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.

Ruby J. Elam Ruby J. Elam, age 77, of Centerville, Indiana, died Tuesday, August 4, 2020, after a short illness. Born March 22, 1943, in Barbourville, Kentucky, to Chester Sr. and Gusta Bright Elam, Ruby lived in the Richmond, Indiana, area most of her life. She attended Centerville Schools. Ruby retired from the Richmond State Hospital, where she […] — (Posted August 5, 2020)

Robert (Bob) Lee Dishmond Sr. Robert (Bob) Lee Dishmond Sr., age 85 went to meet our Lord & Savior on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at his home in Liberty, Indiana. He was born April 25, 1935 in Science Hill, Kentucky to Raymond and Ollie Dishmond (Gregg). Bob was a long-time resident of Union County. Bob attended Pulaski County School, Kentucky […] — (Posted August 5, 2020)

Sharon Sue Widau Sharon Sue Widau, 74, of Milton passed away on Tuesday, August, 4, 2020 at Flat Rock River Lodge in Rushville, IN. She was born on April 4, 1946 in Wayne County, Indiana to James O. and Betty Jane Myers Willis and had lived most of her life in the area. Survivors include her children Jackie […] — (Posted August 5, 2020)

Mary Lee Jones Abrams Mary Lee Jones Abrams was born in Wind Cave, Jackson County, Kentucky on April 12, 1926 to Thomas and Louisa Jones. Mary Lee was 94 years old at her passing, on July 31, 2020. She was the youngest child, having 8 older siblings, 6 sisters and 2 brothers. Sisters were: Lucy Clifton, Dovie Moore, Fannie […] — (Posted August 5, 2020)

Rhea Guntle Spaulding Rhea Guntle Spaulding, age 102, of Richmond, Indiana, died Saturday, August 1, 2020, at Arbor Trace. Born August 29, 1917, in Miamisburg, Ohio, to Edward and Jane McCabe Wagner, Rhea was a 1935 graduate of Miamisburg High School. She lived in West Alexandria, Ohio, most of her life before moving to Richmond to be with […] — (Posted August 5, 2020)

Darren M. Boyce Darren M. Boyce, age 60, of Richmond, Indiana, died Sunday, August 2, 2020, at his home. Born June 13, 1960, in Long Beach, California, to Jerald Thomas and Sharron Horn Bailey Boyce, Darin lived in Richmond most of his life. He was a carpenter by trade and had worked for various companies over the years. […] — (Posted August 5, 2020)

Charles E. “Eddie” Bates Charles E. “Eddie” Bates, Jr, age 76, a resident of Oakville, Indiana went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. He was a patient at I.U. Ball Hospital in Muncie, Indiana. He was born December 25, 1943 in Connersville, Indiana, a son of the late Charles E. and Jeanne Fisher Bates, […] — (Posted August 5, 2020)

Buddy Wilson Jr. Buddy Wilson Jr., age 54, of Richmond, Indiana, lost his hard-fought battle to cancer Sunday, August 2, 2020, at his home. Born November 28, 1965, in Richmond, Indiana, to Buddy Sr. and Sharon Holland Wilson, Buddy was a life-long resident of this community. He was a 1984 graduate of Richmond High School. Buddy worked as […] — (Posted August 4, 2020)

Geanell Miller Geanell Miller, age 99, of Eaton, OH, passed away Friday, July 31, 2020 at the Vancrest Health Care Center in Eaton. She was born February 24, 1921 in Richmond, IN to the late Lon and Pearl Crawford. Geanell was a member of the Eaton First Church of God. She enjoyed traveling and camping with her […] — (Posted August 4, 2020)

June Hay June Hay, 94, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday evening, August 1. She was born Marilyn June Watts in Jackson Township, Preble County, Ohio, on May 23, 1926, the daughter of Charles W. & Hazel W. Cail Watts, both of whom preceded her in death. June was a 1944 graduate of Campbellstown High […] — (Posted August 4, 2020)

Virginia L. Brumley Virginia L. Brumley 85 of Richmond went to be with her Lord August 1, 2020 at Golden Living Center. She was born March 15, 1935 in Pemberton, Ohio to Jacob Walter and Helen Miller Houchin. She grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio and moved to Richmond in the 1960s. She was a graduate of Bellefontaine High […] — (Posted August 3, 2020)

Kenneth Lee Compton Kenneth Lee Compton, age 93, of Richmond, Indiana, died Saturday, August 1, 2020, at Reid Health. Born February 1, 1927, in Somerset, Kentucky, to Carthal and Lela Coner Compton, Kenneth lived in Wayne County, Indiana, most of his life. He served in the U.S. Army. Kenneth retired from Alcoa, where he worked as a master […] — (Posted August 3, 2020)

Donna J. Snyder Donna J. Snyder, age 76, of Greens Fork, Indiana, died Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at her home. Born August 3, 1943, in Abington Township, Wayne County, Indiana, to Cecil and Ruth Jones Henderson, Donna was a life-long resident of Wayne County. She attended Centerville High School. Donna retired from Belden after 37 ½ years of […] — (Posted August 1, 2020)

Rosemary “Rosie” Miller Rosemary “Rosie” Miller, age 92, of Richmond died Thursday morning (July 30, 2020) at her residence. She was born in Richmond, on February 4, 1928 to Leo “Hap” and Frances Hillman Kutter. She was a lifelong Richmond resident. She married John (Jack) Miller on August 6, 1949, and together they raised 10 children. She was […] — (Posted August 1, 2020)

