castle, a son of Dave and Georgenia Cline. Jerry grew up in New Castle where he graduated from New Castle High School […] — (Posted November 11, 2020)

Boyd Allen Beatty Boyd Allen Beatty, 91, of New Castle, formerly of Muncie passed away on the morning of Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at Heritage House of New Castle. Visitation will be held from 10 – 11 am with funeral service at 11:00 am on Friday, November 13, 2020 at Sproles Family Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Becker […] — (Posted November 11, 2020)

Keith Duane “Mouse” Friend Keith Duane “Mouse” Friend, 72, of Connersville passed away Monday, November 9, 2020, in the hospice unit at the VA Hospital, Dayton, Ohio. One of three sons of Kenneth “Gabe” and Betty Elaine Grizzell Friend, Keith was born in Connersville on June 20, 1948, and graduated from Connersville High School with the class of 1967. […] — (Posted November 11, 2020)

Pamela Ann Fadeley Pamela Ann Fadeley, of New Castle, passed away Friday, November 6, 2020 at her residence. She was born September 28, 1957 in Leckie, West Virginia and was a daughter of the late Charlie and Fern (Jarrett) Fadeley. Pamela had been a resident of New Castle for many years. She was a blessing to everyone that […] — (Posted November 11, 2020)

Darrin Daugherty Darrin R. Daugherty, 54, Webster, passed away at his home. Darrin was born in Richmond, Indiana, on December 29, 1965, the son of Ronald L. Daugherty and Julia Roberts Townsend. Darrin was a 1984 graduate of Vandalia Butler High School and served in the US Army. Darrin married the former Shari Farmer on October 18, […] — (Posted November 10, 2020)

Karen Sue Winchester Karen Sue Winchester, 77, of Greenville, Ohio formerly of New Castle passed away Sunday, November 8, 2020. She was born July 29, 1943 in New Castle to the late George Dewey and Etta (Brown) Gooding. She was a 1961 graduate of Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School. Karen was a member of the New Castle […] — (Posted November 10, 2020)

Bobby Merrill Conningham Bobby Merrill Conningham, 57, of Milton, Indiana, passed away Friday, November 6, 2020 at Reid Hospital. He was born July 14, 1963 in Indianapolis, Indiana, a son of the late Bob Conningham and Carole Jean (Johnson) Conningham. Bobby lived most of his life in Milton, Indiana. He had worked in the casket industry for over […] — (Posted November 10, 2020)

Florence E. (Jann) Brothers Florence E. (Jann) Brothers, 90, of Milton passed peacefully Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at Meadow View Health and Rehab in Salem, IN. Born on April 22, 1930 in Hymera, IN to Rev. Edwin G. & Naomi L. (Burger) Jann. Florence (Flossie) lived many places growing up as her parents moved around in the ministry. Eventually […] — (Posted November 9, 2020)

Eva Jean (Gray) Schrader Eva Jean (Gray) Schrader, 90, passed away early Sunday morning November 8, 2020 at her home in Dublin, Indiana with her family by her side. Eva Jean was born July 3, 1930, just north of Cambridge City, Indiana on the Fagan family farm to Everett and Bernice (Fagan) Gray. She was a 1948 graduate of […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

John William Kauffman III John William Kauffman III, age 85, of Richmond, Indiana, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at Brookdale Senior Living in Richmond. John was born on August 4, 1935, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, to John W. Kauffman Jr. and Bertha Shipley Kauffman. He graduated from Westminster High School in Carroll County, Maryland, and received an economics degree […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Ronald D. Fullerton Ronald D. Fullerton, 70, Richmond, passed away on Friday morning, November 6 at Reid Health. Ron was born in Richmond, Indiana, on November 10, 1949, the son of Albert E., Sr. & Freda J. Defibaugh Fullerton, both of whom preceded him in death. Ron was a US Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Reverend Irvin Baxter, Jr. Reverend Irvin Baxter, Jr. died November 4, 2020 after complications from Covid-19. He was 75. Baxter was a United Pentecostal Church minister, radio and television host, evangelist, author, and biblical scholar who hosted the internationally syndicated biblical prophecy program, End of the Age. Baxter was also the founder and president of Endtime Ministries. Baxter began […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Jeremy Donica Jeremy Donica, 39 of New Castle passed away Wednesday November 4, 2020. He was born on February 10, 1981 in New Castle IN. He spent his adult life caring for others, working tirelessly for the developmentally disabled. Jeremy once said, “What I enjoy most about working in direct support role is the delight in the […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Mary Jane Longenecker Fulton Mary Jane Longenecker Fulton, age 92, formerly of Centerville, Indiana, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2020, surrounded by her loving family at her home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Born July 28, 1928, in Winchester, Indiana, to Oakley and Maude Bavis Longenecker, Mary Jane graduated from Centerville High School. She married Malcolm Ray Fulton […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Stanley Lowell Hobbs Stanley Lowell Hobbs, age 84, of Richmond, Indiana passed away on Thursday (November 5, 2020) at Reid Health. Stanley was born on October 22, 1936 to Lowell and Frances Weber Hobbs in Springersville, Indiana. Stanley joined the service in April of 1959 and was a proud U.S. Navy veteran. On August 31, 1962 he married […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Leta McCarthy Leta McCarthy, 91, of New Castle, went home to be with the Lord on the morning of November 7, 2020 at Stonebrooke Rehabilitation Center in New Castle. Sproles Family Funeral Home, New Castle. Arrangements are pending at this time. — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Connie Rae Leitch Connie Rae Leitch, 74, a lifelong resident of Connersville, passed away unexpectedly Monday afternoon, November 2, 2020, at Tennova Hospital, Clarksville, Tennessee. One of four children of Raymond and Marie Catherine Johnting Logan, Connie was born in Laurel, Indiana on March 10, 1946, and attended Laurel High School. In 1974, Connie married Charles William Leitch […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Hal Bailey Rynerson Hal Bailey Rynerson, of Lewisville, Indiana passed away on November 6, 2020 in New Castle, Indiana. Hal was born on November 23, 1930 in Tucson, Arizona to Inez (Bailey) and John Paul Rynerson. Preceding him in death were his brother John and sister Harriet. Hal married Adena Meurer of Terre Haute, Indiana on June 14, […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Genevieve Collins Genevieve Collins, 96, Centerville, passed away Saturday morning November 7, 2020 at her home in Richmond, Indiana. A daughter of the late Fred and Georgia (Napier) Fugate, Genevieve was born in Perry County, Kentucky on November 19, 1923. She graduated from Combs High School in Combs, Kentucky with the class of 1942 and Eastern State […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

