McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home Obituaries

A Legacy of Compassion and Care: McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home

Located in the heart of Granville, Ohio, McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home has been a beacon of comfort and support for families in their time of need. With a rich history and a commitment to excellence, this esteemed funeral home has earned a reputation for providing compassionate and personalized services to the community.

A History of Tradition and Excellence

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home has its roots in the early 20th century, when it was first established by the McPeek family. Over the years, the funeral home has undergone several transformations, with the Hoskinson family joining forces in the 1960s. Today, the funeral home is proudly owned and operated by the third generation of the Hoskinson family, ensuring that the tradition of excellence and compassion continues unbroken.

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Recent Funeral Home Obituaries

Edward W. Smith - October 07, 1939 - May 18, 2024

Departed: 05/18/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Edward Smith, age 84 of Granville, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2024, in the Selma Markowitz Care Center operated by Hospice of Central Ohio. He was born to the late Albert and Edith (Thompson) Smith on October 7, 1939, in Granville Township.

Ed worked for over 39 years at Denison University.  He worked in the Bowling Alley for 30 years and finished his career in Housekeeping.  He is a member of the Second Baptist Church of Newark and former member of the Welsh Hills Baptist Church in Newark.

Ed was a member of the Jersey Pullers Tractor Club for over 30  years and member of the Land of Legend Antique Tractor Club.  He was very active with 4-H for 19 years.

Survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Rachel M. (Whitehouse) Smith whom he married on August 6, 1971; siblings, Shirley Sullivan, Gerry Whitehouse and Don (Thelma) Smith and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Ed is also preceded in death by a sister, Revella Brumage; brothers-in-law, John L. Sullivan, Forest Whitehouse and Fred Brumage.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 am – Noon on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the First Baptist Church, 1000 Granville Road, Newark, Ohio where a funeral service will begin at NOON with the Pastor Bob Davidson officiating.  Burial immediately following Maple Grove Cemetery.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Ed and his family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory and view a full obituary.

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Patricia Lyons Winters - July 18, 1942 - May 10, 2024

Departed: 05/10/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Patricia Lyons Winters, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and cherished community member of Granville, Ohio, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024. She was a beacon of love, kindness, and generosity to all who knew her.

Born in Marion, Virginia, Pat was the only child of Reverend Robert Andrew Lyons and Mary Kate Lyons (Carrioco). She grew up surrounded by love, family, and a strong faith that she carried with her throughout her life.

She shared 64 years of happy marriage with her devoted husband, Dr. Ronald Ross Winters. Their love story began in high school, where they met and fell in love on the school bus. Together they shared adventures that granted them the opportunity to live in Oak Ridge, Tennesse, and Karlsruhe, Germany. However, she never forgot her Appalachian roots. Together, Pat and Ron were blessed with two children, Eric Winters and Sonja Miller, a daughter-in-law, Melissa Winters, and a son-in-law, Brian Miller. She was "Grammy" to five grandchildren; Emma, Ian, Madelene, Vanessa, and Ross. Pat found immense joy and fulfillment in watching them grow and thrive, something she did every week at their Family Friday Night Dinners.

Professionally, Pat was a dedicated and hardworking individual with a passion for finance. She earned an associate degree in Accounting and utilized her skills in various roles at Denison University, Arlington Nursing Home, and Croton Farms. But her best work was managing the Winters Family Finances.

Along with the family finances, Pat was the keeper of family history. She also helped others discover their roots as the President of the Licking County Genealogical Society. An avid golfer and a member of Moundbuilders Country Club kept her active through the years. Pat also enjoyed quilting and other fiber arts, pouring her creativity and passion into each project. Above all, Pat will be remembered for her warmth, hospitality, and unwavering dedication to the service of others. She was a devoted member of Centenary United Methodist Church for 59 years, as well as a Hospice volunteer. She had gracious hospitality that made everyone feel welcome.

Her legacy of love, kindness, and compassion will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her. Patricia Lyons Winters will be dearly missed and forever remembered for the profound impact she had for all who were blessed to know her.

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Leroy Allen Bowman - February 24, 1938 - May 07, 2024

Departed: 05/07/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Leroy Allen Bowman, age 86, of Granville, passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Selma Markowitz Care Center (operated by Hospice of Central Ohio). He was born February 24, 1938 in Utica, Ohio to the late Howard Leslie and Illa Flo (Dixon) Bowman.

A 1956 graduate of Granville High School, Leroy served in the Ohio National Guard from 1956-62. He retired from Owens Corning Fiberglas. He was a member of the Church of St. Edward the Confessor in Granville and was a 4th degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. Leroy was very involved in the Granville community as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader and as a volunteer for 23 years with the Granville High School football program taking care of the football equipment. He was a member of the Blue Ace G Club. Leroy was also a volunteer with the Granville Township Fire Department. He was an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns and Indians, OSU football, and Granville football.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 58 years, Barbara Ann (Fear) Bowman, whom he married June 18, 1966; five children, Andrea (Gary) Peters of Copalis Beach, Washington, Theresa (Damon) DiRoma of Newark, Thomas (Jennifer) Bowman of Granville, Brett Bowman of Newark, and Jenny Bowman of Granville; eight grandchildren, Laurel, Gabe, Lea, Katarina, Cooper, Mairi, Gwendolyn, and Cavero; five great-grandchildren, Oliver, Callum, Nehemiah, Kinsley, and Daisy Mae; a brother, Leslie (Barb) Bowman of Newark; a sister, Linda (Jerry) Anderson of Newark; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Terry Bowman and Joy Bowman; and a halfbrother, Bannie Bowman.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Central Ohio, P.O. Box 268, Columbus, OH 43240, Central Ohio Diabetes Association, c/o Lifecare Alliance, Attn. Development, 1699 West Mound Street, Columbus, OH 43223,  Granville High School Football, 248 New Burg Street, Granville, OH 43023, or to the Granville Township Fire Department, 500 South Main Street, Granville, OH 43023.

Friends may call from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 South Prospect Street in Granville. A Knights of Columbus service will be observed at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 8 p.m.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24, at the Church of St. Edward the Confessor. Inurnment will follow in Wilson Cemetery where Military Honors will be observed by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Leroy and his family.

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Janet Louise Derr - February 04, 1934 - May 05, 2024

Departed: 05/05/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Janet Louise Derr, of Granville, Ohio passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Sunday, May 5, 2024, surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Janet was born February 4, 1934, in Harrisburg, Pa. She attended William Penn High School graduating in 1952. She worked at Thompson Products where she met the love of her life, Don Derr.  They were married in July of 1954.  She was the biggest supporter of her husband in all of his performances in community theater. She volunteered as a backstage hand in many of his productions.  They were true soulmates in life and are finally reunited in love in their heavenly home.

Jan had so much love to give and she gave it freely to everyone she met.  She never knew a stranger.

Jan’s greatest goal in life was to be a Mom - especially to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.   She was actively part of their lives and their biggest cheerleader in everything they did. She was a school bus driver for Granville Elementary Schools lovingly transporting her precious “cargo” to and from home to school.  She was the house mother for the Theta House at Denison University for 14 years and loved being the home away from home Mom to over 1000 young women during her tenure at Theta.

She was an avid reader which made her able to talk with anyone on any topic. She loved all types of  movies, especially classic old movies and musicals. She delighted in watching the birds at her many bird feeders.

She fiercely loved life, her family and friends with great enthusiasm; sharing her pearls of wisdom and playful spirit. She taught us all not to take things too seriously.  She was always bright and full of optimism with just enough sass to make you laugh and smile. Even during her end of life journey, she didn’t lose her sense of humor and gratitude in life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Savilla (Thomas) Wintermyer; brother, William Wintermyer; son-in-law, Joe Nigro; grandson, Joseph Nigro.

