Sgt. James D. Ellis
Former Middletown resident Sgt. James D. "Pops'' Ellis, 61, of Houston, Texas, died in Houston on Tuesday, April 21, 1998. He was born in Middletown on Feb. 10, 1937, and graduated from Middletown High School in 1955. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of Class 42 of the Houston Police Academy. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Texas Narcotics Officers Association, the Houston Police Officers Union and the Texaco Country Club. He was preceded in death by a brother, Ronald. He is survived by his parents, James and Myrtle Ellis of Middletown; his children, Sheila Slagel, and her husband, John, and Valerie Bowden, and her husband, Bill, all of Austin, Texas; five grandchildren, Jenna and Trenton Slagel and Travis, Andrea and Will Bowden, all of Austin, Texas; seven sisters, Anna Thomas, Shirley Griffith, Mary Mantz, Barbara Schaeffer and Karyn Robinson, all of Middletown, Martha Exline of Dayton and Jacqueline Curtner of North Carolina; two brothers, Warren and Wayne Ellis, both of Ohio; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Virginia Palacios of Houston. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Earthman Funeral Home, Resthaven Chapel, 13102 N. Freeway. Houston, Texas. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at Earthman Resthaven Chapel, with Chaplain Edwin A. Davis officiating. Interment will be at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gary Crenshaw, Ralph D. Mosley, John Kowal, Rudolfo Gomez, Dave Jones, Mike Gallaway, Jerry T. Carr and Jay Thrailkill. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Egdorf, David Sarlls and Norman White. In lieu of the usual remembrances, donations may be made to the 100 Club of Houston, 2603 Augusta Drive, Suite 840, Houston, Texas 77051; or the American Heart Association.

Florence Emerick
Florence Jean Emerick, 63, of Middletown, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Morrow, Ohio. She was born in Middletown on Sept. 12, 1934, the daughter of Hannon Carter and Helen (Sloan) Carter. Survivors include two sons, Ben Emerick Jr. and Jeff Emerick, both of California; three sisters, Betty Henderson and Marie Kirk, both of Germantown, and Sandy Groves of Brooksville, Fla.; and two brothers, Hannon Paul Carter Jr. of Somerville, Ohio, and Timothy Carter of Franklin. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jerry Back officiating. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Gladys Edwards
Mrs. Gladys Edwards, 76, of Edgewater, Fla., died Sunday, May 31, 1998, at her home in Edgewater of a heart attack. She was raised and lived in Middletown before moving to Florida 30 years ago. Mrs. Edwards is survived by her husband of 50 years, Jerry Edwards; a son, Donald Neely of Lake Worth, Fla.; two grandchildren, Chris and Cindy Neely of West Palm Beach, Fla.; two sisters, Mary F. Philpot and Virginia J. Thompson, both of Middletown; and several nieces and nephews in Middletown and Oak Ridge, Tenn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Beatrice and Oscar Kesling; and a brother, William F. Kesling. The funeral was held in Oak Ridge, Tenn., at Weatherford Funeral Home on June 3, 1998, with the Rev. Chris Stephens officiating. Interment was in Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

