Obituaries — 3/15/12

Published 9:43 am Thursday, March 15, 2012

Bernice Ratliff

Bernice Ratliff, 84, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky. She was born Aug. 6, 1927. She was the daughter of the late Raymond and Delphia Du Four. She was the wife of the late Vernal Jack Ratliff.

She was the owner and operator of Southside Beauty Salon for many years. She loved all her customers and many friends she had. She enjoyed bingo and cards with her friends and spending precious time with her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Vernal Jack Ratliff; a sister, Mrs. James (Louise) Aldridge; and a grandson, Daryn Kinstler.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Darrell and Patricia Kinstler of Ironton; two granddaughters, Jackie Kinstler and Amy Black; two great grandchildren, Harley Guy and Brianna Joseph and her fiance, James Munyan; and a sister, Mrs. Carroll (Helen) McDaniel.

She had many nieces and nephews and special friends, Evelyn (Poke) Walker, Stan and Judy Martin, Lawrence Humphrey, Connie Perry, Barbara Douglas and Janet Mullins

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Kearns officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the funeral home. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Gary H. Blankenship

Gary H. Blankenship, 72, of Deering, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at King’s Daughter’s Medical Center in Ashland, KY.

He was born Feb. 25, 1940, the son of the late Joe and Emma Blankenship.

Gary was a member of Ice Creek Missionary Baptist Church and attended Coal Grove schools. He was an employee of Stan Harvey and Ferrell Gas Companies for many years. Gary was a talented woodworker and spent numerous hours building homes, cabinets and furniture for his family and friends. Besides his parents, he is also preceded in death by a sister, Natta Dryden.

Gary is survived by his loving wife, Judy Waller Blankenship and five children, Dana (Steve) Vanover of Deering, Todd (Toml) Blankenship of Coal Grove, Richard (Carla) Blankenship of Ironton, Julie (Danny) Walter and Barry (Jennifer) Blankenship of Deering; 13 grandchildren, Jessica Fultz, Trent Blankenship, Tori Euton, Holli Swarts, Hannah, Joel, Emma, Dale and Barron Blankenship, Layla Bea, Austin Thomas, and Ryan and Sam Walter; eight great-grandchildren, Ryleigh, Levi and Lexi Blankenship, Cadence Fultz, Atticus and Emmitt Bea; Jackson Thomas, and Ben Walter.

He is also survived by two brothers, James Blankenship of Tennessee and Larry (Charlene) Blankenship of Pedro and three sisters, Glenda Marshall of Deering, Brenda (Ted) Taylor of Ironton, and Sherry (Danny) Brammer of Deering.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home with Pastor Roger Pierce and Dr. Kevin Willis officiating. Visitation will be today from 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ice Creek Cemetery.

Wendall Harmon

Wendall R. Harmon, 89, of Ironton, passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky. The Lawrence County native was born Sept. 12, 1922, the son of the late Mose and Maude Gannon Harmon. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen E. Jenkins Harmon, whom he married in 1947.

Mr. Harmon attended Dawson-Bryant High School and was a U.S. Army WWII veteran who served in Europe. He was a former miner for the Alpha Portland Cement Co.,, retiring in 1994 after 20 years of service, and attended Zoar Baptist Church in Coal Grove.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Clifford Harmon, Willard Harmon, Jack Harmon, and Robert Harmon. In addition to his wife he is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jack and Joyce Harmon of Georgetown, Ky. and Rodney and Melissa Harmon of Coal Grove; five granddaughters, Kelly and Brian Helm of Lexington, Ky., Ashley Taylor, April Harmon, Anna Harmon, and Abby Harmon, all of Coal Grove; four great grandchildren, Natalie Helm, Brenna Helm both of Lexington, Kendall Taylor and Kody Harmon both of Coal Grove; a sister and brother-in-law, Eloise and Garland Johnson of Coal Grove; and a brother and sister-in-law, Don and Judy Harmon of Coal Grove.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Beals officiating. Burial will follow in Zoar Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Donations can be made the Zoar Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund c/o Wilma Kelly, 637 Township Road 111, Ironton, OH 45638. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.

Richard Gothard

Richard Alan Gothard, 52, of Ironton, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at home after an extended illness.

He was born April 17, 1959, the son of the late Glendal Richard and Frances Marie Gothard. He was a truck driver for Scioto Block in Ashland, Ky., and was a Rock Hill Band Booster, serving as president for one year.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Sharon (Ratliff) Gothard; one son, Matthew Alan Gothard; three sisters and brothers- in- law, Rhonda and Grover Christian, Cindy and Rick McDonie and Sally Bogess and her fiancé Michael, all of Ironton; three brothers- in- law and their spouses, Phillip and Debra Ratliff of Flatwoods, Ky., Paul and Evie Brown of South Point, and Jim and Jeanie Johnson of Ironton; one sister- in- law and her spouse, Mary and Bruce Perry of St. Lucie, Fla., and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. today at the Resurrection Hope United Methodist Church, Seventh and Wyanoke streets in Ironton by Pastors Todd Wallace and Randy Tate. Reger Funeral Home in Huntington, W.Va., is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Community Hospice Care Center, 1538 Central Ave., Ashland, Ky., 41101. Condolences may be made to the family at www.regerfh.com.

Catherine Collins

Catherine I. Collins, age 85, of Coal Grove, died at Jo Lin Health Center, Wednesday, March 14, 2012. She was the wife of the late Edward (Red) Collins. She was born in Manchester, March 15, 1926, to the late Carey F. and Inez Bradford Shelton. She was employed as a meat cutter at Food Fair in Coal Grove. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Coal Grove Betterment Club. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence and Carlos Shelton. She is survived by her children, Frank Collins, Roger (Nancy) Collins, Tim (Valrie) Collins, all of Ironton, and Juelda Collins and fiancé Philip Elias of Coal Grove; grandchildren, Joshua and Adam Collins, Mandy (Damon) DeMeio, Nicholas, Kesha, and Katie Collins; one great grandchild, Lacie Thomas; sister Louanna Payne of Manchester; brother, John Wesley Shelton of West Union; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Woodland Cemetery Section P, with the Rev. Steve Harvey officiating. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Saturday morning at O’Keefe-Baker Funeral Home. Donations can be made to the Coal Grove Betterment Club Scholarship Fund C/O Vickie McDaniel 103 Brammer Drive, Coal Grove, OH 45638.

Emmitt Coffman

Emmitt Coffman, 58, of Kitts Hill, died Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at his residence. Arrangements are pending at Phillips Funeral Home.

Harold Hieronimus

Harold Hieronimus, 78, of Pedro, died Wed. March 14, 2012 at the Sanctuary Nursing Home in Ironton.Arrangements are pending at Brown Funeral Chapel.