Dennis King, 74, of Eaton, passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at his home. He was born on January 30, 1947 in Kuttawa, Kentucky to Cleston King and Dorothy Bailey Sandidge.
On July 15, 1967 he married his beloved wife Judy Chandler in Hammond.
Dennis served for four years in the United States Navy.
Dennis was a faithful member of Western Avenue Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and an Elder at the church. He also served as a board member of the Indiana Baptist Foundation.
Dennis was a volunteer for CASA and member of the Chamber of Commerce in Richmond.
Dennis was the vice president in commercial of Wayne Bank where he retired in 2017.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed going golfing and boating.
Along with his wife of 53 years he is survived by his children, David (Kari) King and Heather (Ryan) Schmidt; five grandchildren, Owen, Joshua “JJ”, Allison, Luke, Andrew and two sisters, Nancy Kelley and Wilma Baran; and many friends, aunts and uncles.
Dennis was preceded in death by his father, Cleston King and his mother and stepfather, Dorothy and Wilbur Sandidge.
Visitation for Dennis will be held on Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., at Western Avenue Baptist Church, 2800 Western Ave. Connersville, Indiana 4733. The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 11 a.m., at the church with Minister Jeremiah Burdon officiating. Military honors will be presented by the Fayette County Honor Guard at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, those can be sent to 501 St .Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or made at the church.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave a personal message visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.
Russell “Dean” Mengedoht, 68, of Connersville, passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at Reid Health in Richmond. He was born on July 25, 1952, and is the son of Charles and Betty Mengedoht. Russell enjoyed spending his time going fishing, mushroom hunting, and playing cards. He also loved to watch football, especially the Colts and Bengals.
Russell is survived by a daughter, Stacy (Gary) Weiler, of Noblesville; a son, Russell Mengedoht Jr., of Connersville; two sisters, Teresa Mengedoht and Sara Isaacs, both of Connersville; five brothers, Terry Mengedoht, of Middletown, Ohio, Gary (Sharon) Mengedoht, Joe (Sara) Mengedoht, Charles (Nina) Mengedoht, and John Mengedoht, all of Connersville; three grandchildren, Autumn Mengedoht, of Indianapolis, Zack Weiler, of Michigan, and Jacob Weiler, of Noblesville, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Russell will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m., at the funeral home, with Levi Monk officiating.
Devin Storm Hathaway, 28, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, May 9, 2021, at his home in Connersville.
Devin was born in Oxford, Ohio, on February 21, 1993, and graduated from Connersville High School with the class of 2011.
For the last five years, Devin was employed with Herdrich Petroleum, currently serving as manager of 30th Street Shell.
A people person, Devin had an outgoing personality and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. In his leisure time, he enjoyed rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indiana Pacers, and was active with the #1134 Rev-It-Up derby car team.
Survivors include his mother, Kelly Byrley; father, Shane Garci; brother, Holden (Myra) Hathaway; sister, Izabella Garci; paternal grandmother, Patricia Smith, all of Connersville; maternal grandmother, Karen Leas of Kentucky; aunts, Jamie (Jennifer) Caudill-Smith and Jackie (Josh) Williams, all of Connersville; uncles, Richard H. Leas of Kentucky, Jeff (Shari) Garci, and Jason Garci, all of Connersville; great-aunts, Claudia Lowman, Cindy (Tom) Holland, Helen Spaulding, and Bev Hathaway; great-uncle, Dick (Rhonda) Hathaway; and several cousins.
Devin was preceded in death by an infant sister, Shelby Robinson; great-grandparents, Claude and Corabelle Hathaway; and a great-uncle, Jim Lowman.
Family and friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m., on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home. Pastor Chris Lovett will officiate. Burial will follow in Lick Creek Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Daniel Wallace Smith, of Batesville, was born on June 11, 1938, a son to Daniel and Daisy Cornett Smith. He served his country in the US Army from 1956-1958, and was in the reserves for four years. He married Marilyn Jansing on September 26, 1959, at St. Mary’s of the Rock and together they raised three children. Daniel worked for Monsanto for 35 years until he retired in 1994. He was the Civil Defense Director for Ripley County for eight years. Daniel was a member of St. Mary’s of the Rock Catholic Church the Sunman Rural Fire Department for 34 years, Sunman Area Life Squad for 30 years, and Ripley County Red Cross for 20 years. Daniel loved serving his community. On Sunday, May 9, 2021, at the age of 82, Daniel passed away peacefully at Morning Breeze Healthcare Center in Greensburg.
