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.

Mary R. Etherton Mary R. Etherton, age 69, of Greens Fork, Indiana, died Sunday, November 11, 2018, at Reid Health. Born August 10, 1949, in New Castle, Indiana, to James and Mary Forkner Henley, Mary was a life-long resident of Wayne County. She graduated from Cincinnati Bible College, and then married her college sweetheart, Joe. Mary enjoyed singing […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Hazel Dean Cross Hazel Dean Cross, 90, a long time resident of the Hagerstown area, died Tuesday, November 6, 2018, at Providence Diversacare in New Albany, where she had resided for the past several years. She was born in Albany, KY on November 30, 1927 to Silas and Ollie (McIver) Savage. She moved to the Hagerstown area in […] — (Posted November 8, 2018)

Esther Lorraine Kaucher Esther Lorraine Kaucher, age 93, of Centerville, Indiana, died Monday, November 5, 2018, at Ambassador Healthcare. Esther was born October 12, 1925, on a farm near Coleman, South Dakota, to Nels Theodore and Olga Christine Nelsen Lindholm. She was a 1944 graduate of Wentworth High School in South Dakota and a 1947 graduate of Sioux […] — (Posted November 6, 2018)

Judith L. Thornburg Judith L. Thornburg, age 74, of Richmond, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at the Cleveland Clinic. Born July 6, 1944, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to John and Cornelia Conner Merrill, Judy lived in Wayne County most of her life. She was a graduate of Fort Wayne South Side High School. Judy’s education continued at […] — (Posted November 5, 2018)

Wilma Doretha Query Wilma Doretha Query, 87, passed away Wednesday evening October 31, 2018 at the Heritage House in New Castle, Indiana. A daughter of the late Clarence and Ethel Gertrude (Paul) Rummel, Wilma was born on the “Rummel Homeplace”, north of Dublin in Wayne County, Indiana on August 14, 1931. She lived most of her life in […] — (Posted November 5, 2018)

Louise Diane Lawrence DUBLIN – Louise Diane Lawrence, 71, passed away Sunday afternoon October 28, 2018 at Reid Health in Richmond, Indiana. A daughter of the late Alpha and Gertrude (Grise) Tremblay, Diane was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on August 14, 1947. Diane was a graduate of East Catholic High School in Manchester, Connecticut and earned an […] — (Posted October 31, 2018)

Rick Wright Rick Wright, 60, of Brownsville, IN passed away Friday, October 26, 2018 at St. Vincent’s Hospital. He was a beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was born May 17, 1958 to Ronald D. Wright and Barbara Lee Wright in Richmond, IN. He was the oldest boy of seven siblings. He was married to […] — (Posted October 31, 2018)

Ernest Alonzo Chance Jr. Richmond – Ernest Alonzo Chance Jr., 70, of Richmond died Oct. 26, 2018, at Reid Health. He was born September 16, 1948, in Richmond to Ernest Alonzo and Katherine Frances Button Chance Sr. and lived here all his life. He worked at Belden Corporation and The Palladium-Item. He was a 1967 graduate of Centerville High […] — (Posted October 31, 2018)

Johnathon James “Jesse” Martin Johnathon James “Jesse” Martin, 27, of Williamsburg, passed away on Monday, October 29 on his family’s farm. Jesse was born in Richmond, Indiana on October 20, 1991, to John B. III and Linda S. Mayberry Martin. He was a 2010 graduate of Northeastern High School, where he was very active in the FFA Chapter. Jesse […] — (Posted October 31, 2018)

Richard C. “Dick” Seffrin Richard C. “Dick” Seffrin, 76, of Hagerstown, died Sunday, October 28, 2018. He was born in Henry County on March 6, 1942 to Carl and Agnes Caroline (Gold) Seffrin and was a life long resident of the Hagerstown area. He served with the US Air Force and was a retired employee of Perfect Circle / […] — (Posted October 30, 2018)

Mildred Imol Thornburg Mildred Imol Thornburg 104 of Richmond died October 29, 2018 at Friends Fellowship Community. She was born November 29, 1913 in Randolph County to Frederick and Laura Davis Beeson and move to Richmond from Dalton 63 years ago. She worked as a Secretary at Perfect Circle in Hagerstown and Sears for many years. She was […] — (Posted October 30, 2018)

David A. Austerman David A. Austerman, age 70, of Richmond, died Saturday evening (October 27, 2018) at Reid Health. He was born in Richmond on May 13, 1948 to Joseph and Alice “Cookie” Turner Austerman and had lived here all of his life. He was a graduate of Richmond High School and served in the U.S. Navy in […] — (Posted October 30, 2018)

Mary Ellen Rigsby Mary Ellen Rigsby “Miss Mary” age 64, of Hagerstown, IN died Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Reid Hospital in Richmond, IN. Born September 27, 1954 in Wayne County, Indiana she was the daughter of the late Max Wilburn & Geraldine Marie (Muddell) Swafford. She was a graduate of the first class of Union County High […] — (Posted October 24, 2018)

Michael Harold Ankrom Michael Harold Ankrom, 72, of Milton, IN passed away on October 19, 2018. Michael was born on January 16, 1946 to the late Walter Jesse and Harriet Francis (Raffenberger) Ankrom. Michael graduated from Straughn High School in 1964. He served his country in the Army during the Vietnam War and after returning home attended Indiana […] — (Posted October 23, 2018)

F Benson Rhoades F Benson Rhoades, passed away on Oct. 16, 2018, in Indianapolis. He was 92. Mr. Rhoades was born on January 8, 1926 in Liscomb, Iowa, to Orval and Verna Rhoades. After graduating valedictorian from Lewisville High School in Indiana, he entered the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific Fleet during WW II as a radio […] — (Posted October 22, 2018)