She is survived by her her 4 children - Phyllis (Sam) D’Amato, Margie Nigro, Cassie (Jim) Weaver, Dave (DeAnna) Derr; her 13 grandchildren: Kate (Steven) Wollenberg, Michael (Ashley) Weaver, Jimmy (Fallon) Nigro, Steven (Fiona) Nigro, Danny D’Amato, Sarah (Steven) Williams, Paul (Suzanne) Elmore, Michael (Becky) Elmore, Renee Derr (Fiancé Zach Boggess), and surrogate grandchildren - Taylor, Amberly, and Paige Griesse; 18 great-grandchildren: Corey, Carly, Cooper, Joseph, Patrick, Charlie, Max, Thomas, Rylee, Greyson, and Dani, Hannah, Jace, Jaren, Emma, Evie, Levi, and Dakota; brother Alvin Wintermyer (and Eileen McCann), and surrogate sister - Carol Sue McClusky; 8 Nieces and Nephews: Gail Sunderland Fannasy, Joey Cole, Julie and David Wintermyer, Dotty Maddock, Bobbie Host, Donnie and Dickie Derr.

Special Thanks to Pastor Casey and the Hospice Team that cared for our Mother, especially Patty who took great care in helping her every week.  There should be more Patty’s in this world who served our Mom so graciously and with dignity. Thank you Patty, Gayle, Victoria, Audra, Pastor Mark and the many other Nurses who helped our Mother on her journey to heaven.

Memorial contributions may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 East Broadway, Granville, Ohio 43023; St Jude Children’s Hospital and  Hospice of Central Ohio.

A Celebration of Janet’s Life will be held 3 PM, Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville, Ohio 43023.     The service will be live streamed from Centenary’s website at this link: https://www.centenaryumc.com/.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Janet and her family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence.

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Robert "Bob" Sherman Rush - February 23, 1933 - April 30, 2024

Departed: 04/30/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Robert “Bob” Sherman Rush, 91, passed away on April 30, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on February 23, 1933, in Washington, NJ, as the oldest of 8 children. He met Barbara, his first wife of 60 years, at Washington High. After high school, he proudly served for two years aboard the USS Salem shortly after the Korean War. He returned to his new baby, his oldest son Glenn, and pursued his degree in Electrical Engineering at Lehigh University. He later earned his masters at NYU. As an engineer for AT&T, he was especially proud to work on missile guidance systems. He was a very practical man who exercised immense precision and expertise in his career. This being said, many will remember his intense zest for life, adventure, and the great outdoors. He lived this passion as a marathon runner, a cross-country and recreational cyclist, a downhill skier, and a two-time Appalachian Trail hiker. He also enjoyed many canoe trips through Boundary Waters in Minnesota and Canada with Barbara and his six children, and later with his grandchildren. His love for the outdoors continues to inspire his family, friends, and anyone who has been lucky enough to hear of his adventures. Bob was one of the founders of the Licking Land Trust, which helped raise money to purchase property for green space in Licking County, Ohio. It was important to him to preserve natural landscapes across the county, including in his beloved town of Granville, Ohio. He is survived by his wife Nancy, his six children Glenn, Judy, Audrey, Bob, Maggie, and Tom, as well as 16 grandchildren (who know him as PopPop) and 12 great-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his first wife Barbara, his mother Ruth, father Franklin, brother Jerry, and sister Janet. A Celebration of Life will begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the United Church of Granville, 115 W. Broadway Street, Granville, OH 43023.

To honor Bob’s memory, please consider a donation to The Licking Land Trust, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, or your local wildlife or conservation fund. You may also remember him by going for a long bike ride, a walk in the woods, or on a camping or skiing adventure with good friends and family.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Bob and his family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence.

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Eileen E. Tromp - April 26, 1928 - April 25, 2024

Departed: 04/25/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Eileen E. Tromp, 95, of Boise Idaho, passed away at home on April 25, 2024.  Born in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, on April 26, 1928, to Jacob and Mary (Pavola) Saari, she was a proud 1946 graduate of Harding High, where she played in the band and was a cheerleader.  She served as a switchboard operator for Ohio Bell, sometimes working on roller skates to quickly connect circuits for phone calls. She married the love of her life, Hans August Tromp, on November 24, 1956. He preceded her in death in 2001. Eileen loved polka music and dancing, mystery movies, Scrabble, crime reporting, politics, and the news. She cherished her family with all her heart.

She is survived by her daughters Mary Tromp and Marlene Tromp; her grandson, Jacob Hans Tromp-Chacko; and her sister-in-law, Anita Kidder; and many beloved nieces and nephews.  She was the remaining member of her large Finnish family.

A memorial service will be held in Boise, ID, on Sunday, April 28, 2024 in the Stueckle Sky Center on Boise State University’s campus at 2:30 pm.  Her funeral will be held At 1 PM, Saturday, May 11, 2024 at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect Street, Granville, Ohio.  She will be interred beside her beloved husband in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville in a private family ceremony.

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John "Jack" William Dean Jr. - March 14, 1930 - April 17, 2024

Departed: 04/17/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: John (Jack) William Dean, Jr. passed away peacefully in Granville, OH on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.  Born March 14, 1930 in Oakdale, PA and raised in Conemaugh, PA son of the late John W. and Rose (Amigh) Dean.  Preceded in death by sister Donna and brother-in-law Clifford Richey.  Survived by loving wife of 69 years Virginia (Korber); children Jack (Karen Gould) Dean, Patrick (Kathleen Coleman) Dean, Roy (Suzanne Winschel) Dean, Diane (Jim) Popp, Bonnie (Jeff Hendricksen) Dean, and grandchildren Ryan (Michelle) Dean, Kevin (Ashley) Dean, Erin (Juris) Cooper, Kathleen (David Gonzalez) Dean, Paul (Camille Guechi) Dean, Colleen (Paul) Kirtland, Maureen Dean, Gina Perrotto, Cameron Perrotto, and 8 Great-Grandchildren, as well as nephew Clifford “Skip” Richey and niece Cindy (Richey) Sheperd.

Jack was a graduate of Conemaugh High School (class of 1948). He attended the Indiana State Teachers College in Indiana, PA earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education in 1952 and later a Master’s Degree in 1973 also from IUP.  In October of 1952, Jack, who had joined the Naval Reserve in college, was called to active duty and proudly served during the Korean War assigned to the USS Chipola, a Navy Oil Tanker in the Atlantic Fleet.  Jack’s Navy experience had him crossing the Equator, as well as participating in maneuvers in Brazil, Cuba, Iceland and England.  Jack served as a Company Clerk and was honorably discharged from the Navy, Yeoman 3rd class in 1954.

Jack and Virginia, who met at a dance were married in Bon Air, PA on February 19, 1955.  That same year, Jack began his career with Bethlehem Steel initially in the Purchasing Department then moving to the Freight Car Division as Customer Service Manager. Along came five children and a house built on “the farm” (Ebensburg, PA) where Jack’s grandparents, parents, aunts, sister and family all lived over the years. This large property provided Jack hours of grass cutting entertainment. Jack and Virginia joined St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mundy’s Corner where he held many leadership positions including serving on the Church Council and singing in the choir.  Jack finished his career at Bethlehem Steel in 1990 and he and Virginia enjoyed retirement thoroughly, motoring through the US with their truck and camper as well as visiting Europe and enjoying cruises. Jack also immersed himself in many hobbies which included researching the family tree, coin collecting, card playing and golfing.  For many years, Jack & Virginia spent their winter months in Sebring FL making many friends in their community of Whisper Lake Park.  In 2005, they moved to Granville, OH and became members of the First Presbyterian Church. Jack loved God, cherished his wife and was most proud of his 5 children and being “PopPop” to his 9 grandchildren.  He believed in hard work, education, and honoring his country. From an early age, Jack took responsibility for his immediate and extended family and he carried that responsibility throughout his life.  Jack was funny, engaging, a “super-taster”, loved to talk, play drums, sing, bake sand tart cookies, work on jigsaw puzzles and dance. His biggest love was his life partner, wife and best friend Virginia. Their marriage was and always will be a shining example of love, respect, and devotion! A celebration of life in honor of Jack will be held at a future date. Should you wish, memorial contributions may be made to: Hospice of Central Ohio, 2269 Cherry Valley Road SE, Newark, OH  43055 or by visiting  https://www.ohioshospice.org/give/

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Jack and his family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence.