Those surviving who will cherish Daniel’s memory include his wife of more than 61 years, Marilyn Smith; two sons, David (Raynell) Smith of Batesville and Brian (Pamela) Smith of Batesville; six grandchildren, Daniel (Erica) Smith, Jacob and Joshua Smith, Nicholas (Rachel) Trenkamp, Heather (Phil) Bennett, and Danielle (Nick) Schomber; nine great-grandchildren, Avery and Owen Smith, Will and Sam Trenkamp, Jack, Addison, Ethan, and Luke Bennett, and Sadie Schomber; five siblings, Bill (Pam) Smith, Gertrude Ammerman, Joe (Paula) Smith, Kathy Sroufe, and Judith Smith; and sister-in-law, Bonnie Smith. Besides his parents, Daniel was preceded in death by one daughter, Lisa Marie; one brother, Kenneth Smith; three brothers-in-law, George Ammerman, Charles Sroufe, and Neil Krandall; and one sister-in-law, Mary Smith.
Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, May 16, 2021, from 3 until 6 p.m., at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 107 Vine Street, Sunman. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 17, at St. Mary’s of the Rock Catholic Church, 17440 St Mary’s Road, Batesville, IN 47006 at 10:30 a.m. Masks are recommended but not required.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Sunman Fire Department, 621 N Meridian St., Sunman, IN 47041; Sunman Area Life Squad, 403 N Meridian St., Sunman, IN 47041; or St. Mary’s of the Rock Preservation Society/Cemetery, 3027 Peral Street, Oldenburg, IN 47036.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal memories, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Daniel Smith.
The old idioms and adages we all know and are familiar with exist for a reason. That reason, they are correct.
And they withstand the test of time, over and over.
The one that comes to mind for me lately is “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
I have always enjoyed living in Brookville. It is a really nice small town. People seemed to get along fine. Then, for whatever reason, because I really cannot fathom an endgame with all this, Curtis Ward became the president of Brookville Town Council, Brooke Leffingwell and Chuck Campbell were elected to council and Eric Johnson and Cathy Pelsor remained from previous councils.
And as the saying goes: the (fill word in here) hit the fan.
First, they severely limited public participation at their meetings. Then, they announced they had secretly met and all of us suddenly needed a new town hall, and they did not give a tinker’s (fill word in here) what anyone paying the bills thought. Not only did we need a new town hall that as far as I know no one asked for, we needed it exceedingly quickly.
More recently, council members wanted to put trackers on all of the town’s vehicles for really ill defined reasons, maybe even nefarious reasons, until Brookville Police Chief Terry Mitchum explained how ludicrous that was. And then, the council members did a 180 and decided that was a bad idea.
And looming in the background is the annexation so the town, which is all of us who pay the town tax rate around here, can own a golf course. Think of that anyway you want, but towns and cities are stampeding to get out of the municipal golf business. There may not be another community in the nation thinking about purchasing a golf course.
But just a few days ago, Curtis Ward and the other town council members took a step that is beyond belief. They either ordered it or knew it was going to happen and did nothing about it or both. Any of those scenarios are repugnant and pitiful on each of the five people on council.
Brookville Town Police Department officers went around town writing $20 tickets for people parked the wrong way on the town’s many side streets.
An aside here, I know of people who called Curtis after being ticketed and Curtis stating this is all on Terry Mitchum, and then the same people calling Terry only to have him tell the same people, council directed him and his department to do it. No one would take responsibility for the situation. That means there are not many people in charge of Brookville who have the (place word here) to take responsibility for something they did that was so stupid and useless.
Every now and then I read Brookville Chatter just for the fun of it. I used to do the same with Topix when it was around. It was and is very entertaining. Brookville Chatter was flooded with comments after the ticket writing took place.
There were some that said “It is a law, and everyone should abide by the law. If you abide by the law, you would not get a ticket.”
I don’t know about everyone else but I do not drive the speed limit. I do not fly, but on straight state highways like U.S. 27 between Liberty and Richmond, I set the cruise control on 60 and go. On interstates, I set the cruise on 78. However, when I am going 78 and holding up traffic on interstates and really being more dangerous than the vehicles around me, I will go the speed of the traffic, as long as that speed does not get ridiculous.
Several times I have gone past police officers with their radar guns out and if I am going 60 on U.S. 27 or 78 on the interstates, they have never pulled me over. They could. The speed limit is 55 on state highways and 70 on interstates. To extrapolate what those people preaching about not breaking the law by parking on the wrong side of the street, we should get tickets for 56 and 71, respectively. Really, can one imagine going the posted speed limit on I-465 around Indianapolis or 1-275 around Cincinnati? By following the letter of the law, a person might get shot, maybe shot several times or at the very least cause a serious accident by impeding traffic.
