All Obituaries

Thomas E. Ruffing, age 74, of Portsmouth, VA, passed away on February 27, 2026 at Autumn Care Skilled Nursing, VA. Thomas was born on January 17, 1952, in Bellevue, OH, son of the late Sylvester and Dolores (Koch) Ruffing. Growing up, Thomas attended Margaretta Schools. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. Thomas is survived by his sons, Thomas Ruffing and Jeremy Ruffing; siblings, Michael (Annette) Ruffing, Marjorie (Mike) Tonelli, Marcia (Eugene) Beamer, and ...

Patrick James McKenzie, 58, of Vermilion passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at his home.  He was born October 3, 1967 in Bellevue the son of Rev. James P. and Mary (Drown) McKenzie.  Pat graduated from Bellevue High School in 1986, where he played the sousaphone in the band and was a member of FFA. Pat initially worked at Mid-Ohio Chemical, but his most cherished work was helping his Grandpa Drown on the family farm. He then continued his education at Marietta College, graduating ...

Manuel Valero, Sr., age 76 of Clyde, OH, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at his home. Manuel was born June 23, 1949, in Holden, WV, the son of the late Antonio and Antonia (Aleman) Valero.  Manuel was a proud graduate of Logan High School in West Virginia, class of 1967. At the age of 21, he answered the call to serve his country by joining the United States Army. He served with honor during the Vietnam War, earning a Purple Heart, the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze ...

Barbara J. Thomas, age 78 of Clyde, OH, passed away Monday, March 9, 2026, at her home. Barbara was born March 11, 1947, in Amherst, OH, the daughter of the late Willie and Lula (Childers) Davis.  Barbara found great joy in the simple blessings of life. She had a deep love for her pet dogs and cared for many loyal companions throughout the years, each holding a special place in her heart. She enjoyed spending time tending to her garden, finding peace and satisfaction in watching things ...

Edith “Shortie” Milkie, 88, of Avon and formerly of Bellevue passed away Sunday, March 8 at the Ganzhorn Suites in Avon.  She was born September 1, 1937 in Bellevue the daughter of Ralph and Marjorie (Simmons) Foos. She married Duane “Butch” Milkie on September 14, 1957; He preceded her in death in 2004. Edith was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Bellevue.  She enjoyed gardening, cooking, friends, and family. She is survived by her children: ...

Keith Emery Cleveland was telling jokes, listening to 70’s music, giving hugs, and making memories right to the very end, when he passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Born on St. Patrick’s Day 1952, to Henry (Hank) and Mary Cleveland, he wore his last name with pride.  Keith was a life-long fan of The Cleveland Cavaliers, The Cleveland Browns, The Cleveland “Indians” and OSU Football. On July 14, 1973 Keith married Christine Leber, daughter of Marilyn Leber ...

Philip Allen Cloud, 72, of Bellevue, Ohio, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on March 5, 2026. Born March 6, 1953, in Bellevue, Phil lived a life defined by faith, humor, and a deep connection to the community he called home. He was a proud husband and father who took great joy in his family and the life he built with them.  A 1971 graduate of Bellevue High School, Phil was the first captain of the school’s cross-country team and excelled at track and field, both of ...

Franklin D. Roope III, affectionately known to his family and friends as Frankie, age 41 of Clyde, OH, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Toledo, OH. Frankie was born May 23, 1984, in Auburn, IN, the son of Franklin D. Roope II and Laura (Troyer) Roope. Frankie was a bright and driven young man who valued education and worked hard to achieve his goals. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Bowling Green State University, two Associate degrees in Medical ...

Dolores H. Armstrong, 90, of Huron, passed away February 28, 2026, at Parkview Care Center in Sandusky. She was born February 7, 1936, in Orrville, Ohio, the daughter of the late Walter and Glenna Franks. Dolores married Donald Armstrong in 1955 in Wooster, Ohio. He preceded her in death in 2002. Known to many as “Dee,” she participated in the Miss Ohio Pageant and volunteered at area theaters. She also enjoyed operating her concession stand for many years. In her spare time, ...

Paul E. Roth was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1935, to Amelia (Brown) and Clement Roth in Thompson Twp., Seneca Co., OH. Paul, surrounded by family, was peacefully called home Feb. 26, 2026 to help work on heavenly projects. As an infant, Amelia passed and Paul was blessed to be raised by Agnes (Brown) and Walter Dick. Belonging to Clyde St. Mary’s, he could be found serving Mass, helping mom Aggie at church, and dad Walter doing cemetery lawn work and digging graves. Being an ...