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Mary Ann Boardway - June 13, 1936 - April 15, 2024

Departed: 04/15/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Mary Ann Boardway, age 87, of Granville passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 15, 2024.  She was born June 13, 1936, in Angola, Indiana to the late Frank J. and Mary A. (Yauch) Fast.

Mary Ann was a 1954 graduate of Angola High School in Indiana.

She worked as a secretary at both Granville Elementary School and Welsh Hills School.  Mary Ann was very active in her church, First Presbyterian Church of Granville.  She also donated countless hours to Twig.

Mary Ann was a homemaker who was very involved with her children’s activities and clubs.  She cherished her family.

In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her daughter, Sharon Lynn (Jim Garrett) Boardway  and all her siblings, 3 sisters and 3 brothers.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 69 years, R. Michael Boardway Jr.; daughter, Pam Magelaner; son, Ed (Terri) Boardway; 4 granddaughters and 5 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, May 18, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Broadway Street, Granville, Ohio with Pastor Wendy McCormick officiating.  Burial Maple Grove Cemetery at a later date.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Mary Ann and her family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory about Mary Ann or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Barbara A. Gasser - March 24, 1948 - April 13, 2024

Departed: 04/13/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Barbara A. (Showman) Gasser, age 76 of Granville, passed away Saturday, April 13, 2024, at The Avalon of New Albany.

She was born March 24, 1948, in Newark, Ohio to the late Calvin and Juanita (Dicus) Showman.

Barbara was a graduate of Granville High School and Licking County Vocational School in cosmetology.  She attended college to earn her accounting degree and worked as an accountant at Park National Bank.

Barbara collected quilts, loved traveling and going on cruises.  She was an avid crafter, enjoyed reading and taking walks.  Barbara made friends easily and was a friend to everyone.

In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her brothers, Charles R. Showman and Thomas Showman; a sister, Linda Osterbrock.

Barbara is survived by her siblings, Sandi (Steve) Hughes of Tallmadge, Ohio, Wesley “Gene” (Peggy) Showman of Reddy, West Virginia, David (Sharon) Showman of Ostrander, Ohio; sister-in-law, Jackey Showman of Thornville, Ohio; numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 10 AM Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Maple Grove Cemetery, Granville.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Barbara and her family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence.

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Lincoln Brent Hacker - March 27, 1970 - April 12, 2024

Departed: 04/12/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Lincoln Brent “Linc” Hacker, age 54, of Etna, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 12, 2024 at his home. Lincoln was born March 27, 1970 in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Linc received a Bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University and a Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix. He was employed by AEP as an IT Manager. Linc enjoyed sports cars and traveling with his wife to anywhere that had a beach.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Shanna Marie (Batey) Hacker, whom he married December 27, 2003; sons, Dakota Hacker and Kyle Inman, both of Blacklick; daughter, Kassie (Kevin) Hay of Fredericktown; grandchildren, Brice Hay and Brayden Hay; his mother, Carla Lynn (Baker) Dandridge of Pataskala; mother-in-law, Sandy Batey; brothers-in-law, Darren (Angie) Batey and Daniel (Kandy) Batey; of Bristow, OK; step sister Jeanie Williams of Atoka, OK and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Phillip Ray Hacker; step-father, Robert Dandridge; and father-in-law, John Batey.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 South Prospect Street in Granville.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Lincoln and his family.

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Emilia G. Carlson - November 29, 1921 - April 06, 2024

Departed: 04/06/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Emilia Garcia Carlson, of Granville, OH, and formerly of Fanwood, NJ, Plainfield, NJ, and Staten Island, NY, died peacefully, with family close by, on April 6, 2024, at age 102.

Born on November 29, 1921, in Staten Island, NY, to Gertrude Stirn Garcia and Alvaro Manuel Garcia, Emilia grew up in a house on Fingerboard Road, next door to her beloved paternal grandmother, Marie Garcia (“Lita”) and her paternal grandfather’s niece from Spain, Nina Granda.  With German and Spanish-born family close by, including her two maternal grandparents, she spoke German and Spanish before English, the possible source of her enduring interest in languages. She sustained a lifelong love of “the island” and used to joke that she’d like her ashes scattered over the side of the Staten Island Ferry.

She graduated from Dongan Hall (now part of Staten Island Academy) in 1939.   Accomplishments included being president of her senior class, though she was quick to point out that she was one of four in her class. She went on to graduate from the College of William and Mary, majoring in philosophy.  In 1941, while still in college, she met Carl Carlson of Washington, DC, in Bay Head, NJ, when on a family vacation.  In bedtime stories to his young children, Carl would claim that as an inexperienced swimmer, he was floundering in the ocean when a beautiful woman swam out to rescue him, tossing him the life preserver that hung for years in their garage. They married in a small ceremony in her family home on Christmas Eve 1942 (a spur-of-the-moment change of wedding date due to his wartime military obligations). Until the end of the war they lived in a small cottage in Petersburg, VA, where Carl served in the Quartermaster Corps at Camp Lee. There they forged lifelong friendships with several other young couples, and welcomed two daughters, first Dagmar and then Linda.

After the war, Emilia and Carl and their daughters lived with her parents on Staten Island, and Carl went to work for Emilia’s father’s family business, Garcia y Vega cigars. They moved in 1948 to their own home in Plainfield, NJ.  In 1956, with two more children in the family (Christie and Carl)  they bought a larger home on Hillside Ave.  Emilia stayed there until 2013 when she moved to an apartment in Fanwood, NJ.  She dearly loved her Hillside Avenue home, but easily adjusted to, and delighted in, the convenience of apartment living, with walking distance to restaurants and a coffee shop and across the street from a NJ Transit rail station, offering easy access to NY.  At age 97, she left NJ for an assisted living apartment in Granville, OH, near her daughter Dagmar.

Emilia was also the owner of a rustic log cabin by a small lake in northern NJ.  Her parents had bought a one-bedroom cabin there in the 1930s, and with a growing family, Emilia and Carl bought their own larger cabin in the early 1950s.  A valued and respected member of the close-knit community of Mountain Springs, she loved the simple pleasures of being in the woods, sitting on the screened porch with the NY Times and coffee in the morning, and with the sounds of frogs and katydids in the background in the evening. She relished Jersey tomatoes and corn on the cob, chatting with other community members on the beach, daily swims,  and welcoming visiting family and friends, always cheerfully and willingly making room for one more. Emilia was a gracious and generous hostess, whether at her home in Plainfield or her cabin, and was an excellent cook.  Her many interests included tennis (both playing and watching), photography, birds, movies, books, poetry, theater, music, and opera.  She liked a good Scrabble game and often used a pen for crossword puzzles.  She loved to travel and was a wonderful and congenial traveling companion, with her good sense of humor, enthusiasm, interest in people and places, curiosity, wealth of knowledge, and natural ability to roll with the punches.   It gave her pleasure to share her experiences with friends and family through postcards. Her grandson Stephen said “she always elevated postcard writing into an art form.”

She was an active volunteer, whether with PTA, Friends of the Plainfield Public Library, or the local chapter of the American Association of University Women.  Even when not doing good works through an organization, she was continually reaching out to help family and friends, and sometimes strangers. When she fell and broke her ankle in NY City in 1986 and ended up in Bellevue Hospital for a week, she befriended her young roommate Clara and later offered her a room in her Plainfield home when she was pregnant and with no place to live.  They remained friends for life.

