Kenneth Lee Ballinger
TRENTON -- Kenneth L. Ballinger, 48, died Sunday, April 29, 2001, at his home here following a brief illness.
Born May 30, 1952, he was a 1970 graduate of Preble Shawnee High School. Kenneth retired from Martin-Marietta in New Miami, Ohio, after 28 years as maintenance personnel. He was working as a crane operator for Olympic Mill Services, Middletown, at the time of his death.
His mother, Alice Ballinger, preceded him in death.
Kenneth is survived by one son, Mike Ballinger of Eaton; his father, Marion Ballinger of Eaton; two brothers, Keith Edward (Betty) Ballinger of Eaton, and Gary Dallas Ballinger of Trenton; and three nephews, Brent Ballinger of Eaton, Kyle Ballinger of Platte City, Mo., and Dylin Ballinger, also of Platte City, Mo.
ARRANGEMENTS: Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, at the R.C. Nein & Sons Funeral Home, 249 N. Main St., Camden. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Greg Jackson officiating. Burial will follow at the Mound Hill Union Cemetery in Eaton.
MEMORIALS: Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Walter Blevins
Walter K. Blevins, 74, of Middletown, died Tuesday, April 24, 2001, at Christ Hospital.
He was born Dec. 7, 1926, in West Liberty, Ky. He had lived in Middletown for more than 40 years. Mr. Blevins was an operator at Moorman Sand and Gravel. He attended the Eighth Street Church of God in Franklin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Sarah J. Blevins.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ruth N. Blevins; a daughter, Tammy Blevins of Middletown; three sons, Tony Blevins, Ricky Blevins and Walter S. Blevins, all of Middletown; four grandchildren, Misty Rose Blevins, Walter Griffen, Ethan Taylor and Kenneth Blevins; a sister, Dolly Dennis of West Liberty; a niece, Donna Lewis of Fairborn; a nephew, Bennie Dennis of Fairborn; and many loving relatives and friends.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert McCarty officiating. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery.
Hazel Bowlin
Hazel A. Bowlin, 93, of Middletown, died Sunday, April 29 at Willow Knoll Nursing Home.
Born Sept. 15, 1907, in Menifee County, Ky., Mrs. Bowling had lived here since 1923. She was a homemaker and a member of the Full Gospel Tabernacle.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Bowlin in 1994; her parents, Jim D. Wells and Martha Wells-Smith; a son, Merle Gene Bowlin in 1993; sisters, Pearl Milburn and Christie Wheeler; and brothers, Lee, Bryan and Lloyd Wells.
She is survived by daughters, Gerry Powers of Middletown, Maxine (Wade) Powers of Newark, Ohio, and Sandra (Lowell) Roman of Middletown; a son, Larry E. (Patty) Bowlin of Carlisle; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; sisters Lucille McMillan of Middletown and Helen Sallee of Franklin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
ARRANGEMENTS: Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Baker-Stevens Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry L. Back and the Rev. James A. Setser officiating. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Baker-Stevens.
MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown, Ohio 45044.
Mabel Campbell
CAMDEN -- Mabel Campbell, 85, formerly of Camden, passed on into the loving arms of God on Monday, April 30, at her residence.
She was born Oct. 17, 1915, in Beattyville, Ky., the daughter of Floyd and Margaret Hensley. She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Camden.
Mrs. Campbell is survived by one son, Curtis (Lucy) Campbell Jr. of Tennessee; a daughter-in-law, Gale Campbell of Middletown; three granddaughters, Sherry (Bob) Tibbs and Marsha (Scott) Carpenter, both of Middletown, and Debra (Mark) Eve of Arizona; four great-grandchildren, Randy (Alisha) Robinson, Greg (Lana) Robinson, Brandi Carpenter and Erica Eve; four great-great-grandchildren, Mathew, Taylor, Austin and Joey, along with dearest family friends, Terry and Dorenda Lohrey; four sisters, Bertha Vanderpool of Middletown, Gertrude Johnson and Della Hedger of Florida, Virginia Sidel of Kentucky; and one brother, Homer Hensley of Middletown.
Mrs. Campbell was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Curtis O. Campbell Sr., and a great-grandson, Michael Piersall of Arizona.
ARRANGEMENTS: Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the First Southern Baptist Church, 35 N. Liberty St., Camden, with the Rev. Greg Jackson officiating. Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Gratis. Visitation will be at the church from noon to 1 p.m. Friday.
R.C. Nein & Sons-Thompson Funeral Home, 249 N. Main St., Camden, is in charge of arrangements.
Joan K. Fields
Joan K. Fields, 61, of 720 Poplar St., passed away at her residence Saturday evening, April 28, 2001.