George John. Branco Jr., 78, of Vickery and Catawba Island, Ohio, passed away Monday, January 12th – a year to the day his beloved wife Joanne passed, after an admirable battle against dementia. He was born in Bellevue, Ohio on March 5,1948 to his cherished parents, George and Shirley Branco.  George Married Joanne (Yurista) in Port Clinton, OH on May 19th, 1973, and they were married for 52 years. George is survived by his stepson Richard (Lorene), his grandchildren: Alexandra ...

Anna K. Nailor, age 37 of Bellevue, OH, passed away Monday, February 23, 2026, at Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, OH. Anna was born January 25, 1989, in Norwalk, OH, the daughter of Jeanne (Williams) Nailor and the late Gerald “Jerry” Nailor.  Anna was a bright light in the lives of all who knew her. She found pure joy in the simple things like: swinging high at her favorite swing in the park, savoring a slice of pizza, and sharing warm hugs with anyone lucky ...

David J. Robinson, 83, of Bellevue passed away Monday, February 23, 2026 at his home.  He was born May 28, 1942 in Findlay, the son of Charles and Ruth (Berry) Robinson. David was a lifelong and active member of the Bellevue community. He attended Bellevue Schools from first grade through his graduation in 1960. He furthered his education at Nashville Auto Diesel College, graduating in 1961, and worked as a diesel mechanic for many years. He spent 19 years with A.J. Baltes before ...

James Johnson, age 73, of Bellevue, OH, passed away on February 16, 2026, at the Firelands Regional Medical Center. James was born on December 26, 1952, the son of the late James Net and stepmother, Helen Johnson. In his free time, James could most often be found around a pool table, where he earned a reputation as a bit of a legend. When he wasn’t lining up the perfect shot, he loved spending time on the golf course or out fishing, places where he felt most relaxed and content. Above ...

Karen Zontini, 79, of Bellevue passed away Saturday, February 14, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family.  She was born August 31, 1946 in Martins Ferry, Ohio the daughter of Avery and Thelma (Harris) Frye. Karen married the love of her life, Martin Zontini Sr., after four dates and together they shared 47 years until his passing in 2012.  Karen was a woman of deep faith; her devotion to God was a driving force in her life. This unwavering faith was a legacy she instilled in ...

Steven Juliano, age 56, of Bellevue, OH, passed away on February 14, 2026, at The Bellevue Hospital. Steven was born on April 5, 1969, in Bellevue, the son of the late Kenneth and Rosetta (Crapsey) Juliano.  Steven was truly a jack-of-all-trades who seemed able to fix just about anything, and he never hesitated to lend a hand to someone in need. A self proclaimed nerd, Steven had a passion for trains, amateur astronomy, video games, and everything in between. He found joy in the simple ...

Lila Ann Cook, age 87 of Green Springs, OH, passed away Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Majestic Care of Clyde, OH. Lila was born August 8, 1938, in Meadowview, VA, the daughter of the late Bruce and Hattie (Galliher) Cullop. Lila was a strong Christian woman whose faith was the true cornerstone of her life. She was a member of the Damascus Road Baptist Church in Damascus, VA, and the Bellevue Missionary Baptist Church in Bellevue, OH. She carried the values she learned at church with her ...

Charles W. Heuring, 91, of Bellevue passed away Thursday, February 12, 2026 at The Stein Hospice Care Center.  He was born July 15, 1934 in Bellevue the son of Guerdon L. and Edna E. (Haas) Heuring. Charles, a graduate of Bellevue High School, dedicated many years to his work at Whirlpool in Clyde, where he was employed from 1965 until his retirement in 1994. Prior to this, he began his career as a gas station attendant and also worked at Gross Lumber. He served in the United States ...

Robin M. (Cook) Reilly, 66, of Elyria passed away January 22, 2026 at Holy Family Hospice in Parma.  She was born March 18, 1959 in Martinez, California the daughter of Thomas G. Cook and Joanne E. (Eastman) Grubb. Robin lived life with genuine enthusiasm, highlighted by her love for riding motorcycles and her extensive collection of Native American memorabilia. Family was her foundation; she treasured their time together, especially during Christmas, which she celebrated with ...

Barbara Martin, age 73, of Fremont, OH, passed away on February 9, 2026, at Countryside Manor Healthcare in Fremont. Barbara was born on February 23, 1952, in Toledo, OH, the daughter of Tom Walldell and Edith Janick. Barbara grew up in a large family, having 13 siblings. She found joy in the little things that made life warm and meaningful. She had a special love for penguins, delighted in crocheting pieces made with care and patience, and enjoyed spending time outdoors where she felt most ...

