USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
CHAD LANTZ, 22, of Piqua, died at 10:59 p.m. Thursday May 6, 2004, at Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH. He was born March 30, 1982 to Douglas E. and Cheryl (LeVan) Lantz. They both survive. He married
Tanya Ritchie on July 3, 2003 in Piqua. She also survives.
In addition to his wife and parents, Chad is survived by his stepfather: Donald L. Lantz, Sr., Piqua; 2 sons: Devin and Holden, Piqua; Grandfather: Edward LeVan, Sr., Piqua; 5 aunts: Mary LeVan, Kay LeVan, Mary (Sis) Birt, Linda LeVan and Stella LeVan, all of Piqua; 3 uncles: Ed LeVan, Jimmy LeVan and Roy LeVan, all of Piqua; 1 brother and sister-in-law: Donald L. & Jennifer Lantz, Bradford; 1 sister and brother-in-law: Joyce & Jamie Clement, Piqua; mother-in-law: Deb Ritchie, Ada, OH and 1 sister-in-law: Christy Cox, Harrod, OH. Chad was preceded in death by his Grandmother, Mary LeVan.
Chad attended Piqua High School. He worked for Hobart in Piqua for a year as a welder. Chad loved spending time with his family and was liked by everyone he met.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home in Piqua with the Shepard Paul Brown officiating. Calling Hours will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home, Piqua.
Ona R. “Jug” Hinkle, Sr.: age 82 of Springfield; died Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 11:20 a.m. at Essex of Springfield Nursing Home. He was born November 14, 1921 in Kline, WV to the late Hobart and Margie (Mallow) Hinkle. Ona married
Annabel J. (McDaniel) Hinkle December 24, 1949; she preceded him in death June 1981.
Ona is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law: Ona R. and Linda Hinkle, Jr. of Bonair, GA, Kerry and Gail Hinkle of San Antonio, TX and Steve Hinkle of Piqua; one daughter and son-in-law: Christle and Jack Chrystie of St. Augustine, FL; eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by four sisters: Anna Mongold of Winchester, VA, Jean Phares of Burlington, NC, Mary Lou Riggleman of Elon College, NC and Norma Channell of Homosasa, FL and one brother: Bobby Hinkle of Burlington, NC. Three brothers preceded Ona in death.
Mr. Hinkle was a member of the Piqua American Legion Post # 184. He served our country in the U.S. Army in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. He worked for the former Val Decker Packing Company in Piqua for 24 years as a truck mechanic, retiring in 1980. Ona was also the founder of Hinkle Auto Service in Piqua.
Funeral Services will be Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Miami Memorial Park in Covington with full military honors provided by the Veterans Elite Tribute Squad (VETS). Visitation will be Monday 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society 1130 Vester Ave.-Suite G Springfield, Ohio 45503.
RITA M. HENNESSEY, age 87, of Piqua, Ohio, died Monday May 17, 2004 at 10:57 A.M. at Upper Valley Medical Center, Troy, Ohio. She was born August 30, 1916 in Piqua, Ohio to the late George and Antonia (Kipp) Lange.
Rita married
Charles F. “Bud” Hennessey on September 30, 1939 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Piqua. He preceded her in death August 8, 1997.
Rita is survived by 2 sons & daughters-in-law: Michael & Pauline Hennessey, Kettering and Mark & Carol Hennessey, Cataula, GA; 2 daughters & sons-in-law: Suzie & Willie Milligan and Sara & David Favorite, all of Piqua; 2 brothers: Paul Lange and Richard Lange, both of Piqua; and a sister: Dorothy Mertz of Piqua; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Rita was preceded in death by 2 brothers.
Mrs. Hennessey graduated from Piqua Catholic High School in 1933 and attended Ideal Business School in Piqua. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church where she belonged to the Alter Society. Rita was also a member of the Piqua YWCA and Piqua Leisure Club.
Rita was employed at Hobart Mfg. For 6 years as a secretary. She was also a secretary at Piqua Catholic for 3 years and Lehman High School for 15 years.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday May 20, 2004 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary Catholic Church, Piqua. Burial will follow at Forest Hill cemetery with Rev. Fr. Thomas Grilliot and Rev. Fr. Joseph Raudabaugh officiating. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home, Piqua. A prayer service will be held Wednesday at 5 P.M. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lehman High School Foundation, 2400 St. Mary’s Avenue, Sidney, Ohio 45365.
BUDDY DEAN BLANKENSHIP, SR., age 66, of Sidney died Tuesday May 18, 2004 at 1:08 P.M. at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Sidney, Ohio. He was born March 24, 1938 in Widen, West Virginia to the late Cecil and Susie (Nottingham) Blankenship. He married
Patricia Spence on May 11, 1971 in Piqua, Ohio and she survives.
Also surviving are 1 Daughter: Robin Blankenship, W. Virginia; 5 Sons: Buddy D. Blankenship, Jr., Lockington, OH, Robert Blankenship, Florida, Charles Blankenship, Sidney, Roger Blankenship, Sidney, and Tony Blankenship, W. Virginia; 2 step-sons: Michael Mowery, Sidney, and Jeff Mowery, Piqua; 2 step-daughters: Belinda Huff, Lockington, OH, and Candra Earls, Piqua; 2 brothers: Donald Blankenship, W. Virginia and Ray Steele, N. Carolina; 1 sister: Betty Robinson, N. Carolina; 33 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Buddy was preceded in death by 1 brother and 1 step-son.
Mr. Blankenship served in the U. S. Navy from 1955 – 1957. He worked for Precise Cast in Piqua and was a professional painter for over 30 years.