Florence Emerick
Florence Jean Emerick, 63, of Middletown, died Wednesday, May 13, 1998, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Morrow, Ohio. She was born in Middletown on Sept. 12, 1934, the daughter of Hannon Carter and Helen (Sloan) Carter. Survivors include two sons, Ben Emerick Jr. and Jeff Emerick, both of California; three sisters, Betty Henderson and Marie Kirk, both of Germantown, and Sandy Groves of Brooksville, Fla.; and two brothers, Hannon Paul Carter Jr. of Somerville, Ohio, and Timothy Carter of Franklin. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jerry Back officiating. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Annas Emrick
Mrs. Annas Emrick, 84, of Garden Manor Extended Care Center, died Wednesday evening, June 3, 1998, at Middletown Regional Hospital. She was born on Oct. 11, 1913, in Fincastle, Ky., the daughter of Amon and Matilda Akers. She had worked as a beautician. Mrs. Emrick was a member of Stratford Heights Church of God and the Order of the Eastern Star. She is survived by three daughters, Patricia Ledford, and her husband, Cale, of Franklin, Donna Davey, and her husband, Roger, of Middletown, and Vicki Sturgis of Middletown; a son, Charles Emrick, and his wife, Dorothy, of Middletown; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard Emrick, in 1992; and a son, Kenneth Emrick, in 1937. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Walter Watkins officiating. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Arthur Epperley
Arthur E. Epperley, 77, of Middletown, died Wednesday, May 20, 1998, at Loveland Health Center, Loveland, Ohio. Mr. Epperley was born Jan. 28, 1921, in Dayton and was the son of Sidney and Delia Abshire Epperley. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and owned Charlie's Gas Service. Mr. Epperley was an exhibitor at Shomy's Flea Market. He is survived by two daughters, Linda Epperley of Irvine, Calif., and Barbara Roberts of Cincinnati; a brother, Carl of Sarasota, Fla.; and four grandchildren, Heather and Tonya Roberts, and Matthew and Nathan Welti. He was preceded in death by his parents. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 1998, at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Butch Ernette officiating. Burial will be in Bear Creek Cemetery, Dayton.

Amelia Singhoffer Felber
Amelia Singhoffer Felber, 83, of Middletown, died Friday, April 24, 1998, at Garden Manor Extended Care Center. She was born in Middletown on May 28, 1914, the daughter of Rudolph and Rosalia Bugar Singhoffer. She was a graduate of St. John's School and Trenton High School and was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church and the Ladies Sediliaty Club. She worked as a seamstress-teacher in Los Angeles, Calif., for 25 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Rudolph Singhoffer, Jr.; and a sister, Helen Janka. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Felber of Middletown; a sister, Irene (Vincent) Cimprich of Trenton; a nephew, Rudolph Singhoffer III of Middletown; and two nieces, Barbara McCandless and Susan Hinds, both of Middletown. Visitation is 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home, 3805 Roosevelt Blvd., with prayers at 5 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Name Catholic Church, with Father George Klein officiating. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Name Catholic Church, 222 Hamilton Road, Trenton, Ohio, 45067.

Juanita K. Frye
Mrs. Juanita K. Frye, 78, of Middletown, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 1998, at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. She was born in Middletown on Nov. 17, 1919, the daughter of Earl and Katherine Roebuck. Mrs. Frye was a homemaker and a member of Holy Family Parish and Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority. Survivors include her husband, George; two sons, David A. Frye of Middletown and Thomas K. Frye of Mason; a daughter, Becky LaGore of Loveland; and five grandchildren, Ella, Daniel, Megan and Ashley Frye and Emily Clifton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Katherine Roebuck. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Friday at St. John's Chapel of Holy Family Parish, with Father John Civille as celebrant. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Children's Hospital epilepsy research, in care of Cincinnati Children's Hospital, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, 45219.

Pearl Fugate
FRANKLIN - Pearl Fugate, 70, of 4462 Pennyroyal Road, died Friday, May 8, 1998, at his residence. He was born in Chavies, Ky., on Nov. 7, 1927, the son of Elijah and Lucy Fugate. He was a die setter for Dayton Superior in Miamisburg for 14 years and retired in 1981. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Myrtle (Combs) Fugate; three sons, Ronnie, of Miamisburg, Jacie and Jerry, both of Franklin; two daughters, Betty Williamson, of Carlisle, and Maxline Fugate, of Franklin; two sisters, Nancy Estep, of Chavies, and Lizzie Moore, of Booneville, Ky.; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Dixie Highway Christian Center, with the Rev. Dave Bowling officiating. Burial will be in Woodhill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Unglesby-Anderson Funeral Home, 1357 E. Second St., Franklin.