Cathy Lynne Leedy, 70, passed away on Monday, February 9th, 2026.  She leaves behind her one true love, her son, Jerald “Landon” Leedy. Who blessedly, along with his wife, Kelly, gave her 3 fantastic grandchildren. Kensley May Leedy, Landrey Lynne Leedy and Mason David Leedy will remember Cathy by her family stories, crazy sayings and their cherished memories made.  Cathy’s family knows she was stubborn to the core; didn’t want help from anyone, nor to be a ...

Ruthann Thomson, 88, of Clyde passed away Sunday, February 8, 2026 at The Willows at Bellevue.  She was born July 2, 1937 in Bellevue the daughter of John and Marjorie (Drohen) Driscoll. On October 27, 1956, Ruthann married James “Jim” Thomson in Bellevue. Jim preceded her in death in 2024. Together, they owned and operated Limerick Sales and Thomson Builders in Clyde. They also shared a love for travel, visiting every state during one nine-week trip. Ruthann was an ...

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Wayne Phillip Gerber, age 91. Surrounded by his loved ones. He was a resident of Orchard Grove Assisted Living. Wayne was born on May 17, 1934, in Bellevue, OH, the son of the late Joseph and Lena (Meyer) Gerber. Wayne was a 1953 graduate of Thompson High School. His career led him to becoming an accomplished spot welder. Retired after 37 years from Johnson Furnace, Magic Chef, and Armstrong. Wayne successfully started his ...

Priscilla Ann Elswick passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026. She was born on September 25th, 1946 in Louellen, Kentucky to Ruby Travillion. She graduated Danbury High School in 1965 and married Charles Elswick on June 5th. She was employed at Cedar Point as a cleaner.  Sis enjoyed spending time with her family, gambling on the slot machines at the casino, bird watching, and cooking. She loved playing the lottery and Elvis Presley. At 11am everyday she’d watch the Price is ...

Robert Eugene Gray, Jr., age 65, originally from Clyde, OH, passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, OH. Robert was born on October 18, 1960, in Fremont, OH, the son of the late Robert Eugene Gray, Sr. and Sylvia Ann (Greene) Gray.  Robert was employed at Whirlpool in Clyde where he worked for over 30 years. Robert had a huge heart and was always thinking of others. Family was everything to him. He loved all sports and was a devoted fan of ...

Zebedee Back, 81, of Bellevue passed away Monday, February 2, 2026 at his home.  He was born January 4, 1945 in Salyersville, Kentucky the son of Greenbury and Esther (Holbrook) Back.   Zebedee retired from Norfolk Southern Railroad in 2005 after a long career as a carman, inspecting and maintaining freight cars. Outside of work, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, and the excitement of finding unique items at local auctions. He also found peace in simply working on ...

Linda S. Moyer, age 75 of Clyde, OH, passed away Monday, February 2, 2026, at her home. Linda was born December 9, 1950, in Bellevue, OH. Linda was co-owner of Moyer Lawncare for over 50 years with her husband, Raymond, where she handled much of the bookkeeping and behind the scenes operations. Linda is survived by her husband, Raymond Moyer, whom she married February 17, 1978, in Clyde; children: Greg (Christa) Moyer, Shannon (Ray) Bartell, and Renae Lee; grandchildren: Nicole ...

Janice Ranzenberger, age 82 of Clyde, OH, passed away Monday, February 2, 2026, at ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Toledo, OH. She was born April 21, 1943, in Lorain, OH, the daughter of the late Harman Reed Jr. and Alice Marie (Benson) Reed.  Janice worked for many years at Whirlpool in Clyde, where she was employed as a cook in the cafeteria. She enjoyed her work and the people she met along the way. In her free time, Janice loved going camping and spending time outdoors. She also ...

Patsy (Hall) Wright, 84, of Clyde, passed away Saturday, January 31, 2026 at The Bellevue Care Center.  She was born July 8, 1941 in Spencer, West Virginia, the daughter of Vear Hall and Anna (Keffer) Webb.   Patsy married Oral Wright on March 9, 1963; He preceded her in death on September 17, 2025. For much of her life, Patsy devoted herself to caring for her family and her home. She had a passion for cooking and made many southern style meals. She enjoyed decorating and ...

Gerald “Jerry” Nailor, age 90 of Bellevue, OH, passed away Friday, January 30, 2026, at his home. Jerry was born June 25, 1935, in Dillsburg, PA, the son of the late Eli and Kathryn (Whitcomb) Nailor.  Jerry proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 27 years and remained deeply proud of his military service throughout his life. He began his military career as an aircraft mechanic, serving in Korea and completing two tours in Vietnam. He later retrained ...

