Obituaries

Dec 28, 2023

Moneka Michelle Jones, 40, Thurman, Ohio passed away suddenly Thursday, December 28, 2023. Moneka was born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia to the late Cindy Minnis on November 23, 1983. An employee of Integrated Services of Gallipolis, where she worked as a peer specialist, she was a member of Heritage Baptist Church, Gallipolis, Ohio. Moneka was loved by many...

Dec 24, 2023

William L. Kemper, Jr., "Junior", 78, Kerr, Ohio passed away unexpectedly Sunday, December 24, 2023 at his home. He was born October 15, 1945 in Gallipolis, Ohio, to the late William Lowell Sr. and Virginia Belle (Runion) Kemper. A 1964 graduate of North Gallia High School, Bidwell, he was also a lifelong farmer, who was also employed throughout his...

Dec 23, 2023

Lonnie Robert Jordan, 80, formerly of Thurman, Ohio passed away Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Holzer Senior Care. He was born February 1, 1943 in Gallia County, son of the late Seaford Moses Jordan and Martha Easter (Preston) Jordan. Lonnie married Shirley Ann Vance on June 26, 1982, and she preceded him in death on August 22, 2020.

Dec 21, 2023

Shirley Mae Smith, 78, Vincent, Ohio (formerly of Bidwell, Ohio) passed away Thursday, December 21, 2023 in her home following a lengthy illness. The daughter of the late Shird and Sissie (Slone) Collins, she was born April 26, 1945 in Gilbert, West Virginia. Shirley was a member of Rutland Free Will Baptist Church who married Ishmael Smith April 26,...

Dec 20, 2023

Nioka Lee Sowards passed away at age 57 Wednesday, December 20, 2023 surrounded by her family in Roanoke, Virginia following an extended illness. Nioka was born, the fourth of ten children, May 9, 1966 in Long Beach, California, to Samuel George Sr. and Martha Elizabeth (Glover) Sowards.

Nioka attended school in Garden Grove, California and Vinton, Ohio....

Dec 20, 2023

Betty Ann Baxter, 87, Gallipolis, Ohio passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at Darst Group Home, Pomeroy, Ohio. Betty was born in Elkview, West Virginia, on August 11, 1936 to the late Wilbur and Orpha Woodruff.

Betty married Robert L. Baxter and together, they shared sixty-seven years of marriage before his passing in October, 2018. A...

Dec 16, 2023

David Jacob Maskew, 83, Vinton, Ohio passed away Saturday, December 16, 2023 at OSU Wexner Center, Columbus, Ohio.  He was born May 3, 1940, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the late Jacob Joseph Maskew and Mary Claus Willis Maskew.  He was an auto mechanic and a retired twenty-year U.S. Army SFC Veteran.  His memberships include:  New Life Lutheran Church, Gallipolis,...

Dec 14, 2023

Traci Lea Long, 52, of Bidwell, Ohio passed away Thursday, December 14, 2023 at Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis. She was born August 30, 1971 in Gallipolis, Ohio daughter of the late Jerry and Nola (Adams) Brammer. Traci was a graduate of North Gallia High School, Class of 1989, a former teachers aid with the Gallia County Local Schools, a...

Dec 3, 2023

Marjorie "Marge" Ellen Reynolds Gehring, age 82, passed away peacefully Sunday, December 3, 2023. She lived in Enon, Ohio for 53 years. Marge was born February 20, 1941 in Orrville, Ohio, to the late James V. and Marietta Ellen Atkinson Reynolds.

She grew up in Vinton, Ohio, and played the church organ for the Vinton Methodist Church...

Dec 2, 2023

Sarah Jane Hohman, 92, Gallipolis, Ohio (formerly of Rio Grande) passed away Saturday, December 2, 2023 at Holzer Assisted Living, Gallipolis. She was born September 29, 1931 in The Diamond, Ohio, daughter of the late Lowell and Dorothy (Bookman) Tucker. Sarah was a Registered Nurse for more than 50 years, working at Holzer Medical Center and as a Nurse...