In living here 30-plus years and being the editor of the local paper for most of that time – before I became the Fired Editor — I heard many people gripe and complain about a myriad of subjects. But at no time, let me emphasize that, at no time did anyone call me, email me, message me or walk into the paper office and say: “We have got to do something about people parking on the wrong side of the street in Brookville! We are all going to die because of it! The police have to get out there right now and write $20 tickets on practically every vehicle in town!”
I understand doing something about derelict vehicles in people’s yards, noxious weeds and trash in lawns and grass resembling jungles instead of yards. I get that. But with the exception of the 12th Street problem last summer when the complaints of many 12th Street residents went unheard about trash, weeds and the unmowed yard at one property, the old system worked well. The 12th Street experience was the exception to the rule, the outlier if you will. The former town council reacted by taking the responsibility of enforcing those type of ordinances away from the town administrator and giving it to the police.
Up until this last week, the enforcement of statutes of that type occurred after a complaint was officially filed. Tim Ripperger, the town administrator, did not walk the streets looking for problems. It was working well, except for that one time on 12th Street.
Why change? Why not wait until someone complains about something, and then go out and investigate it, find out if there is a problem and then take steps to rectify the problem, if there is an actual problem. That worked without getting the majority of the people riled up.
My life and the lives of those reading this are not going to be any safer or enriched in any way by the police of this town writing $20 tickets on vehicles parked the wrong way on the town’s side streets. Note to Curtis and the rest: We living here in the second decade of the 21st Century have enough to upset us every day; we don’t need you to pile on something stupid like this.
Just think about the money that is being added to the town’s coffers. It there are 100 tickets written at $20 a pop, that is $2,000. Thus, what is the money brought in by those tickets being used for: Is it for paying for the new town hall we all suddenly need? Is it to pay for the golf course we are soon going to own? Is it to pay for all the costs that come with annexation such as: installing water, sewage and storm sewers, taking over the road repair and snow removal and hiring more police officers to provide policing up on Snob Hill?
Saturday, May 8, on the way back from Richmond, my Long Suffering Wife Ruth and I stopped off in Liberty, the town of my birth, and rode around the town’s side streets. Many, many vehicles were parked the wrong way on the side streets. When I lived there for the first 20 years or so of my life, no one complained about people parking the wrong way on side streets. I’m going out on a limb here, but I would hazard a guess – like Brookville – no one has ever complained about it in Liberty.
Last summer, a person overdosed in the alley between 11th Street and the post office. There was an ambulance, police officers, first responders and the neighborhood residents all out on that summer night gathered around the prone figure. My kids at one time played in that alley and other alleys around here. Now, there is a new group of children who play in that alley and the other alleys around here. People find needles in the alleys and even on the Main Street sidewalks more often than they should. One time is too much but when it becomes relatively normal to find them, there is a problem.
Let the police work on that. All of us would be safer and our lives enriched if heroin and methamphetamine were not in this community.
And let me say this: I am probably the most pro-police person you will ever find. I believe what is currently going on in America related to the anti-police and/or defund police movement is ludicrous. I will donate funds, I will write editorials, I will do anything in my power to make a police officer’s life better and his or her job safer.
But to accuse someone of not being pro-police because they are against police officers writing $20 tickets on cars parked the wrong way on Brookville’s side streets is the proverbial apples and oranges saying.
Curtis, Eric, Cathy, Chuck and Brooke, it ain’t broke. Please don’t try to fix it.
Beth Ann (nee Bishop) Walker, of Cedar Grove, passed away on May 5, 2021, at the age of 55. She was born on Sept 21, 1965, in Rochester, NY to Clyde and Joyce (nee Fraley) Bishop. Beth’s family moved all over the country; however, they landed in Harrison, and she attended William Henry Harrison High School where she caught the eye of a young man in her class, Dale Walker. They got to know each other better on their senior class trip and the rest was history. They graduated in 1983, then attended University of Cincinnati. Dale and Beth married on September 5, 1987, and started a new chapter in life. They traveled the country as well and were blessed with three children: David Ward, Nicholas Berke and Kathryn Gayle.
Beth was diagnosed with Lupus in 1996, and shortly thereafter the decision was made to move back to Harrison to be home again. She started working for Kroger and worked as a Human Resources Manager and retired due to health issues. Traveling was a big part of her life, and she loved family trips. Her in-laws, more like adopted parents, remember the fun trip to Yellowstone, where she was so excited to see all of the animals of the park except two. Beth also enjoyed crafting, crocheting, and quilting. She loved making cards for friends and family members on special days and reached out via phone on a regular basis just to say hello and catch up.
Beth was so easy to love and was loved by many, especially her husband Dale; her loving children and their spouses: David (Erika) Walker, Nicholas (Katelyn) Walker, Kathryn (Chad) Cullen; cherished granddaughter: Aurora Skye Walker; beloved siblings: Brenda Ballinger, Tim (Carrie) Bishop; Father and Mother-in-law: Ted and Kathie Walker; brothers-in-law: Brian (Donna) Walker and David (Michele) Walker. Beth was also survived by nieces, a nephew, cousins and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Clyde and Joyce Bishop and her brother David Bishop.