KC Allen Simpson KC Allen Simpson, 32, of Hagerstown, died Wednesday, November 4, 2020. He was born in Richmond on October 18, 1988 to Andrea K. Simpson and Kelcey E. Hall. He is loved and missed dearly by all. KC like to spend his free time at Haspin and with friends. He was a volunteer policeman in Greens […] — (Posted November 8, 2020)

Nancy A. Smith Nancy A. Smith, 80, of Richmond, passed away in her home on Tuesday, November 3. She was born on August 11, 1940 in Franklin Township of Wayne County, Indiana to Emil Elsworth & Mildred Fern Plessinger Filby. She was a 1958 graduate of Whitewater High School. She married Jon R. “Jack” Smith on April 7, […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

Jimmy E. VanCamp Jimmy E. VanCamp, 82, of New Castle, passed away at his home on Thursday, September 24, 2020. Jim was born December 15, 1937 in Richmond to Paul and Martha (Moss) VanCamp. He attended Greens Fork High School and joined the Navy after graduation in 1956. In April of 1958, while stationed in California, he met […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

Patricia L. Lemmons Patricia L. Lemmons, 85, Milton, passed away in Florida October 10, 2020. Patricia was born on December 30, 1934 to David and Dorothy (Campbell) Winkle. She was a long-time resident of Milton and Wayne County until 1996 when she and her husband Leo relocated to Florida for their retirement. Patti enjoyed her family and friends, […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

Melba Lorain Riddle Melba Lorain Riddle, 87, of New Castle passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Henry Community Health. She was born February 20, 1933 in Albany, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Roy and Bessie (Willen) Cross. She was a member of Greensboro United Methodist Church. Melba loved raising her children & spending time with family […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

Paul Nutty Paul Nutty, 71, of Connersville passed away Wednesday afternoon, November 4, 2020, at Hickory Creek of Connersville. One of eight children of Carl and Leota Lou Stevens Nutty, Paul was born in Connersville on October 5, 1949, and graduated from Connersville High School with the class of 1968. Paul served his country in the United […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

Richard W. Worth Richard W. Worth, 83, Lynn, passed away November 3, 2020, at Memorial Hospital, Gulfport, Mississippi, after a long illness. Richard was born in Lynn, Indiana on November 17, 1936, to Roland and Sara Margaret Worth. He is preceded in death by his second wife, Josephine, and his first wife, Sandra. He is also preceded in […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

Joseph S. Reis Joseph S. Reis, age 71, of Richmond, Indiana, died Saturday, October 31, 2020, at Reid Health. Born October 20, 1949, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Robert and Joan Sachs Reis, Joseph moved to Richmond in 2014. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1972, where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau. Joseph […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

Betty L. Bertsch Betty L. Bertsch, 84, passed away on November 3, 2020, after a long illness of Alzheimer’s. She was born February 1, 1936, to the late Homer F. and Hazel G. Harkleroad McMurray, in Sullivan County Tennessee. She attended Hiltons High School in Hiltons, Virginia. She attended waitress training and obtained a certificate while employed at […] — (Posted November 6, 2020)

David Lee Hall David Lee Hall, age 76, of Centerville, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on October 31, 2020. David was born on April 19, 1944, in Richmond, Indiana, to Maynard and Kathleen Peters Hall. Living in Wayne County, Indiana, most of his life, he graduated from Seymour High School and earned an associate […] — (Posted November 5, 2020)

Peter “Pete” Brian Smith Peter “Pete” Brian Smith 60 of Richmond died October 30, 2020, at Reid Health unexpectedly from Mesothelioma Cancer. He was born July 9, 1960, in Richmond to Alan Duane and Gracie Ilene Ladd Smith and lived here all his life. He was formerly employed with Specialty Systems and Hoffco. He enjoyed the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, […] — (Posted November 5, 2020)