She pursued a master’s degree in Spanish literature at Montclair State College in the 1980s, but gave it up because of caregiving responsibilities, first for her husband Carl in the last few years of his life  and then her beloved Nina, who came to live with her in Plainfield until she died at 100.

In celebration of Emilia’s 100th birthday in 2021, family and friends sent messages of thanks.  Many remarked on her kindness, open heart, wit, grace, giving spirit, warmth, hospitality, positive and upbeat attitude, welcoming hugs, and wisdom. Others called her every family member’s “greatest cheerleader”.  One thanked her for instilling a love of poetry. Another said a childhood gift of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring woke him up to environmental issues and influenced the direction of his life’s work. One said she inspired her to try new recipes, travel more, and visit historic places.  She was called “the rock and optimist who helped [struggling loved ones] feel that everything would work out in the end” and  a “magical presence” at holiday time. There were many thanks for treasured memories, both of times at the NJ cabin, and of Christmas Day smorgasbords bringing together extended family.  Several expressed deep appreciation for her role as a surrogate mother and a support when they lost their own mothers too young.

She nurtured and treasured many friendships from all parts of her life and continued to form new ones into her 90s. She was devoted to her family, and they returned her love.

She is survived by children Dagmar Farris (Jon) of Granville, Ohio; Linda Carlson (Larry Himelfarb) of Takoma Park, MD; Christie Carlson (Phil Kasden) of Arlington, MA; and Carl J. Carlson Jr. (Nanci) of Fountain Hills, AZ;  grandchildren Rachel Farris Mattison (Michael) of Springfield, OH, Christie Farris Oberg (Johan) of St. Paul, MN, Eric Carlson Himelfarb (Michaela) of High Falls, NY; Mia Lu Carlson of Fountain Hills, AZ; and Kiri Li Carlson of Boston, MA; and great-grandchildren Lucas, Zachary and Hannah Mattison; Linnea, Oliver and Maia Oberg; and Raina and Tierre Himelfarb.

She is predeceased by her parents, a younger brother, Alvaro Garcia, Jr., who died in infancy, a younger sister, Dorothea, who died at age 2, and her husband Carl J. Carlson (died 1991).  In 2023 she mourned the loss of both her younger brother Edmund Stirn Garcia and grandson Stephen Farris.

Emilia’s high school teacher, Barbara Jarrell, who remained a lifelong friend and inspiration, wrote the following perceptive and prophetic poem for Emilia’s high school yearbook. It captures some of the qualities that endeared her to so many people. With poise and calm serenity she wends her quiet way, No adverse winds or threatening clouds her steady course will stay, For there is strength within her soul and power to attain, The best that can be won along life’s ever winding lane, Of mirth and laughter, loyal friends, and tasks for heart and brain, Which fill her days with joyful zest which ne’er will fade or wan

To celebrate and honor Emilia’s life, all are encouraged to send a postcard, share a favorite book or poem, embrace positivity, host a meal for friends or family,  and ride the Staten Island Ferry when in NY.

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James "Jim" Edward Jenkins - July 27, 1949 - April 05, 2024

Departed: 04/05/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Jim Jenkins of Granville, Ohio passed away on April 5, 2024, surrounded by loved ones at the age of 74 following his valiant battle with lung cancer.

Born James Edward Jenkins in 1949 to Lois and Hal Jenkins, Jim grew up in Granville participating in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Order of the Arrow. In his teens, Jim worked at his father’s service stations and obtained a foundation in automotive mechanics at Heath Vocational School. He started his career turning wrenches for his father, then sold wrenches for Snap-On Tools which led to an enriching career that took him and his family across the East coast. In 1994 Jim returned to Granville and acquired his father’s Sunoco station on routes 37 and 16. He sold the station and automotive shop by 2006, returning to Snap-On, where he retired in 2017 after 42 years. Jim loved work and continued taking small jobs after retirement, driving for Meals on Wheels, and working at a chicken farm, for which his friends would later nickname him the Chicken Tender. Jim loved adventures and diverse interests with his wife Ann, who he married in 1973. After retirement Jim and Ann joined the Eagle Wings Club and SCRC, traveling in warm months on their Goldwing trike with many of their beloved friends. Jim was a member and past president of Kiwanis Club of Granville. He and Ann were also dedicated members of Newark Ohio Maennerchor. He led a rich and fulfilling life, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, dedication, and cherished relationships. He was proud of 51 years of sobriety, embracing the adage, “Rule #1: Thou shalt not B.S. thyself.”

Jim is preceded in death by his father Harold ‘Hal’ Jenkins, his mother Lois Ann James Jenkins Cujas, and his stepfather J.D. Cujas. He is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, Ann (Swetnam) Jenkins, his children Jody (Jeff) Field, Jackie (Camden) Collins, Jay Jenkins, and Aryle Swetnam (Evan Riley), nine grandchildren, Courtney Taylor, Sarah Field, Lorelai Taylor, CJ Collins, Jimmy Jenkins, AJ Collins, Johnny Jenkins, Jerry Jenkins, and Jesse Jenkins, Christian Field and A.J. Field, three sisters Judy (John) Kempton, Joyce (Ed) Shanahorn, and Joni (Joe) Campbell, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Jim would like to specially acknowledge his friends for life John Hitchcock, Butch and Janet Curtis, Jim Weaver, Dayle and Connie Foster, Rick and Melody Day, and Bob and Patty Day.   He always said that to find one true friend in this life is to be blessed. He was deeply blessed with these and more, and for that he is grateful.

For those preferring donations to remember Jim, please consider contributions to Newark Maennerchor or Granville Kiwanis Club.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 PM Thursday April 11, 2024, at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect Street, Granville where funeral services will be held at 10 AM Friday, April 12, 2024. Burial immediately following at Homer Cemetery.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Jim and his family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Robert Leslie Woodruff III - November 14, 1955 - March 30, 2024

Departed: 03/30/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: A Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Leslie Woodruff III, 68, of Shelby, Ohio, will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church, 5750 N. High Street, Worthington, Ohio, with Father Michael Lumpe as Celebrant.  A private graveside service will be held on Tuesday, April 16th  at Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2024 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral, 133 S. Prospect Street, Granville.

Robert was born in Montour County, PA on November 14, 1955 to the late Robert Leslie Woodruff, Jr. and Margaret (Davis) Woodruff.  He passed away while vacationing in Santa Fe, New Mexico on March 30, 2024.

Robert was a devoted and much-loved husband, father, and grandfather. He was President and CEO of Woodruff Systems Group, a company he started in 1981, and had recently retired from his work as a Software Architect and Principal Engineer.

Survivors include his loving wife of 29 years, Eleanor “Deb” Hunt, whom he married May 21, 1994; children, Suzy (Sean) Plows and Robert Leslie Woodruff IV; granddaughter, Lily Plows; and many friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Mark Woodruff.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Robert and his family.

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Barbara L. Franks - May 05, 1950 - March 28, 2024

Departed: 03/28/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Barbara Lee Franks, age 73 of Granville, Ohio passed away unexpectedly Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Visitation will be held from 10 AM – 2 PM, Saturday, April 6, 2024 at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect Street, Granville, Ohio 43023.

Barb was born May 5, 1950, in Warren, Ohio to Leland and Winifred Franks. Barb's parents were incredibly kind people. While growing up she learned quickly that her house was a nucleus of family and social gatherings. From an early age Barb showcased a natural characteristic to share her big compassion-filled heart.

By 1963 she dedicated a lot of her time to the care for horses while involved with 4H. A tender awareness and empathy for others became her life-long pursuit.  Barb graduated from Howland High School in 1968 and in 1972 she completed Bowling Green State University with degree work in Fashion Design, Business, and Geology. Barb jumped right into the clothing & textile industry by working for the May Company. This brought her to Youngstown, then New York and travels all around the world. By 1975 Barb moved to Long Beach, California where she became a homeowner and a small business professional. She owned and operated two women's contemporary clothing boutiques in high traffic beach communities.

