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.

Tabatha Howe The day Tabatha died a part of us died along with her. We will miss her every day for the rest of our lives. The pain of her death is heartbreaking and intolerable, which is why stories like Tabatha’s should not be ignored. The only way we will conquer the heroin epidemic is to share […] — (Posted November 15, 2018)

Pastor Louie Burkhart Pastor Louie Burkhart 66 of Richmond went home to be with his LORD November 12, 2018 at Reid Health after a short hard fought battle with cancer. He was born August 2, 1952 in Laurel Co. Kentucky to Felix Grand and Nora Thompson Burkhart and lived here most of his life. He met Brenda Powell […] — (Posted November 14, 2018)

Roscoe William Mofield Roscoe William Mofield, 72, passed away Monday morning November 12, 2018 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Middletown, Indiana. A son of the late Simon E. and Roxie Beatrice (Wesley) Mofield, Roscoe was born in New Castle, Indiana on June 20, 1946. Roscoe has lived most of his life in Henry County and graduated from Lewisville […] — (Posted November 13, 2018)

Brenda Van Winkle Bowmer Brenda Van Winkle Bowmer, age 69, of Centerville, Indiana, died Sunday, November 11, 2018, at her home. Born January 3, 1949, in Richmond, Indiana, to Earl and Sophia Abrams Van Winkle, Brenda was a life-long resident of Wayne County. She was a 1967 graduate of Richmond High School and earned her nursing degree in 1992. […] — (Posted November 13, 2018)

Ruth A. Bragg CAMBRIDGE CITY- Ruth Ann Bragg, 80, passed away Saturday evening, Nov. 10, 2018, at Reid Health in Richmond, Indiana. A daughter of the late Paul W. Price and Beulah K. (Johnson) Isom, Ruth was born at home in Cambridge City, Indiana on September 23, 1938. She has lived most of her life in the Cambridge […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Betty L. Usher Betty L. Usher, 80, of Milton, IN passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2018, at Henry County Hospital. She was born on May 27, 1938 in Bybee, KY to Albert and Myrtle (McKinney) Stevens. She moved to Milton at an early age and was a 1956 graduate of Milton High School. She married William R. […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Lois M. Bailey DUBLIN – Lois Marie Bailey, 99, of Dublin, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at Ambassador Healthcare in Centerville, Indiana. Lois was born on March 15, 1919, in Mt. Auburn, Indiana to the late Carl Raymond and Grace May (Longnecker) Jordan. She was a homemaker and raised her children in the Lewisville area before returning […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Timothy B. Reynolds Indianapolis – Timothy B. Reynolds, 68, of Indianapolis died Nov. 2, 2018, after a three-year battle with lung and liver cancer. He was born in Richmond, Indiana to Dick and Joan (Donieker) Reynolds on Dec. 8, 1949. His parents preceded him in death. Tim was a graduate of Richmond High School and Ball State University […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Jeannie Marlene McCaslin Jeannie Marlene McCaslin, 68, resident of Pershing, Indiana, passed away Friday, November 2, 2018, at Ball Hospital in Muncie, Indiana. She was born November 2, 1950, in Dayton, Ohio a daughter of the late Virgil and Ada Rose Watkins. She was a resident of Florida for 30 years before moving to Pershing seven years ago. […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Iva M. Bryant RICHMOND, Ind. – Iva M. Bryant, 82, of Richmond, died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, at Rosebud Village. Born May 4, 1936, in Richmond, Indiana, to Bertchel and Bertha Clark Phillips, Iva lived in this community most of her life. She retired as a head cook from Live Oak Manor Assisted Living in Sarasota, Florida. Iva […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Julia Elaine Brandenburg Richmond – Julia Elaine Brandenburg, age 73, of Richmond, Indiana, died Thursday, November 8, 2018, at Reid Health surrounded by her loving family. Born May 15, 1945 in Richmond, Indiana to Elmer (Pat) and Blanche Whalen, Julia was a lifelong resident of Richmond, Indiana. Julia enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, and watching her […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Ruth I. Bufford Ruth Ilene Bufford, 81, of Fountain City, went home to be with her heavenly family on Wednesday, November 7. Ruth was born in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, on Nov. 5, 1937, to Herman and Letha Allen Abney. She married Ernest Bufford on Sept. 25, 1953. They were blessed with four children and 58 years of marriage […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Todd A. Suttles Todd Andrew Suttles, 55, of Cambridge City, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He was born on August 31, 1963 in New Castle, a son of the late Andrew Maurice and Thelma Christina […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Dr. William A. Nesbitt William A. Nesbitt, M.D., 71, of Connersville peacefully went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family and friends on Nov. 2, 2018, at Reid Health, Richmond. Born on Feb. 19, 1947, in Marion, Indiana and raised in Gas City, Indiana, the youngest of five children of Howell Darius and Mary Virginia […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

Robert Jackson Owens Robert Jackson Owens, 90, of Noblesville, formerly of Hagerstown, went to be with the Lord November 9, 2018. He was born June 29, 1928 to Cecil and Ruby Jackson Owens in Farmland, IN. Bob was a 1946 graduate of Farmland High School. He played in the Randolph County sectional championship his senior year. He was […] — (Posted November 12, 2018)

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)