The Middletown Journal

Kenneth "Tiger" Wells, 86, of New Castle passed away Saturday October 30, 2021 at his residence. He was born July 21, 1935 in Middletown, Ohio to the late Alfred and Cannie (Agee) Wells. Kenneth served in the United States Air Force. He was an avid Ohio State Buckeyes fan and also enjoyed watching the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Browns. Tiger was a fun guy and always had a positive word for everyone and a little irony. He enjoyed going to his son and grandkids sporting activities, spending time at the casino feeding the squirrels and loved his cats. He also enjoyed serving as the town "Bookie". He is survived by his daughters, Sherry (Jeff) Thompson and Kenna "Winnie" Roberts;...

93, widow of the late Seldon Eugene Pelfrey departed this life Friday, October 1, 2021. She was the daughter of the late Buford and Molly Mayo Campbell Ingram born in Wolfe County, Kentucky on January 4, 1928. She was a former employee at Wolfe County Farm Bureau in Campton, Kentucky, a clerk for Aeronica Aircraft Company in Middletown, Ohio and a homemaker. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, and especially cooking and was a avid UK fan. She is survived by two sons, William Pelfrey (Carla) of Cleveland, Tennessee and Noel Pelfrey of Carlisle, Ohio; three daughters, Eugenia Mackey (Prentice) of Carlisle, Ohio, Devonia Little (Greg) of Lebanon, Ohio and Linda Stivers (Ed) of Jackson, Kentucky;...

John F. Fay, 83, husband of the late Dot Fay, died due to COVID on Friday, June 11, 2021 at Aspen Ridge Care Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. John was born October 3, 1937 to J. Clayton and May Fay in Middletown, Ohio. He graduated from Mount Saint Mary's in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a Master of Arts in theology. He married Dorothy "Dot" Fay and they raised their family in the Dayton, Ohio area. John retired as a Computer Programmer and Systems Analyst from Standard Register in Dayton. Queen of Apostles Community (QAC) in Beavercreek, Ohio was John's faith community for over 40 years. He and his wife were active members and considered the community to be a part of their family. John is...

Gustave W. Rylander, Jr., died May 18, 2021 in Carlisle PA, at the age of 95. Born June 7, 1925 in Ben Avon Heights PA, he was the second of the three sons of the late Gustave W. Rylander, Sr. and Augusta Erk Rylander. His brothers, John F. Rylander and Edward E. Rylander, preceded him in death, as did his wife, Nancy Warren Rylander, his close friend, Miriam G. Bowman, and his great-grandchild, Evan W. Campbell. Gus enlisted in the Army in 1943 at age 18. He served as an engineer in both the European and Pacific theaters. He rose quickly to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was awarded a Bronze Star. He wrote a letter to his parents every day during the war, assuring them that he was fine...

Born in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania, Gloria was the daughter of Joseph and Florence (Kronenwetter) Geci. She graduated from Elk County Christian High School in 1967. Gloria married Duane Corn II on May 20, 1971 and settled in Middletown where she and her husband raised their daughter. Gloria moved to Charlotte, NC in 1996. Gloria is survived by her daughter Cristie (Tom) Riley and granddaughter Morgan Riley. Notes of condolence may be directed to Cristie Riley, 5500 Bellerive Ct., Charlotte, NC 28277.

Duane, 75, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021 at his home in Charlotte, NC. Born March 4, 1946 in Dayton, Ohio, Duane was the son of Duane and Darline (Hall) Corn. Following graduation from Middletown High School in 1964, he attended The Ohio State University. Duane then served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam Conflict. Following his military service he returned to Middletown where he was employed in I.T. at ARMCO Steel/A.K. Steel meanwhile completing his degrees at Antioch University. Duane joined I.B.M. and served in their Global Services Division in Akron, OH, Raleigh, NC and finally Charlotte, NC, where he and his family retired. Duane is survived by his wife...

Thelma M. Mapes age 101, passed away of natural causes on February 17, 2021. She was a resident in the Charleston, SC area for the past 13 years. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, she spent the majority of her life in Middletown. In 1941, prior to the beginning of World War II, she married Robert Mapes. As he was serving overseas, she supported the war effort by working in a factory making military materials. They were married for 70 years until his death in 2012. They had one son, Ronald (Susan) of Summerville, SC. Thelma worked for Middletown City Schools for thirty years as an elementary school secretary and later as a teacher's aide. She attended Christ Methodist Church in...