Barb and Dan met in Long Beach in 1985 to begin their nearly 40-year relationship together. They had their first child, Andy, who was born in 1989 and Sam, in 1990. As a family in 1993 they decided to move from Long Beach, California to Ohio, returning to the family roots of both Barb and Dan. After establishing their new businesses in Granville, Footloose Vintage & Taco Dan's quickly became a hub of the community. Barb was at the center of this community sharing her infectious smile, laugh and sincere friendship to all. She made herself available as she prioritized personal connections in her daily life.

Barb was an inextinguishable extrovert who maintained a loving environment that her and Dan built together for the benefit of everyone. She liked to have a good time, and thankfully for all of us she was the person providing the good cheer in an atmosphere that welcomed all. She reminds us to enjoy being in the spirit of footloose and fancy-free, to be in the moment, to take care of one another, to be of service, especially to the community you surround yourself within.

Barb is survived by her lifelong partner Dan, their sons Andy & Sam, granddaughter Piper, and a community of loving friends & extended family. She will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Barb and her family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence.

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Marion E. Reding - December 04, 1929 - March 28, 2024

Departed: 03/28/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Marion Eleanor Reding, 94, born in Chicago, Illinois on December 4th, 1929, passed away peacefully at Middleton Senior Living in Granville, OH.  Marion Reding affectionately known as Aunt Marum by her 13 nieces and nephews; 25 great nieces and nephews and 23 great/great nieces and nephews was welcomed into heaven on March 28th, 2024.  She was happily reunited with her Mom and Dad, Bernice and John Reding, Brother John and Sister Jean and sister-in-law Helen Reding and Brother-in-law John Bagley.  Also, grandniece Katie Hoben and nephew Robert Becher and many other extended family members.

Marum never married but was always thought of as the “Fun Aunt” and second Mother by all her nieces and nephews.  Mary (Dean) Winslow of North Ridgeville Ohio; John (Kathy) Reding Kokomo IN; Sue (Richard) Hoben; Chris (Robert) Becher; Jim (Kim) Reding of Granville, Ohio; Laura (Pam Cosner) Reding of Carroll, OH; John (Libby) Bagley of Sun City West AZ; Tom Bagley of Clarkdale, AZ; Kevin Bagley of Mesa AZ; Brian (Leslie) Bagley of Palmer, AK; Michelle Bagley of Highlands Ranch, CO; Mary (Bill) Scanlon of Peoria AZ; Linda (Bob) Wallace of Sedona, AZ.

Marum’s days were filled with what she loved most, GOD and her family.  She also loved her Chicago Cubs and her “Michael Jordan”.  She was born and lived in Chicago for over 86 years, and it took her moving to Ohio for the Cubs to win their first World Series since 1908.  Her grandnephew Cory got her set up so she could still watch all the Cubs games on TV even in Ohio.

She loved Chicago and her Lake House in Apple Valley Ohio.  It was her “Special Place” like a little taste of heaven here on Earth.  Many of her nieces and nephews got to experience their special week in Chicago with a friend the summer before their 8th grade school year with Aunt Marum.  She would take them to Museums, Amusement Parks, Water Parks etc.  Also, all of the annual trips to Panama City Beach with the Reding clan and the many trips to Arizona and the exciting vacation trips with the Bagley Clan.  She was always up for anything and everything with her family.

Marum was also an excellent bowler and had many trophies to prove the point.  She loved to travel, and it was always hard to match her energy level.  She loved her martini’s and never needed eyeglasses and lived on her own and drove her car until 6 weeks before she passed.

She spent her Professional career as a School Teacher and Principal in the Chicago Public School System for over 30 years (OTIS and Jahn Elementary Schools).  She received a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Mundelein College and a master’s degree in education and administration supervision from Loyola University.  She had a great Professional Career, but her real career was to help raise all of her nieces and nephews and provided them with an excellent example of how to live their lives.

Marum was a very special Aunt.  To know her was to love her and to be loved by her was to know God.  It was a true Blessing to have her as our Aunt and Second Mother over all the years she graced this Earth.  We are all sad today, but Heaven is rejoicing.  I am sure that when our Lord received her, He said the cherished words “Well Done Good and Faithful Servant”.  Her Spirit, Feistiness and Loving Nature will be missed terribly, but we will see her again.

A funeral Mass will be held 10 AM, Saturday April 6, 2024 at Church of Saint Edward the Confessor, 785 Newark Granville Rd, Granville. A gathering of family and friends will be held one hour prior from 9-10 AM Saturday at church.

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Julianne "Julie" Rausch - July 31, 1933 - March 25, 2024

Departed: 03/25/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Julianne “Julie” Rausch, age 90 of Granville, passed away March 25th at Middleton Senior Living, Granville. She was born July 31,1933 in Dennison, Ohio to the late Harry and Luella (Shivers) Gotshall.

Julie was a 1951 graduate of Dennison High School and a 1954 graduate of White Cross School of Nursing later known as Riverside-White Cross School of Nursing.

Julie and her husband, Ray Rausch, married on October 8th, 1954. Upon graduation from nursing school, she accompanied her husband to Japan where she worked in the Army Hospital in Shinjuku, Japan while they lived in Tokyo, and he served in the Army. They had many fond memories of that time and the people they met.

Throughout her 44-year career, Julie worked in various venues including as a nurse for Newark City Hospital (Licking Memorial Hospital), as an office nurse for a local physician group, as a teacher at LCJVS now known as C-TEC, and as Director of Regulatory and Quality Assurance at Ohio Health Care Association, among others. She was also instrumental in developing the regulations for the STNA licensure program. Even as a resident at Middleton, she discussed the future nursing careers of many staff there, providing both insight and encouragement.

She enjoyed volunteering and spent many hours at Licking Memorial Hospital, including helping to develop the orientation program and orienting new volunteers. She regularly served on the Health Ministry Team at Centenary United Methodist Church in Granville. She also enjoyed singing with the Vintage Voices and participated in many concerts over the years.

She is survived by her children, Lynn Rausch, Kurt Rausch, Beth Castillo (Barry Wade); her grandchildren, Matthew Dickinson (Jessica), Jacob Dickinson, Andrew Dickinson (Katie); 8 great-grandchildren, Frankie, Matty, Ray, Aiden, Ashten, Braelynn, Dryden, and Lilly; nephews and nieces Britt and Lori Thrush; Ward Henderson, Heather Provost and Connie Kelly, as well as many extended family members and friends.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ray Rausch; sister, Rosemary (Jack) Thrush.

Julie’s family wishes to acknowledge the care and support she received from Middleton Senior Living and the many staff who worked with her through the years. A special thank you to Amber Williams and her team. Appreciation also to the hospice staff who assisted her most recently with extra care and support.

A graveside service will be held Monday April 1st at 1:00 PM at Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville. To honor Julie, contributions can be made to RWC Nursing Alumni Foundation #04433 for nursing scholarships by mailing a check to Ohio Health Foundation, 3430 Ohio Health Parkway, Columbus, OH 43202; Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway, Granville, OH 43023, or Ohio Living Hospice, 9200 Worthington Road, Suite 300, Westerville, Ohio 43082

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Julie and her family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Edna L. Balser - November 11, 1951 - March 15, 2024

Departed: 03/15/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Edna L. Balser, age 72 of Granville, passed away Friday, March 15, 2024, at the Inn at Summit Trail, Reynoldsburg.  She was born November 11, 1951, in Granville, Ohio to the late Carl and Olga (Fry) Balser.

Edna was a 1970 graduate of Granville High School.  She was very involved with the Theater, performing with the Granville Players and Weathervane Playhouse where she served as Board President.  She loved to sing.