Clarence VanDyke, Jr., age 56 of Clyde, OH, passed away Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at his home. Clarence was born June 29, 1969, in Toledo, OH, the son of Clarence Vandyke, Sr. and Grace Elizabeth (Humbarger) Urbine. Clarence enjoyed spending his time camping and fishing and looked forward to weekend trips to Lima. He loved classic rock music, especially Ozzy Osbourne, and was a longtime fan of football, racing, and wrestling. Family meant everything to Clarence. He loved his family ...

Larry L. "Buddy" DeVault, age 65 of Fremont, OH, passed away Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at his home. Buddy was born December 15, 1960, in Bellevue, OH, the son of the late Kenneth and Beverly (Whitman) DeVault.  Buddy proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps as a Marksman, a role that reflected his discipline, courage, and dedication. He had a lifelong passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and hot rods, and he loved the energy and spirit of 1970s and ...

Santiago Zamora, age 75, of Harlingen, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, January 26, 2026. He was born on May 23, 1950, to the late Cosme and Candelaria (Martinez) Zamora. Santiago enjoyed a life centered on hard work, family, and simple joys. He loved working and spending time outdoors, barbecuing, listening to music, and being surrounded by those he loved. For more than 25 years, he served as head landscaper for Doug Banks, a role he took great pride in. Earlier in ...

Rosemary Klinski, 89, of Bellevue passed away Sunday, January 25, 2026 at the Stein Hospice Care Center.  She was born January 6, 1937 in Bellevue the daughter of Joseph and Rose Pauline (Triona) Mira.   Rosemary was known for her generosity, always willing to help anyone in need. She was an excellent cook, often serving as “Meals on Wheels”. She enjoyed riding her bicycle frequently around Bellevue. For many years, she worked in housekeeping at The Bellevue ...

Jannette Farris (Andrews), age 86, of Fremont, OH, passed away on January 25, 2026 at her residence. Jannette was born in Flat Rock, OH, the daughter of the late Allen and Adah Glee (Taber) Andrews.  Jannette devoted many years of her life to serving others through her work at Flat Rock Children’s Home, where her kindness and steady presence touched countless lives. In her spare time, she found joy in creative pleasures such as painting, solving crosswords and puzzles, and ...

Ellinor “Midge” Covella of Bellevue passed away Saturday, January 24, 2026 at the Stein Hospice Care Center in Sandusky. Born on September 22, 1943 in Sandusky, OH, Midge was the daughter of the late Ervin Noah and Ingrid Ellinor (Jensen) Krisher. She attended Margaretta Schools, graduating in 1961. During her school years she was a member of Cochran’s Majorettes in Port Clinton Ohio’s famous all girl military marching unit, which allowed her to travel to many ...

Danny Crow, 73, of Bellevue passed away Friday, January 23, 2026 at his home.  He was born August 25, 1952 in Evansville, Indiana the son of Lisle and Bonnie (Bufkin) Crow. Danny, a proud veteran, was born and raised in Boonville, Indiana. He served in the United States Army from 1970 to 1974. Following his military discharge, he relocated to Sandusky in 1975. Danny was an OTR Truck driver before working for Firelands Vending. He was deeply involved in the VFW, serving as local ...

Charles (Chuck) L. Norman passed away at 61 on January 21, 2026. Chuck was born on August 23, 1964 in Bellevue, Ohio. He attended Bellevue High School where he played offensive and defensive guard for the football team, which won the 1981 league championship. In 1986, Chuck graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Toledo. Chuck worked as an accountant for Ernst & Young for 23 years after graduation, rising to the level of partner and meeting the ...

Thomas E. Laviola, 68, of Bellevue passed away Sunday, January 18 at the Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk.  He was born June 26, 1957 in Bellevue the son of Joseph and Mable (Barnard) Laviola. Tom was a lifelong resident of Bellevue, graduating from Bellevue Senior High School in 1975. He lived his entire life in the house his father built, a home he cherished. After graduation, Tom was employed by Mitsubishi Chemical, formerly A. Schulman Inc., until his retirement in 2023. A ...

Martha J. (Kinloch) Smarsh Collier of Bellevue, OH, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026, at the Stein Hospice Care Center, Sandusky, surrounded by her family. Martha was born on June 17, 1935 in Amherst, OH, the only daughter of the late John McIntosh and Alice (Sabiers) Kinloch Wilson.  Martha was a 1953 graduate of Amherst High School. Over the years, she was employed as a secretary at Rigid Tool Co. in Elyria, as a loan officer at the Bellevue Federal Credit Union, and as a ...