She was born in Middletown, Feb. 25, 1940. She had been employed by Miami Carey for more than 16 years and also was formerly employed by Burrows Paper in Franklin.
She is survived by three daughters, Billie Smallwood of Middletown, Jennifer (Steve) Rogers of Trenton and Angela (William) Wills of Middletown; four sons, Timothy Kemplin and James M. Kemplin, both of Middletown, Stephen Schul of Middletown and Edward Schul of Monroe; 12 grandchildren; a sister, Judith (William) Heater of Germantown; a brother, John F. (Joyce) O'Connor of Middletown; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Gaston; and her mother and stepfather, Ica and John O' Connor.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Mark Jackson and the Rev. Lamar Farrell officiating. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Woodside Cemetery.
Neva L. Fraley
Neva Lillian Fraley, daughter of George and Cora Emma (Collinsworth) Cannoy, born Nov. 24, 1909, in Frenchburg, Ky., went to be with the Lord on April 24, 2001. She was 91.
She graduated from Middletown High School in 1928 and attended Morehead State Teachers College. On Dec. 31, 1929, she married Lawrence Fraley. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Miami University in 1958 and an master's degree in education in 1966.
After 19 years of teaching first grade and reading in the Middletown School System at Oneida, Amanda, Maple Park, Wildwood and Taft schools, she retired in 1973. She was a charter member of the St. Luke United Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her sons Lawrence H. Fraley and Thomas O. (Linda) Fraley; daughter Linda C. (Perry) Wallace; granddaughters Kimberly J. (Todd) Chaney, Jennifer L. (James) Clark, Laura A. (Matthew) Hartman; great-grandson Micah J. Clark; and great-granddaughter Anna E. Clark.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence Fraley; a granddaughter Suzanne R. Daly; great-grandson Austin Daly; brothers Russell, Shelby, Wade, Orison, Harley and Joe Cannoy; and sisters Stella Lyons, Ellen Cannoy and Mary Cannoy.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home with the Rev. Bob Clark officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Woodside Cemetery.
MEMORIALS: Memorial donations may be made to St. Luke Presbyterian Church, 4311 Walton Court, Middletown 45042 or to the American Cancer Society, 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, Ohio 45044.
Nancy N. Frerick
FRANKLIN -- Nancy N. Frerick, 59, of Franklin, died Thursday, April 26, 2001, at Middletown Regional Hospital.
She was born July 22, 1941, in Cincinnati and lived in Franklin for 33 years. She worked at Levit's Furniture Co. for 26 years, retiring in 1998. Mrs. Frerick was a medical transcriptionist at Middletown Regional Hospital, Kettering Medical Center and for Dr. James H. Barry. She was a member of Holy Family Parish-Trinity Chapel and Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati.
She was preceded in death by her father, Frank Geier.
She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Kenneth L. Frerick; a son, Kenneth L. Frerick Jr. of Franklin; a daughter, Deborah L. Wolham (Troy) of Middletown; and her mother, Elizabeth Geier of Middletown.
ARRANGEMENTS: Mass will be 2 p.m. Monday at Holy Family Parish-Trinity Chapel, with Father John Civille officiating. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery.
MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown.
Arrangements are being handled by Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home.
Helen P. Gorski
Helen P. Gorski, 77, of Franklin Township, died Monday at Middletown Regional Hospital.
Born Sept. 16, 1923, in Middletown, Mrs. Gorski was a member of Holy Family Parish-Holy Trinity Church, where she was involved with the prayer chain and Bible study. She was also a member of the Catholic Ladies of Columbia, Knights of Columbus 1610, Ladies Auxiliary, and was a seamstress for the church and K. of C. 1610.
She is survived by a son, Timothy Gorski of Middletown; daughters, Joyce (Frank) Thompson of Dayton, Marie Reedy of Sterling, Va., Mary Jane Johnson of Herndon, Va., and Karen (Kenneth) Coe of Union, Ohio; brothers Louis Bors of Franklin Township, William Bors of Springboro, and Alexander (Sonny) Bors of Franklin Township; grandsons David and Jeremy Reedy, Ryan M. Thompson, and Aaron and Nicholas Johnson; granddaughters, Elizabeth M. and Rebecca M. Coe; a great-grandson, Christopher M. Hammond; and dear friends Angie and Carl Burgemier.
Mrs. Gorski was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford J. Gorski, on May 6, 1991, by her father, Louis Bors, and her mother, Mary Bors.
ARRANGEMENTS: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Trinity Church- Holy Family Parish with the Rev. John Civille officiating and burial in Woodside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home.
MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society, 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, Ohio 45044 or to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown Ohio 45044.