Edna enjoyed traveling both in the United States and abroad. As well as gambling when given the opportunity.  She volunteered at the Granville Historical Society and volunteered with the restoration of the Old Colony Burial Ground.

On more than one occasion she donated her hair to Locks of Love.  Edna was an avid animal lover, known to frequently take in strays. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was very social.

Edna is survived by her brothers, Lynn (Linda) Balser of Georgia, Earl (Carol) Balser of Granville, Lee Balser of Newark, John (Sally) Balser of Newark and numerous nieces and nephews.

Contributions may be made to the Licking County Humane Society 825 Thornwood Drive, Heath, Ohio 43056.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM, Monday March 18, 2024, at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect Street, Granville.

A graveside service will be held at 11 AM Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Maple Grove Cemetery, Granville.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Edna and her family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Patricia Anne Barclay - December 03, 1929 - March 09, 2024

Departed: 03/09/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Patricia Anne (Linzell) Barclay departed from her earthly life after 94 years on March 9, 2024 at Otterbein SeniorLife in Granville, Ohio.  She was born in Columbus, Ohio on December 3, 1929, the oldest child of Edwin L. and Lucille (Porter) Linzell.

“Pat” graduated from Columbus North High School (1947) and Ohio State University (1951).  She remained a passionate and loyal North High “Polar Bear” and OSU “Buckeye” to the end.  During school years, she excelled in both the classroom and competitive swimming. Pat and husband Ted were married in 1953 in Columbus, beginning a wonderful, 60-year marriage partnership.  Their journey took them from Columbus, to Cleveland, and finally – in 1962 – to Granville.  There, Ted became a legendary coach and athletic administrator at Denison University, and both became community “institutions.”

While raising their three sons, she was active in many community events and organizations.  These included: a “Twig” fundraising group for Licking Memorial Hospital, the annual Book Sale, Junior Gardeners (conveying her love and knowledge of gardening to young people), the town Recycling Center (starting in the 1970’s, before recycling became mainstream), and many activities as a longtime member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

At age 40, she returned to work as a teacher in the Newark, and later Granville, school systems.  As a Home Economics teacher for over 20 years, she taught and inspired hundreds of students with her expertise and passion for cooking, sewing, and other household skills, while adhering to sound budgeting practices.

Her other passions included loving attention to her children (and later, daughters-in-law and grandchildren), sports (including Ted’s Denison teams and her children’s events), playing bridge, nature, and travel.  Finally, as any of her friends could tell you, Pat had a special place in her heart for “Man’s Best Friend” – she owned and adored a succession of beloved dogs, and contributed to causes devoted to canine care.

Her helpful, caring nature and her enthusiasm for life will be greatly missed by generations of family members, friends, students, and acquaintances.

Pat is survived by: son Bruce (Dorothy) of North Andover, Massachusetts; son Brian (Danielle) of Granville; son Jeffrey (Beth) of Sunderland, Vermont; eight grandchildren; sister Mary Kay (Linzell) Palmer of Columbus; brother Lewis E. Linzell of Columbus; nine nieces and nephews; and a number of grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews.

She was pre-deceased by her parents and her husband, Ted.

Pat’s family wishes to acknowledge the care and support she received from Otterbein SeniorLife (formerly Kendal at Granville).  The family also wishes to express its special thanks to Home Instead (particularly Denise Sheldone) and Hospice of Central Ohio for their outstanding and compassionate care for Pat.

A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at Otterbein SeniorLife, 2158 Columbus Road, Granville, Ohio at 3:00PM on Friday, March 15.

To honor Pat, contributions may be made in her name to Denison University, designated for financial aid funding for international students; Denison University, Department of Advancement, 100 West College Street, Granville, Ohio 43023.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Pat and her family.

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Kenneth "Mickey" Hankinson - October 08, 1932 - March 06, 2024

Departed: 03/06/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Kenneth Michael “Mickey” Hankinson, age 91 of Alexandria, Ohio passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2024.   He was born October 8, 1932, in Newark, Ohio to the late Kenneth D. and Margaret V. (Sands) Hankinson.

Mickey was raised in Welsh Hills and was a 1951 graduate of Granville High School. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout as well as being on the 1950 All Licking County Football Team.

He worked for 20 years at North American Aviation in Columbus, Ohio and retired from Owens Corning Technical Center, Granville, Ohio, with 25 years of service.

Mickey was a member of the Alexandria Baptist Church and served as Assistant Scoutmaster for Alexandria Boy Scout Troop 24.  He also served as President of the Northridge Athletic Boosters.  Mickey was a member of Center Star Lodge #11 of Granville and Aerospace Lodge #800 of Heath for over 60 years.

He enjoyed woodworking and home projects in his retirement.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, John R. Hankinson.

Mickey is survived by his wife of 72 years, Mary Lou (King) Hankinson whom he married on September 16, 1951, at the First Baptist Church of Granville; sons Scott William (Pam) Hankinson of Alexandria, Ohio and Larry Weston (Cheryl) Hankinson of Glouster, Ohio; grandchildren Jamie Hankinson, Brian Hankinson, Mike Hankinson, Matthew (Katie) Hankinson and Emily Hankinson, step grandchildren Anthony Collura and Brian (Kim) Collura.

Visitation will be held 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, 133 Prospect Street, Granville, Ohio 43023 where funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Burial at Welsh Hills Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL  33607

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Mickey and his family. Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory about Mickey or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Arnold "Arnie" Joseph - March 10, 1927 - February 11, 2024

Departed: 02/11/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Arnold “Arnie” Joseph, age 96 of Granville, passed away on Sunday, February 11, 2024.  He was born on March 10, 1927, in Saarbrucken, in the Saarland province of Germany.  In 1935, his mother Else took him and his brother Gary to neighboring Luxembourg to escape rising antisemitism, and in 1938 the family moved to New York City.  Arnie grew up in the Bronx, attending the Manhattan High School of Aviation Trades.

Drafted in 1945, he was enlisted to work as a translator at the Nuremberg trials, where his job was to censor the mail of Nazi officials awaiting trial.  He later wrote and spoke about this experience and what it meant to him as an 18 year old soldier of Jewish origin who had lost family in the Holocaust.

After his service he studied at the Alliance Francaise in Paris, laying the foundation for his eventual career as a professor of French at Denison University, where he taught from 1963 to 1990 after receiving his PhD from The Ohio State University.  At Denison he made his impact by inspiring his students to love French language, literature and culture, and through his insistence that playfulness and creativity spawn scholarship as much as ‘serious’ research.

He served as director of Sweet Briar College’s Junior Year Abroad three times between 1968 and 1987, as well as guide and host to countless friends and family in France over many years.  Drawing on his mantra that “the best revenge is living well”, Arnie gleaned joy from a wide variety of past times in Granville and beyond, including biking, cooking, painting, mushroom hunting, and travel.  Another signature joy was his pursuit of “creative sloth”, which he practiced regularly with other disciples at the Village Coffee shop.  Arnie is survived by his brother, Gary Joseph; his sister-in-law, Micky Joseph; his daughters, Theresa and Laura; nephews Daniel and Phillip and many beloved cousins.

A memorial of his life will be held in the coming months.  Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers can be made to Natural Resources Defense Fund, Doctors without Borders, and Licking County Food Pantry.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Arnie and his family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or leave a message of condolence for the family.

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John Hugh "Jack" Ritchie - January 01, 1927 - February 06, 2024

Departed: 02/06/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: A memorial service celebrating the life of John Hugh “Jack” Ritchie, age 97, formerly of Staten Island, New York and Palm Coast, Florida, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on March 8, 2024 at Immanuel Union Church, 693 Jewett Ave., Staten Island, New York with the Rev. Charles Baldini as celebrant.

Jack passed away on February 6, 2024 at Middleton Assisted Living in Granville, Ohio. He was born January 1, 1927 in Staten Island, New York to the late Hugh and Isabel (Williams) Ritchie.