Herald Lee Barnett of Bellevue, Ohio, passed away Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Bellevue Hospital from a brief illness. He was born July 14, 1925, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, the son of Homer and Bessie (Skeels) Barnett. He married Valeda Sowell on October 1, 1955, in New York City. They graduated from the Watchtower & Bible Tract Society School of Gilead in 1957. Together, they enjoyed a wonderful life until Valeda passed away on June 3, 2015. The two of them spent many years in ...

Charles E. Bookmyer, 97, of Bellevue passed away Friday, January 16, 2026 at The Willows at Bellevue.  He was born November 25, 1928 in Fremont the son of Charles A. and Elizabeth R. (Rettinger) Bookmyer. Charles honorably served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He later retired as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service in Bellevue. Music was a significant part of his life; he enjoyed creating it and played in various bands over the years. Additionally, he ...

Ronald J. Mahl, age 68 of Green Springs, OH, passed away Thursday, January 15, 2026, at his home. Ron was born September 1, 1957, in Willard, OH, the son of the late Harold and Virginia (Mott) Mahl. Ron was a dedicated and hardworking man who spent 42 years with Whirlpool in Clyde. He proudly served his country as a member of the Army National Guard and was a member of the Bellevue Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #490. In his quieter moments, Ron found joy in the simple things like ...

Shirley M. Orben, 77, of Bellevue and formerly of Swanton, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at The Willows at Bellevue.  She was born July 12, 1948 in Milford, Pennsylvania the daughter of Edson and Myrtle (Hoffman) Helms. Shirley dedicated her professional career to working in the Bursar’s Office at Owen’s Community College in the Toledo area. A woman of faith and service, she was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Swanton, where she served in ...

David Gooding, age 63 of Clyde,OH, passed away on January 11, 2026, at the Fireland Regional Medical Center. David was born on May 17, 1962, in Sandusky, OH, the son of Lawrence Gooding and Mildred Molnar (Price). David was someone who lived life in a genuine, easygoing way. He served in the National Guard and later spent many years working at Whirlpool, where he made friends he kept close for life. David loved getting out on the golf course with his pals and could always be counted on to ...

Randal McGrady, 54, of Bellevue passed away Sunday, January 11, 2026 at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo.  He was born March 30, 1971 in Frankfurt, Germany the son of Leonard and Barbara (Neuman) Spitler.   Randy had a passion for creating, which he expressed through woodworking and whittling. He also enjoyed building things, working on cars, and taking long road trips. He is survived by wife, Danya (Boles) McGrady, whom he married on April 18, 1994; four children: ...

Peggy Wilson, 92, of Bellevue passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2025 at MetroHealth Main Campus in Cleveland.  She was born September 26, 1933 in Fort Gay, West Virginia, the daughter of James and Jesse (Sammons) Branham.   Peggy married Dennis R. Wilson on October 23, 1954 in Louisa Courthouse, Kentucky; He preceded her in death in 2001. She is survived by her two daughters: Patty A. (Tom) Griffin of Bellevue and Lorre D. (David) Volkman of Bellevue; her grandson and love of ...

James R. Shaver, 86, passed away following a brief illness on December 23, 2025, at Princeton Community Hospital in Princeton, WV. Jim, as he was known by family and friends, was born in Bellevue, Ohio on July 17, 1939, and was a graduate of York High School in Bellevue. He always loved his hometown of Bellevue. He retired after a lengthy career with Norfolk Southern Railroad as Assistant Division Engineer of Bridges. Jim was an avid golfer and dearly loved his family and friends. He was ...

Michael M. “Skinny” Souslin, 76, of Norwalk, was called home on Tuesday January 6th, 2026. He was born September 28, 1949, in Norwalk Ohio and was a 1967 graduate of Edison High School. He enlisted in the army in 1969 for 2 years active duty, followed by many years of working construction with Erie Blacktop and was a long-standing member of the Local 480 Laborer’s Union. He enjoyed playing basketball, and volleyball for C. Mann Builders with his brothers and friends and ...

Zachary Smith, 31, of Bellevue passed away Monday, January 5, 2026 at The Bellevue Hospital.  He was born August 21, 1994 in Sandusky the son of Philip and Stacy (Ommert) Smith. Following his high school graduation, Zach proudly served in the United States Army National Guard. A devoted veteran, he recently founded the non-profit organization, "Phoenix Action." This organization aims to assist disabled veterans by connecting them with qualified contractors for necessary home ...