Merrill Creed Hatfield passed away peacefully on January 1, 2021, the first morning of the new year, at the age of 89. Merrill, or "Mel" as he was commonly known, was born July 31, 1931 in Middletown, Ohio to his parents Golden and Lexie Hatfield (nee Sorrell). Growing up in Ohio he was surrounded by his sister, Phyllis Hatfield Finney (Fred) brother Dynzel Hatfield (Barb) and his late brother Sidney. Merrill graduated in 1949 from Middletown High School where he would be inducted in 2007 into the Middletown High School Athletic Hall of Fame for the 3 sports he played while in school; basketball, baseball and golf. He went on to graduate college from The Ohio State University with a B.S...

Edwin Charles Mantz , 93 Jul 22, 1927 - Dec 31, 2020 Edwin Charles Mantz , 93 Jul 22, 1927 - Dec 31, 2020 Edwin Charles Mantz went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 31st, 2020 at Doey's House in Hagerstown, Maryland. Born July 22, 1927, he was the son of the late Charles Mantz and the late Edith Combs Mantz. He is survived by his daughter Joan (Jomar) Mantz Tussing and her husband Brian L Tussing and grandchildren Hannah Tussing and Zach Tussing, all of Hagerstown Maryland. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death in 2013 by his wife, Nora (Rothwell) Mantz and his brother William L. Mantz. Edwin graduated from Middletown High School in 1945,...

Ellen Holt Taylor, age 84, passed away peacefully at home on December 9, 2020 in Hilton Head Island, SC. We celebrate her reunion in heaven with her beloved husband, Charles E. Taylor, who preceded her in death in 2008 after 52 years of marriage. Also preceding Ellen in death were her parents Harris B. and Anne Rosemary B. Holt, her brother Richard Holt, her sister Ann Lew Dennison, and her granddaughter Melissa Anne Taylor. Ellen was born in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a degree in education. Ellen and her high school sweetheart, Charles, were married in...

Richard "Rick" Lee Robillard, age 67, passed away on October 4, 2020. He was a member of Saint Joseph the Carpenter Episcopal Church where he loved to play the organ. He was preceded in Death by parents - Robert E. and Betty Jane Robillard and his grandparents. He is survived by his husband, Kenny Spurling; sons and daughters in laws, Justin and Amie, Kevin and Jenni, Robert and Tracy; daughters and sons in law, Abigail Robillard and Peter Horine; grandchildren, Bennett, Brooks, Barrett, Bridger, Boone, Corinna, Ruby and Mavis; brother, Randolph and Catherine Robillard; brothers in law, David and Kathy Spurling, Jerry and Tammy Spurling, Tim and Robin Spurling, Jamie Spurling; Sisters in...

Harold Clark Gillispie, 83, widower of Ruby Joslin Gillispie, passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2020 at his home. He was born in Middletown, Ohio, on August 6, 1937, to the late Farris Harold and Ruby Opal Williams Gillispie. Harold was a United States Navy Veteran and a retired contractor. Survivors include his daughter, Julie (Gary) Coleman; sister, Emma Perkins; sister-in-law, Loretta Gillispie; several nieces and nephews. In keeping with his wishes, Mr. Gillispie will be cremated with no services. Scobee Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Edna Meade was born at her home in Blackwater, Kentucky on Mar 26, 1926 to Loren and Addie Roberson. She graduated from high school in Springhill, Tennessee in 1944. After moving to Middletown Ohio, she met and married LG Meade in 1947. They welcomed their son Larry Gordon Meade in 1948. She was very active in her church and served as music director for many years. Upon retirement, she began a music ministry with her husband and others, all over the local area. She was beloved in her community. She moved to Florida in 1992 and established residence in Gadsden County where she became active in the Community Baptist Church in Tallahassee Florida. She continued her music ministry as a choir...

Marilyn Glenell Jones Hamilton, 91, passed away September 17, 2019 at her home in Savannah, GA. A full obituary will be published at www.foxandweeks.com.