Rev. John Steve Faulkner
The Rev. John Steve Faulkner, 91, went to be with the Lord to dwell on "Zion's Hill,'' at 2:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 1998. He was born on March 15, 1907, in Wolfe County, Ky., the son of James and Elizabeth Faulkner. A Middletown resident, he retired from Sorg Paper Co. in 1972. He established and pastored the Gratis and Beechwood, Ohio, First Churches of God for 30 years, retiring in 1982. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Elizabeth; four brothers, Carl, Roy, J.B. and Taylor; and three sisters, Lucy, Lily and Ethel. Survivors include his precious wife of 70 years, Carrie; three sons and daughters-in-law, James and Carolyn, Elmer and Wanda and John and Peggy Faulkner, all of Middletown; three daughters and sons-in-law, Delores and John Frye of Cincinnati, Jenny and Jennings Lansaw of Middletown and Wilma and Michael Gadd of Camden; a brother, Byrd of Kentucky; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home. Interment will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Poasttown. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mary Ellen Ferris
Mrs. Mary Ellen Ferris, 79, of Garden Manor Extended Care Center, died Sunday, June 21, 1998, at Middletown Regional Hospital. She was born in Middletown on July 17, 1918, the daughter of Ross E. and Mae (Baker) Crim. She was a 1936 graduate of Middletown High School and had worked as an office clerk for McAlpin's. Mrs. Ferris was a member of the Women's Center, Salvation Army Auxiliary and First Baptist Church. She is survived by her brother, Ross E. Crim Jr., and his wife, Marilyn, of Ogden, Utah; a stepsister, Carol DeForest, and her husband, David, of Cincinnati; an aunt, Betty Baker of Hamilton; three nieces and three nephews; and a dear friend, Colleen Minge of Middletown. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, John Ferris, in 1972. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Woodside Cemetery Chapel, with the Rev. C. Roland Marcus officiating. There will be no visitation. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery. Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Darrell W. Fraley
Darrell Wayne Fraley, 47, of Middletown, died Tuesday, June 30, 1998, at Middletown Regional Hospital. He was born in Middletown on Oct. 18, 1950, and was a lifelong resident. Mr. Fraley was an assistant deputy director of Ohio Human Services for the state of Ohio. He was also a former purchasing agent for the city of Middletown, a former budget director for Butler County, former Warren County administrator, and chief accountant and cost analyst for Warner Press Inc. of Anderson, Ind. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 773, Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton, and York Rite Bodies in Middletown. Surviving are his wife of seven years, Jackie Kaye Fraley; his parents, Carl and Pauline (Blankenship) Fraley; a stepson, Leon Dale Vanguelpen of Middletown; a granddaughter, Arminda Kaye Vanguelpen of Middletown; and a half sister, Deloris Stewart of Kentucky. A brother, Carl David Fraley, preceded him in death. Funeral services will be at 8 p.m. today at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ron Reynolds officiating. Interment will be at Broaddus Cemetery in Broaddus, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lakewood Baptist Church, Route 2, Box 203, Zavalla, Texas 75980.

Corbin Fields
Corbin Dean Fields, 47, of Middletown, died Monday, Feb. 1, 1999, at Middletown Regional Hospital. He was born in Whitesburg, Ky., on May 9, 1951, and had lived in this area for nine years. Mr. Fields was employed as a laborer at Tech-Way Industries where he had worked for seven years. He was a member of American Legion Post 152 in Whitesburg. Surviving are his wife of 25 years, Jeannie Fields; two sons, Will Byers of Middletown and Carvis Dean Fields of Whitesburg, Ky.; two daughters, Janice Cody, and her husband, Ken, of Gaston, S.C., and Bridgette Fields of Middletown; two granddaughters, Kyra and Megan Gentry of South Carolina; a grandson, Tyler Jacob Benton of Middletown; his mother, Jenette Fields of Whitesburg; seven brothers, Orville, Dennis, Jody and Larry Fields, all of Whitesburg, Ky., Leonard Fields of Lexington, Ky., and Alex and Parnell Fields, both of Neon, Ky.; five sisters, Regina Slone of Richmond, Ky., Doris Kellogg and Angie Roberts, both of Whitesburg, Pam Aumiller of Radcliff, Ky., and Erma McIntosh of Lexington, Ky.; numerous nieces and nephews; and a great host of family and friends. His father, James O. Fields, died in June, 1995.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services are set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Cowan Community Church, Whitesburg, Ky., followed by interment at the Fields Family Cemetery in Whitesburg. Visitation will be local. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home in Middletown.