Jack was a 1945 graduate of McKee High School in Staten Island and was drafted right out of high school into the United States Army during World War II. Following his military service, he was employed with Proctor & Gamble and retired after 40 years as a production manager.

Jack was a Deacon at Immanual Union Church in Staten Island and was also a member of the Palm Coast United Methodist Church. An avid golfer until the age of 93, Jack also enjoyed ballroom dancing and traveling with his wife, cherishing their time in Palm Coast, Florida. He was a member of the Palm Coast Lions Club and the Tompkins Lodge #471 F & AM in Staten Island. He was a Boy Scout leader for a number of years and was also a fan of the New York Giants.

He is survived by a son, Robert Ritchie and his wife Linda, of Belvidere, New Jersey; and grandchildren, Christopher Ritchie, Kelly Ritchie, James Ritchie, and John Ritchie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth L. (Hooper) Ritchie on August 5, 1992 and second wife, Frances S. (Cottingham) Ritchie, on September 11, 2015; and by a brother, Gordon Ritchie.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, Granville, Ohio is honored to care for Jack and his family.

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Cheryl Burger - March 11, 1945 - February 02, 2024

Departed: 02/02/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Cheryl Burger passed away on February 2, 2024 at the age of 78.  She loved dogs of all breeds, birds, and warm weather.

Cheryl was a retired educator.  She taught special education classes to K-6 students at Dohron Elementary School in Mechanicsburg.  Cheryl was a special education supervisor for the Champaign-Logan County ESC.  For a number of years, Cheryl was a principal at Mac-A-Cheek in West Liberty.

Cheryl is preceded in death by her loving husband, Gary Burger, and her parents, Kenneth and Hazel (Hively) of Pleasant City Ohio.  Cheryl leaves behind three daughters.  Kristin (Sean) Hartman of Springfield, Ohio.  Valerie (Dave) Childress of Centerburg, Ohio.  Ann-Marie (Michael) Walters of Hilliard,Ohio along with two grandchildren, Jamie and Colin Walters.

A special thank you goes out to the Memory Care staff at Northwoods Skilled Nursing Facility in Springfield for the great care they provided Cheryl.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Cheryl and her family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Rev. Barbara D. Parini - June 23, 1931 - January 30, 2024

Departed: 01/30/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: The Rev. Barbara Dennison Parini, 92, of Granville, died on January 30, 2024. A highly accomplished Priest in the Episcopal Church, she served in parish ministry and other capacities in five different Dioceses of the Church including Western Michigan, Massachusetts, Buffalo, Southwest Florida, and Oregon. Rev. Parini was ordained in 1978, less than two years after women were granted the priesthood in the Church. She was also instrumental in developing the first hospice ministry in Michigan and worked tirelessly for battered and abused women. Honoring her wishes, her remains will be cremated and returned to nature.

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Thomas "Tim" J. Miley Jr. - March 01, 1946 - January 24, 2024

Departed: 01/24/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Thomas “Tim” J. Miley Jr., age 77, of Pataskala, formerly of Granville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Mt. Carmel East Hospital.

He was born March 1, 1946, in Granville to the late Thomas J. and Laura (Warnock) Miley Sr.

After graduating from Granville High School, he studied for a year and a half at OSU-Newark and attended 3 years of technical school in Columbus.

Tim worked for Holophane for more than 30 years, beginning as a draftsman in product design, and ended his career in charge of Computer Aided Design and drafting Software Installation, Configuration, & Support.  He retired in 2006.

At a young age, Tim enjoyed fishing with his father and as he got older became a member of a local Trap Shooting Club, from which he earned multiple medals of accomplishment, most notably a state championship.

The most important thing in Tim’s life was his family and pridefully considered himself a “soccer dad”.  He attended as many of his kids’ soccer games and traveling tournaments as possible.  He was also a dog-lover and liked to take time to pet every dog he met.

In later years, he enjoyed an independent, simple life listening to various forms of music and playing old school computer games.

Tim is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Kimberly Miley; son, David Miley; grandchildren, Grace Ann, Abbigale Irene, and Henry Carlyle; sister and brother-in-law, Beth Anne and William Dunn; and former spouses, Joy Miley, the mother of his children, and Cindy Kikeli, his best friend since childhood.

A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to services from 10-11 AM, Saturday, February 3, 2024 at St. Lukes Episcopal Church 107 E. Broadway Street, Granville, Ohio 43023 where a memorial service will begin at 11 AM Saturday with Father Michael Tigner officiating.

The family encourages memorial contributions be made to St. Lukes Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 82, Granville, Ohio 43023, or to Mt. Carmel Hospice/Palliative Care, 1144 Dublin Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Tim and his family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory about Tim or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Daniel O. Struble - November 23, 1940 - January 13, 2024

Departed: 01/13/2024 (Granville)

Obituary Preview: Daniel Otterbein Struble

Our wonderful and amazing Dan is now in the loving arms of Jesus Christ, Our King and Savior.  Some may say, “taken too soon” but Dan knew it was his time and if he could have taken charge this would have been a couple months ago.

Taking Charge!  That is Dan, all the time - right on time, lead right or get out of my way.  If you lie to me, we’re done – if you tell me you screwed up, I’ll fix it all and nobody else will know.  I’ll show you I have your back without a single word, and it’s okay if you don’t have mine…I’ll give you time to learn how to be that man.  This world is so messed up because you can’t pop someone in the nose anymore when they’ve harmed another.  Let kids be kids, I still want to be a kid.  Cancel all our commitments this month, pack a bag, get your belt on, it's time to go hit up all our favorite mountains, we’re leaving in two hours – sooner if possible.

Dan, Dan, Dan, he captured your heart, captivated you in conversation and had charisma unmeasurable.  You could watch him stroll into a fancy black-tie event in one of his unforgettable tuxedo’s and steal the room, and the next evening, he was in his denim mountain jacket, Levi’s and Buckeye shirt holding court at the local diner.  The man who put everyone at ease and destroyed negativity in less than five words.

Dan’s vast knowledge of people, places, war history, education, engineering, finance, sports, mentoring our youth and paying it forward were all his life passions, but what was paramount was his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes! Even his marriage to Ruthie was based off two concerns, The Buckeye’s play-off game schedule and leaving enough time to catch a flight to Arizona if they made it in.

A giant of a man from smalltown southern Ohio.  Dan was born in Lancaster, to Clarence and Alice Struble, the unexpected fifth child, Dan proudly shared being their “only” child that was born in a hospital.  After graduating Pomeroy High School, he attended Ohio University for one year while he wrote letter after letter to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy, where he graduated class of 1963.

Duty, Honor, Country our Dan was a great defender of freedom.  He voluntarily served in combat during the Vietnam War. A war Dan seldom spoke of.  Never shy about his West Point Diploma, he also held the high honor of belonging to the fearless 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagles.  But above all this his two most treasured military awards were his TROOP “B” HANGMAN Certificate, it will be the roughest looking item on display at his funeral – because it went on many journeys with him, and his sharp shooter soldier.  Some of his favorite Friday evenings were at the Ft. Myers Beach VFW, the place he felt most understood, where he could hug his brothers and sisters, sing some karaoke, do his line dancing, drink a few scotch & sodas and laugh the night away.  He could serve some food, build up the morale and hold the hand of a grieving widow.

After returning home from combat and having made Major in less than six years of service, he was told he could pick a place to serve – Dan always dreamed big so he said I want ROTC at The Ohio State University, he got it. Dan’s Executive Corporate life soon followed, and led to the following:

In 1973 Dan was hired as Quality Assurance Project Leader at Ross Laboratories, a division of Abbott, Columbus, Ohio.  While at Ross he also held positions of Director of Manufacturing, Division Vice President of Quality Assurance, and Divisional Vice President of Operations. In 1985 Dan was named Divisional Vice President of Operations for Abbott Pharmaceutical Product Division, North Chicago. In 1987 Dan was elected Vice President of Corporate Engineering by the Board of Directors and retired as a Corporate Officer in 1995. During this time, he earned his MBA degree from the University of Dayton.