William Boyd Griffey
FRANKLIN -- William Boyd Griffey, 82, Franklin, died April 30 at home with family and friends.
He was born March 30, 1919, in Frenchburg, Ky. He worked at the NCR Corp. for 24 years. Mr. Griffey served in the U.S. Air Force for two years during World War II, serving in Italy. He served as an ordained Deacon since 1973 and was a member of Grace Gospel Church in Carlisle.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hiram and Sarah (Donahue) Griffey; brother Junior Griffey; two sisters, Mildred Mann and Loretta Back; daughter, Beverly Collins; and son, Bill Griffey.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Myrtle (Patrick) Griffey; two sons, Randall Griffey (Sharon) of Franklin and Darrell Griffey, also of Franklin; one sister, Donna Kemplin (Don) of Middletown; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
ARRANGEMENTS: Services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Grace Gospel Church, 5755 Fairview Drive, Carlisle, with Pastor Bill Hall officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday preceding the service at the church. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Springboro Cemetery.
Arrangements are by the Eaton-Anderson & Unglesby Funeral Home, 1357 E. 2nd St., Franklin.
MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown, Ohio 45042. The family gives a special thanks to Hospice and nurse Peggy McGraw and to a special friend, Gail Holt.
Nadine A. Hampton
Nadine Audrey (Gates) Hampton, 75, departed this life Friday, April 27, 2001, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton.
Nadine was born March 21, 1926, to Elmer and Jenny Barker-Gates in Middletown. Nadine graduated from Middletown High School in 1943. She attended Miami University. Accounting and secretarial training were gifts she used for the Lord. She accepted Christ at an early age while attending Second Baptist Church in Middletown. Nadine was always active in her church, Sunday schools and conventions.
It was at a convention where she met the Rev. Frank Hampton. They married April 12, 1944. From this union there were six children, Sharon Brooks of Cleveland, Marquita Hampton (deceased), Brian Hampton (Ruth) of Topeka, Kan., Brandon Hampton of Dayton, Bruce Hampton (Donna) of Cleveland, Deborah McDade (Eugene) of Trotwood and James L. Moore (Helen) of Cleveland, a beloved nephew who was more like her child growing up with her children.
Nadine had 12 grandchildren: Deirdre, Evelyn, Angela, Frank II, Audrey, Felicia, Andrea, Kenya, Bruce II, Lawrence (Corey), Eric and Eugene; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Nadine was a member of Mt. Enon Baptist Church, where she served on the Senior Mission and Minister's Wives and championed causes to help others. Nadine was a very unique, talented and special person who gave very freely of herself. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and dear friend. Through her caring and compassionate ways, she touched the life of those who knew her.
In addition to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, she leaves to mourn a sister, Dorothy Thomas of Cleveland; a brother, Howard Barker of Middletown; and a younger brother, Wilbur (Henrietta) Gates of Middletown, to whom she was dearly devoted.
Preceding Nadine in death were two sisters, Virginia Sydnor of New York, N.Y., and Jessie Tate of San Diego; and two brothers, Lawrence Barker of Franklin and Eddie L. Barker of Buffalo, N.Y. She will be greatly missed.
ARRANGEMENTS: Visitation will be 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at Mt. Enon Baptist Church, 1501 W. Third St., Dayton. Services will follow immediately, with the Rev. John F. Cunningham officiating. Interment will be 2 p.m. at Woodside Cemetery in Middletown. Arrangements are by the H.H. Roberts Funeral Home in Dayton.
John H. Higgins
FRANKLIN -- John Henry Higgins, 70, of Franklin, died Tuesday, April 24, 2001 at Middletown Regional Hospital.
Born Sept. 5, 1930, Mr. Higgins was a lifetime resident of Middletown. He was a maintenance welder at Armco Steel for 39 years before he retired in March 1992. He was a member of the men's club, Christ United Methodist Golf League, C.A.R.E. Group and Moose Lodge No. 501.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry and Frances Mary Higgins; two brothers, Carl and Robert Higgins; and a sister, Mattie Bowman.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Frances (Mayes) Higgins; his daughters, Rosemary (Russell) Nicley of Franklin, and Tracey (Gary) Lawson of Franklin; a son, John "J.C." (Cindy) Higgins of Middletown; his grandchildren, Matt (Aaron) Nicley, Andrew Nicley, Kelli Higgins, Kerri Higgins and Michael Lawson; his sisters, Margaret Lockhart of Middletown, Pat Tallman of Florida, Helen Bolt of South Carolina, and Mary Frances Christian of Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, with the Rev. Thomas B. Mellott officiating. Burial will be at Woodhill Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday.
MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown 45044.