Forrest O. Lee Forrest O. Lee, age 96, of Richmond, Indiana, died Friday, July 31, 2020, at Arbor Trace. Born May 4, 1924, in Portland, Indiana, to Richard O. and Lottie E. Cox Lee, Forrest lived in Richmond most of his life. He graduated from Poling High School in Bryant, Indiana. Forrest served in the U.S. Army during […] — (Posted August 1, 2020)

Virginia Starr Kessel Virginia Starr Kessel age 95, formerly of Richmond, died following a short illness on Sunday June 14, 2020 at her residence, the Sundara Memory Care Center in Round Rock, Tx. Virginia Kessel, known to her friends as Ginny was born on November 25, 1924 in Richmond, Indiana. She was the daughter of Philip H. Starr […] — (Posted August 1, 2020)

Patricia Ann Hawley Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend Patricia Ann Hawley passed away peacefully Monday, July 27, 2020 at the age of 91. Patricia was born February 14, 1929 in Hammond, Indiana to Frank and Leatha Lowden and then raised by her aunt, Estella Bartuska after her parents passed. She married her love and Airman, […] — (Posted August 1, 2020)

Jesse Emmett Adams Jesse Emmett Adams, 97, a resident of New Castle passed away Friday, July 31, 2020 at Hickory Creek of New Castle. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. A Knights of Pythias and Masonic service will immediately follow. Services will be held at […] — (Posted August 1, 2020)

Gentry Qualls Gentry Qualls, 92, of New Castle passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at The Waters of New Castle. He was born July 4, 1928 in Livingston, Tennessee, a son of the late Ulice Carnes and Nannie May (Carr) Qualls. He graduated from Muncie Central High School and was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the […] — (Posted July 31, 2020)

Joyce Elaine Ladd Joyce Elaine Ladd, 60, of Connersville passed away Wednesday morning, July 29, 2020 at Hickory Creek. She was born January 30, 1960 in Connersville, the daughter of Martin David and Virgie (Richmond) Ladd. She attended Fayette County Schools and was a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She loved country music. Survivors include a sister, Virginia (Curtis) […] — (Posted July 31, 2020)

Ronald L. McClain Ronald L. McClain, Sr., 79, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on Wednesday, July 29. Ron was born on July 20, 1941, the son of Emerson C. “Red” & Phyllis Marie Sheffer McClain, both of whom preceded him in death. He was a 1959 graduate of Williamsburg High School. He married the […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

William H. Mills William H. Mills, age 69, of Richmond, Indiana, died Monday, July 27, 2020, at Reid Health. Born on July 4, 1951, in Greenville, Ohio, to James W. and Dorothy V. Harrison Mills, Bill lived in Richmond most of his life. He was a 1969 graduate of Tri Village High School in New Madison, Ohio. Bill […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

Anna Faye Marcum Brasfield Anna Faye Marcum Brasfield, age 76, of Centerville, Indiana, went to be with the Lord Jesus on Monday morning, July 27, 2020, at her home. Born November 6, 1943, in McKee, Kentucky, to Estill and Della Radar Marcum, Anna grew up in Connersville, Indiana. She served as a Qualified Medication Aide (QMA) in nursing homes […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

Barbara J. Knapp Barbara J. Knapp, age 89, passed away peacefully at home Saturday March 21, 2020. She was born April 19, 1930 to William and Reva Kelley in Richmond, Indiana. She married her high school sweetheart, John P. Knapp, in Melbourne, Florida in 1951. Together they raised 3 children in Indiana and Illinois before moving to their […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

Malinda A. Swoveland Malinda A. Swoveland, 83, of Hagerstown, passed away at her home on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, following a long illness. She was born near Hagerstown on June 29, 1937 to Marion F. and Mary Esther (Miles) Swain and was a lifetime resident of Wayne County. Malinda was a graduate of Greens Fork High School and […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

Johnny Clay Markwell Johnny Clay Markwell, 81, of Connersville passed away Friday, July 24, 2020 at his residence following a courageous battle with colon cancer for a number of years. He was born September 23, 1938 in New Castle, Indiana, the son of James and Kathleen (Arthur) Markwell. Johnny served his country by enlisting with the United States […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

Madonna “Mattie” Bettelon Madonna “Mattie” Bettelon of Navarre, FL went home to heaven on July 27, 2020, after battling cancer four times. Born to Roy Dawson Wilson and Lena Louise (Adams) Wilson on August 9, 1941, she grew up in New Paris, OH, and graduated in 1959 from Jefferson HS. She married another JHS grad, John Edward Bettelon […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

James R. Branum Retired Chief James R. Branum, age 59, of Richmond, Indiana, passed peacefully Monday, July 27, 2020, at his home after a three year battle with cancer. Born October 2, 1960, in Winchester, Indiana, to Curtis Leo and Dorothy Olive Anthony Branum, Jim lived in Richmond most of his life. He was a 1978 graduate of […] — (Posted July 30, 2020)

Coyeta Jayne Miller Coyeta Jayne Miller, 97, Cambridge City died at 5:43 PM Monday July 27. She had resided at Brookdale Senior Living-Richmond since December 2017. She was born March 21, 1923 to John and Laura (Rush) Conklin on the family farm north of Cambridge City. She lived her lifetime in Wayne County and was a 1941 graduate […] — (Posted July 28, 2020)

Eunice “Darlene” Prince Eunice “Darlene” Prince, 63, of New Castle passed away Sunday, July 26, 2020 at IU Health – Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born March 16, 1957 In Muncie, Indiana, a daughter of the late Norman and Jeanetta (Monroe) Stamper. Darlene had been employed at Foam Rubber Products in New Castle for 22 years. She […] — (Posted July 28, 2020)