Dan was not only a leader at Abbott, but in the business world he served or was a member of:  Member and Past Chairman of the Manufacturing Council of the American Management Association, Member of Advisory Council of Environmental Affairs -  The Conference Board;  Member of the Business Advisory Council of the University of Illinois-Chicago; Member of the Most of Management in Manufacturing, Advisory Board Chair at Northwestern University, Board of Directors United Way, Lake County, Board of Directors Victory Memorial Hospital.  Additionally, Dan founded AMIE, and during its 25th Anniversary he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his Unwavering Support and Tireless Promotion of Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering.  It is important to note that Dan would often say, “I never could have accomplished this without my corporate wife, Marty Butler.”  They remained close friends until he left us.

In his private life Dan’s passion, second only to The Ohio State Buckeye’s, was constantly growing in his spiritual life and education, which he eagerly impressed the importance of to everyone he met.  “If you have your education, you can have anything you want in life.”  He paid it forward for many, and until the last weeks of his life he was still encouraging and hoping others would pay it forward too.  Passionate for golf, mountains, his Bible Study Group, Family Gatherings, a house full of friends, his koi fish, and sports, sports, sports.

Dan gave more than he ever used for himself, and he never wanted more than what he had.  Always sharing his belief that there are takers in this world, be a giver and avoid the takers. Our good-looking Dan, who never seemed to age, blessed with a great voice, a gentle footfall, a strong personal presence, a heart sometimes too big, a laugh that made you cry, a hand that made you feel safe and a smile you will never forget. Dan never wanted to leave anyone behind, under any circumstances, and you knew that!

Dan was preceded into Heaven by his parents, Clarence and Alice Struble; his granddaughter, Harley Struble; his previous wife, Jean Ann Wolff, the loving Mother of his children; Siblings and many of his West Point Classmates and Combat Veteran Brothers. Dan is survived by his devoted wife, Ruthie; son’s Alexander (Gabrielle) Hepperlen, Steve (Cheryl) Struble and James (Casey) Bonyata; his daughter, Danean (Dennis) Tornes; Grandchildren, Adalyn Hepperlen, Mason and Jameson Bonyata, Josh (Emily) Anderson, Alaynee Anderson, Nina-Elizabeth Dodrill; Great Grands Sophelia and Noah Anderson;  a large extended family  and his dearest friends, Jimmy Sibert and Charles White, Jr.

Please join us at our sweet country church for a gentle time to gather and love each other, Sozo Church, Thursday, January 18, 2024, 6pm, under the Spiritual Care of Pastor Aaron and Jessica Fry.

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Dan and his family.  Please visit www.McPeekHoekstra.com to share a special memory or to leave a message of condolence for the family.

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A Commitment to Personalized Service

At McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home, every family is treated with dignity and respect. The dedicated team of professionals understands that each individual is unique, and therefore, deserves a customized approach to funeral planning. From traditional services to cremations and memorial gatherings, the funeral home offers a wide range of options to suit every family's needs and preferences.

A Facility Designed for Comfort and Convenience

The funeral home's facility at 133 South Prospect Street is designed to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for families. The spacious chapel can accommodate large gatherings, while the intimate visitation rooms offer a cozy setting for smaller groups. Ample parking and easy accessibility ensure that all visitors feel comfortable and at ease.

Caring Professionals Dedicated to Your Needs

The team at McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is comprised of experienced and compassionate professionals who are dedicated to providing exceptional care. From licensed funeral directors to administrative staff, every team member is committed to ensuring that every family receives personalized attention and support throughout the funeral planning process.

A Range of Services to Meet Your Needs

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home offers a comprehensive range of services to cater to every family's unique requirements. These include:

• Traditional funerals with viewing and burial
• Cremation services with memorial gatherings or scattering ceremonies
• Pre-planning and pre-funding options for peace of mind
• Grief support resources and counseling services
• Monument sales and installation

A Community-Oriented Approach

McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home is deeply rooted in the Granville community, with strong ties to local organizations and charities. The funeral home regularly participates in community events, supports local initiatives, and provides educational resources on end-of-life care and bereavement support.

A Reputation Built on Trust and Integrity

Families have trusted McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home for generations, thanks to its unwavering commitment to integrity, compassion, and excellence. With a long history of serving the community, this esteemed funeral home has earned a reputation as a trusted partner in times of need.

In conclusion, McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home stands as a testament to the power of compassion, tradition, and community. By providing personalized service, a range of options, and a commitment to excellence, this revered funeral home has earned its place as a leader in the industry. If you're seeking a trusted partner to guide you through life's most difficult moments, look no further than McPeek Hoekstra Hoskinson Funeral Home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an obituary?

An obituary is a written notice that announces the death of a person, typically including their name, age, date of birth and death, and a brief biography. It serves as a way to share the news of a loved one's passing with family, friends, and community.

Why are obituaries important?

Obituaries play a significant role in honoring the life of the deceased, providing closure for those who are grieving, and serving as a historical record of the person's life. They also help to notify others of the passing and provide details about funeral services or memorial events.

Who typically writes an obituary?

The task of writing an obituary usually falls to the family members or close friends of the deceased. In some cases, a funeral home or mortuary may assist with writing the obituary or provide a template to guide the process.

What information should be included in an obituary?

A typical obituary includes the person's full name, age, date of birth and death, place of residence, occupation, education, military service (if applicable), and surviving family members. It may also include a brief biography, hobbies, interests, or achievements.

How long should an obituary be?

The length of an obituary can vary depending on the publication or online platform. Generally, it should be concise and to the point, ranging from a few sentences to a short paragraph.

Can I include photos in an obituary?

Yes, many online obituary platforms and some print publications allow you to include one or more photos of the deceased. This can help to personalize the tribute and make it more meaningful.

What is the difference between an obituary and a death notice?

A death notice is a brief announcement of someone's passing, usually including only the basic facts such as name, age, and date of death. An obituary provides more detailed information about the person's life and legacy.

How do I submit an obituary to a newspaper or online platform?

The submission process varies depending on the publication or platform. Check their website or contact their customer service department for specific guidelines and deadlines.

Are there any costs associated with publishing an obituary?

Yes, some newspapers and online platforms charge a fee for publishing an obituary. The cost can vary widely depending on the length of the obituary, number of publications, and other factors.

Can I write my own obituary in advance?

Yes, some people choose to write their own obituary as part of their end-of-life planning. This can ensure that their story is told in their own words and provide comfort to their loved ones during a difficult time.

What if I want to keep the obituary private?

If you prefer not to publicly announce the death, you can opt for a private or limited-circulation obituary. Some online platforms offer password-protected or invitation-only access to obituaries.

How long does it take for an obituary to be published?

The publication timeline varies depending on the platform or newspaper. Online obituaries are often published within hours or days of submission, while print publications may have longer lead times.

Can I make changes to an obituary after it's been published?

In some cases, corrections or updates can be made to an online obituary. However, printed publications typically do not allow changes once they have gone to press.

What if I need help writing an obituary?

If you're struggling to write an obituary, consider seeking assistance from a funeral home, hospice organization, or professional writer who specializes in obituaries.

Can I include charitable donations or memorial information in an obituary?

Yes, many families choose to include information about memorial donations or charitable contributions in lieu of flowers. This can be a meaningful way to honor the deceased and support a worthy cause.

How do I find an old obituary from years ago?

You can try searching online archives, visiting local libraries or genealogical societies, or contacting the newspaper where the obituary was originally published.

Can I republish an existing obituary on social media or my personal website?

Check with the original publisher or copyright holder to ensure you have permission to republish the obituary. You may need to obtain written consent or provide proper attribution.

What if I want to create a digital legacy beyond an obituary?