A memorial services will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 P.M., May 20, 2004 at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home with the Rev. Fr. Angelo Caserta officiating. Full military honors will be conducted by The Veterans Elite Tribute Squad following the service at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home.
JAYSON L. LEAR, 30, of Piqua, died Monday May 17, 2004, in his residence. He was born Feb. 14, 1974 in Troy to Robert M. and Rose M. (Klepinger) Lear. They both survive. He married
Tammie Shepard on May 26, 2001 in Troy, Ohio. She also survives.
In addition to his wife and parents, Jayson is survived by one daughter, Elaina Lear of Piqua; two brothers, Jeremiah Lear of St. Paris, Oh, and Shawn Lear of Covington, Oh.
Jayson graduated from Piqua High School in 1992. He also graduated from Hocking Tech College in 1995. He was a member of the Piqua Alumni Band. Jayson worked for Francis Office Supply in Piqua for two years.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home in Piqua with Rev. Dale Ritts officiating. Calling hours will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home, Piqua. Memorial contributions may be made in the form of a contribution to a Trust Fund for his daughter Elaina.
SHARON E. MALONE, age 58 of Piqua; died Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at noon at Upper Valley Medical Center. She was born December 22, 1945 in Piqua, Ohio to the late Francis and Belva (Gard) Malone.
Sharon is survived by one daughter: Belva E. Malone, Piqua. She is also survived by one brother: John Malone, Troy; and three sisters: Sara Pittman, Piqua, and Barbara Goings, Piqua. One brother-in-law: Richard Pittman preceded her in death.
Ms. Malone graduated from Piqua Central High School in 1965. She was an attendant at Wood & Wayne Laundromat for 7 years and SCOPE in Troy for 5 years.
Funeral Services will be Friday, May 21, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home with Rev. Gary Wagner officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hill cemetery in Piqua. Visitation will be from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home preceding the funeral services.
Memorial contributions may be made to help defray the cost of the funeral.
Mary L. (Brading) Richardson: age 90 of Tipp City; died Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 11:45 p.m. at Harborside Health Care in Troy. She was born June 22, 1913 in Piqua to the late William R. and Bethel D. (Cruse) Brading. Mary married
Robert T. Richardson; he preceded her in death in 1986.
Mrs. Richardson is survived by two grandchildren: Robert and Abbey York of Tipp City and Lisa and Steve Keesee of New Carlisle; two great-grandchildren: Bryan York and Casey Keesee; one son-in-law: Larry L. York of Tipp City; 6 brothers and sisters: Mildred “Jack” Hulme of Houston, Betty Beard of Troy, Bill Brading of Piqua, Bethel “Peg” King of Washington, George Brading of Piqua, Robert and Nacy Brading of Piqua and a sister-in-law: Marge Brading of Dayton. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by one daughter: Mary Del York, one brother: James Brading and one sister: Ruth Snyder.
Mary graduated from Piqua Catholic High School in 1930 and attended St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Tipp City. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed; she lived for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, May 24, 2004 at 7:00 p.m at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Tipp City with Fr. Gene Vonderhaar officiating. Visitation will be Monday 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home in Piqua.
Memorial contributions may be made in the form of MassCards.
THERESA K. RUNYON, age 56, of Piqua, Ohio, died Friday May 21, 2004 at 10:40 a.m. at her residence. She was born March 24, 1948 in Sidney, Ohio to Lewis E. Runyon and Emmadell (Hughes) Bailey. Theresa was raised by her loving stepfather, Carl Bailey. All three of her parents survive.
Theresa is survived by one son: Dell Scott Runyon, Piqua; two brothers: Michael S. Runyon and Rusty Runyon, both of Cambridge, OH; and 4 grandchildren. One brother: Daniel Runyon preceded her in death in 1980.
Theresa graduated from Glasglow High School in 1966 in Glasglow, Montana and obtained an Associates Degree in Art from JVS. She attended the Church of the Nazarene in Piqua. Theresa was a member of the Piqua Loyal Order of the Moose #1067 and the Piqua Eagles #614.
Theresa worked for American Nursing. She was a grandmother to many children in Piqua.
Funeral services will be Monday May 24, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home, Piqua, OH, with Rev. Lincoln Robinson officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, May 23, 2004 from 2-4 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in the form of donations to the Runyon Family.
Joseph J. “Jerry” Arnett: age 60 of Piqua; died Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 8:13 p.m. at Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy. He was born June 28, 1943 in Covington, Ohio to the late Thomas and Elsie (Trissel) Arnett.
Jerry married
Carolyn (Tittle) Arnett June 21, 1968 in Troy, Ohio. She preceded him in death March 3, 2004.
He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law: Tony and Dawn Arnett of Bradford and Scott and Cindi Hawkins of New Carlisle; two daughters: Tisha Arnett of Piqua and Tammy Staudt of Piqua and ten grandchildren: Bryce, Brett and Hunter Arnett, Mark, Joseph and Camie Hawkins, Taylor Arnett and Renee, Kyle and William Staudt. Jerry is also survived by one brother: Terry Arnett of Columbus and one sister; Peggy Arnett of Piqua. One son, Mark Brittle and four brothers preceded him in death.
Mr. Arnett was a member of the Piqua Fish and Game Club and the Troy Fraternal Order of the Eagles # 971.
Funeral Services will be Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home with Rev. Willard Cole officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill cemetery in Piqua. Visitation will be Wednesday 11:00 – 1:00 at the funeral home.