Glenn E. Barker Glenn E. Barker passed away at his home on October 14, 2018. He was born on November 21, 1956, to John and Joyce Barker in Alexandria, Indiana. Glenn was a graduate of Hagerstown Jr./Sr. High School, in Hagerstown, Indiana. After graduation, Glenn completed a masonry training program where he developed the skills to pursue a […] — (Posted October 22, 2018)

Kenneth P. Grubbs Kenneth P. Grubbs, 81 of Richmond passed away Wednesday October 17, 2018 at Reid Hospital. He was born in Richmond on September 2, 1937 to Perry and Helen Crouch Grubbs. He graduated from Williamsburg High School and served honorably in the US Air Force. Kenneth enjoyed a long career in car sales in Richmond, Eaton, […] — (Posted October 22, 2018)

John James Porter CONNERSVILLE, Ind. – John James Porter, age 58, of Connersville, Indiana, died Tuesday, October 16, 2018, at his home. Born January 22, 1960, in Richmond, Indiana, to Frances Cloyd and Eva M. Stevens Porter, John lived in Wayne County until moving to Fayette County in 1996. He was a Boy Scout through the age of […] — (Posted October 19, 2018)

Wanda Bennett CENTERVILLE, Ind. – Wanda Bennett, age 67, of Centerville, Indiana, died Sunday, October 14, 2018, at her home. Born December 31, 1950, in Oneida, Kentucky, to Carmen and Ida Mae Howard Napier, Wanda lived in this community most of her life. She was a 1968 graduate of Richmond High School. Wanda was a member of […] — (Posted October 19, 2018)

William B. Centers William Burnam Centers of Richmond entered heaven on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Reid Health surrounded by his family. He was born March 11, 1946 in Garrard County, Kentucky to William and Francis “Cornelius” Centers and lived in Richmond most of his life. William was special needs all of his life. He lived with his […] — (Posted October 19, 2018)

Anthony D. Gilpin Anthony D. Gilpin, “Tony,” age 67 of Cambridge City, IN passed away Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at LifeCare Hospitals of Dayton. He was born March 19, 1951 in Liberty, Kentucky, the son of the late Chester and Mildred Gilpin. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Michael B. Gilpin; maternal […] — (Posted October 18, 2018)

Lila Kay Smith Lila Kay Smith, 62, of Modoc, died Thursday, October 11, 2018, at St. Vincent Randolph Hospital. She was born in New Castle on June 12, 1956 to Gerald and Kathleen (Abernathy) Golliher and was a life long resident of the Modoc area. Lila was a graduate of Union High School and assisted her husband in […] — (Posted October 16, 2018)

Howard LeRoy Mosier Howard LeRoy Mosier, 78 of Centerville passed away Friday October 12, 2018 at Reid Hospital. He was born in New Castle, IN on March 22, 1940 to Gordon and Jennie Johnson Mosier. He graduated from Greens Fork High School in 1958. He enjoyed IU Basketball, golfing, fishing, mushroom hunting, bird watching and feeding his squirrels […] — (Posted October 16, 2018)

Marvin Wilbert Fudge Marvin Wilbert Fudge, 88, of Lynn, IN passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday, October 8, 2018. He was born January 23, 1930 in Wayne County, IN the son of Russell and Edith (Stoops) Fudge. He was a 1948 graduate of Williamsburg High School. Marvin married Joan Thornton August 7, 1949 and built their […] — (Posted October 11, 2018)

Benjamin Morris Hawkins Benjamin Morris Hawkins died October 9, 2018 of non-small cell lung cancer at Reid Health Care. “Let me draw you a picture…” of who our Dad was. When he wanted to get a point across, he often grabbed a pencil and paper and drew a picture. Dad was the seventh child of Oscar and Florence […] — (Posted October 10, 2018)

Toni Ann Benedict Toni Ann Benedict, age 74, of Richmond, Indiana, died Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at Friends Fellowship Community. Born October 29, 1943, in Richmond, Indiana, to Daniel M. and Beulow Coning Wogoman, Toni lived in Wayne County most of her life. She was a 1962 graduate of Richmond High School and a 1965 graduate of Miami […] — (Posted October 10, 2018)

Otis Johnson Otis Johnson, 73, of Cambridge City passed away on Friday, October 5, 2018 at his residence. He was born on March 7, 1945 In Berea, Kentucky To Millard and Grethel Lakes Johnson and had lived in Cambridge City for many years. He graduated in 1963 in the last graduating class from Whitewater High School. Otis […] — (Posted October 7, 2018)

Annette Marie Wright Annette Marie Wright, 60, of Economy, died at her home on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, following a long illness. She was born in Richmond on September 12, 1958 to Clement and Maxine (Klemann) Kutter and was a life long resident of Wayne County. Annette’s favorite pastime was spending time with her grandchildren and her pets. […] — (Posted October 5, 2018)

Donna J. Miller Donna J. Miller, age 68, of Richmond, Indiana, died Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at Reid Health. Born January 21, 1950, in Newport, Rhode Island, to Mitchell and Virginia Paul Hummell, Donna lived in this community most of her life. She was a graduate of Oldenburg Academy in Indiana. Donna retired from Richmond Community Schools and […] — (Posted October 4, 2018)

Richard A. “Dick” Hanen Richard A. “Dick” Hanen, 72, of Markle, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2018. He was born on December 20, 1945 in New Castle, Indiana, the son of the late Frank and Frances (Fisher) Hanen of Hagerstown, IN. Richard was a 1963 graduate of Hagerstown High School and a 1967 graduate of Purdue University in […] — (Posted September 28, 2018)