Wilbur 'Bud' Fisher
Wilbur "Bud" Fisher, 86, of 1345 Avalon Drive, Middletown, passed away at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999, at Middletown Regional Hospital. He was born on Sept. 18, 1912, in Chestertown, Md. He had lived in Middletown since the 1940s. Mr. Fisher was the personnel director for Aeronca where he was employed for 38 years, retiring in 1975. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Middletown. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva, in 1994. He is survived by and will be sadly missed by his dear friends, Bessie F. Johnson and Tom and Darcy Patterson, all of Middletown; two brothers, James Fisher and Eugene Fisher, and his wife, Carol, all of Maryland; two sisters, Gloria, and her husband, Wright Scott, and Charlotte Hudson, all of Maryland; and many dedicated care-givers.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at the convenience of the family at Herr-Riggs Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Keeny officiating. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery. Visitation will be at the convenience of the family at Herr-Riggs Funeral Home, 210 S. Main St., Middletown.

Elsie E. Follmer
Mrs. Elsie E. Follmer, 87, of Monroe, passed away Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, at Mount Pleasant Retirement Village. She was born on Dec. 7, 1911, in Batesville, Ind., the daughter of John and Minnie Nedderman. She graduated from Sunman High School where she played on the girls basketball team of 1927-1928. She was a 4-H Club leader and a founding member of Monroe Garden Club. Mrs. Follmer was employed for 29 years in the Lemon-Monroe High School cafeteria. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hamilton where she served as a Sunday school teacher for many years. Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Carl R. Follmer; two sons, David C. (wife Jane) Follmer of Monroe and Fred (wife Gail) Follmer of Dahlonega, Ga.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and three sisters.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church, 212 S. Front St., Hamilton, Ohio, with Pastor Robert Browning officiating. Burial will be at Mound Cemetery in Monroe.
MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church in Hamilton.

John W. Furnas
FRANKLIN - John W. Furnas, 37, of Franklin, died Friday, Feb. 5, 1999, at Miami Valley Hospital. He was an employee of Springboro Tool Inc., a member of the Solid Rock Church, Monroe, and an Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his father, John W. Sr. He is survived by his wife, Polly H., son, Carl;, daughter, Jerica; mother, Shirley Furnas of Franklin; two brothers, Jeff and his wife Joy of Waynesville and Jim Furnas of Middletown; three sisters, Becky and her husband Dan Miller of Middletown, Teri and her husband Joel Smith of Miamisburg, and Tracy and her husband Tim Doherty of Franklin. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Solid Rock Church. Pastors Lawrence and Darlene Bishop will officiate. Burial is in Miami Cemetery, Waynesville. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church. Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home of Waynesville is serving the family. If desired, contributions may be made to the Darlene Bishop Home for Unwed Mothers, P.O. Box, 350, Monroe, 45050.

Porter R. Fultz
Porter R. Fultz, 75, of Greenwood Road, Middletown, died Sunday, March 28, 1999, at his residence. He was born in Frenchburg, Ky., on June 16, 1923, to John and Erie Katherine (Steele) Fultz. He was an Army veteran. Mr. Fultz retired from Armco Steel Co. in Middletown. He is survived by his wife, Helen; a daughter, Kathy Reynolds (Oscar) of Rising Sun, Ind.; three sons, Daniel Fultz (Dena) of Somerville, Ohio, Steven Fultz (Dona) of New Richmond, Ohio, and Jonathan Fultz (Missy) of Eaton; three brothers, Clayton Fultz of Middletown, Leonard Fultz of Lewisburg, Ohio, and James Fultz of Frenchburg, Ky.; two sisters, Maxine Welch of Middletown and Shirley Back of Frenchburg; nieces and nephews; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Curtis Fultz; and three sisters, Delma Fultz, Stella Stamper and Claudette Fultz.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, at West Elkton United Methodist Church in West Elkton, with the Rev. Ruben Cabanillas officiating. Burial will be in Fairmound Cemetery, West Elkton. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home in Gratis.
MEMORIALS: Memorial donations may be made to West Elkton United Methodist Church.