Dec 1, 2023

David A. Freeman, 69, Gallipolis, Ohio died Friday, December 1, 2023. David was born November 21, 1954 in Mason, West Virginia, son of Hazel (Clark) Freeman, Cheshire, Ohio and the late Robert Freeman. David was a machine operator while employed at Federal Mogul, Borg-Warner and lastly, GKN Sinter Metals, Gallipolis, Ohio. He was a member of United Auto Workers...

Nov 28, 2023

Loretta L. Piontek, 52, of Fowlerville, Michigan, a cherished wife & mother passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at St. Mary's Hospital Livonia. Loretta leaves behind a legacy of love, devotion, and unwavering commitment to those she held dear.

Born in Livonia, Michigan on December 11, 1970, the daughter of David and Barbara (Lundy) Bassett, Loretta was...

Nov 23, 2023

Zachary "Zach" Kyle Roberts, 31, Gallipolis, Ohio passed away at his home Thursday, November 23, 2023. Zach was born November 4, 1992 in Gallipolis, Ohio, son of Angela Lynn Vance Holley and the late Robert Roberts. He attended Oasis Christian Tabernacle, Gallipolis, Ohio.

He is survived by his parents, Angi and Mike Holley, Gallipolis, Ohio; brother, Gage...

Nov 23, 2023

Paul Dennis Swain, 69, Gallipolis, Ohio passed away suddenly Thursday, November 23, 2023 while at home. He was born September 12, 1954 in Gallipolis, Ohio, son of the late John Paul and Isabelle Mae (Kemper) Swain. Paul enjoyed gun and knife collecting, stock car racing and loved his dogs.

Paul will be missed by his son, Austin...

Nov 22, 2023

Richard Edward Eblin, 73, Vinton, Ohio passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at his home following a short illness surrounded by his loving family. Richard was born December 23, 1949 in Gallipolis, Ohio, son of the late Glen Edward and Gladys Pauline (Sands) Eblin. A United States Army Veteran, he was an over the road truck driver for many...

Nov 22, 2023

Roger Ewing Wells, 72, Wilkesville, Ohio passed away suddenly at his home Wednesday, November 22, 2023. He was born July 4, 1951 in Athens, Ohio, son of the late Ronald Ewing and Ruth Ann (Williams) Wells. He enjoyed playing softball, playing pool and being the owner/operator of his trucking company. Roger married Mary Lou McKinney Wells August 5, 1978...

Nov 16, 2023

Jonathan E. Louden, 81, of Rio Grande, Ohio died Thursday November 16, 2023.  Born February 12, 1942 in Painesville, Ohio, he moved to Rio Grande in 1973. Mr. Louden did his undergraduate work at Defiance College and his Masters of Library Science in Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was the director of the Dr. Samuel L. Bossard...

Nov 12, 2023

Fairie O. McCown, 83, Vinton, Ohio passed away Monday, November 12, 2023 at Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia. She was born in Kemper, Kentucky on May 8, 1940 to the late Ernest and Bertha (Varney) Ward. Fairie married Brady McCown who preceded her in death.

Fairie is survived by sons: Brady (Penny) McCown, Jackson, Ohio and...

Oct 24, 2023

Charles Michael "Mike" Polsley, 76, Gum Spring, Virginia passed away Tuesday, October 24, 2023 following a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born September 24, 1947 in Ewington, Ohio, son of the late Fred and Ernestine (Casey) Polsley. Mike joined the Army in 1966, serving in the Vietnam Conflict with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, known as the...

Oct 24, 2023

Laura Jo Swick, 54, Gallipolis, Ohio passed away Tuesday, October 24, 2023 in Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis, Ohio. Laura was born December 20, 1968 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Sherlynn Swick Tripp. She was raised in Vinton, Ohio by her mother and late grandparents, Stanley and Margaret (Stanley) Swick. Laura was a Class of 1987 graduate of North...