Funeral Service with Private family and invited guests will be at 4 p.m. Followed by PUBLIC Visitation on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Brater Winter Funeral Home, 201 S. Vine Street, Harrison, Ohio 45030.
We will be meeting at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, 4101 S Highbanks Rd, Daleville, IN 47334 on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 1 pm.
Memorials may be made to: A Living Tribute, an organization that will plant a tree in Beth’s memory in US National Forests. The family will keep track of where the trees are planted and visit the parks in Beth’s memory.
Jewel Dean Compston, 69, of Laurel, passed away on May 6, 2021, at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis.
One of nine children of Silvester and Mary E. Reese Isaacs, Jewel was born in Decatur County, on August 29, 1951, and graduated from Laurel High School.
A homemaker, Jewel enjoyed spending time with her family, playing cards, watching TV, drinking coffee, and looking at flowers.
She was married to Larry Compston for many years, and he preceded her in death.
Survivors include two sons, Joe Smith of Laurel and Kevin Griggs of Florida; two grandsons, Franklin Dean Smith of Kentucky and Brandon Griggs of Florida; four siblings, Mary Sue (Kenny) Grizzel, Kenny (Suzie) Isaacs, Tilda Cooksey, and Elbert Isaacs.
Besides her husband, Larry Compston, Jewel was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Henry X. Smith; and four siblings, W.C. Isaacs, Bob Isaacs, Hilda Land, and Joe Isaacs.
In honor of Jewel’s wishes, no services are planned at this time. Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be made anytime at millermosterrobbins.com.
Andrew Marshall Lee Beaman, of Guilford, was born on August 31, 1999, in Oxford, Ohio, a son to Randy and Jennifer Sumner Beaman. He was a graduate of Franklin County High School Class of 2018. In Andrew’s free time, he enjoyed participating in demolition derbies, going hunting or fishing, playing baseball, enjoying the great outdoors, and most of all, playing and spending time with his son. On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the age of 21, Andrew passed away peacefully at UC Health in Cincinnati.
Those surviving who will cherish Andrew’s memory include his son, Mason Lee Beaman of Guilford; his parents, Randy and Jennifer Beaman of Guilford; his sister, Emily Beaman of Guilford; his fiancé, Brooklyn Clark of Guilford; paternal grandparents, Bruce and Kathy Beaman; maternal grandparents, Stan and Brenda Sumner; maternal great-grandmother, Callie King; a special cousin, Alex Kersey; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Andrew was preceded in death by one uncle, Bruce Beaman.
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 929 Main Street, Brookville, from 5 until 8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 14, 2021, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home. Burial will follow immediately after in Maple Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be directed to a memorial fund, set up at Fifth-Third Bank, that will benefit Andrew and Brooklyn’s son, Mason Lee Beaman. Checks may be made payable to Mason Beaman Benefit Account.
To sign the online guestbook or to leave personal memories, please visit www.cookrosenberger.com. The Staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Andrew Beaman.
Kennidy Rae Riley, of West Harrison, was born on August 17, 1997, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter to Mark and Michelle Offill Riley. Kennidy was baptized at Batesville Christian Church. She loved animals of all types, especially her dogs. She was an avid soccer player in high school, and she loved to hang out with her family. Her family meant the world to her. On Monday, May 3, 2021, at the age of 23, Kennidy passed away at home unexpectedly.
Those surviving who will cherish Kennidy’s memory include her daughter, London Davis of West Harrison; fiancé, Devin Davis of West Harrison; her parents, Mark and Michelle Riley of West Harrison; three siblings, Brent Riley of Cincinnati, Dana Riley of West Harrison, and Joc Riley of West Harrison; maternal grandfather, Kenneth Offill of West Harrison; paternal grandparents, Barney and Marlene Petit; parents in-law, Terry and Eva King; Uncle Travis (Jessica) Offill; Aunt Nikki (Casey) Young; niece and nephew, Emerson Riley and Lincoln Seiwert; as well as many cousins.
Kennidy was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Dana Mae Offill; paternal grandfather, Charlie Riley; great-grandmother, Zelma King; great-grandfather, Rubin Herring; one uncle, Eric Riley; and one aunt, Danielle Petit.
Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 929 Main Street, Brookville, IN 47012, from 12 noon until the time of service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow immediately after in Drewersburg Baptist Cemetery. The family would like to invite funeral attendees, as well as people who couldn’t make it to the funeral, to a gathering of fellowship to be held after the burial from 4 until 8 p.m. at the New Trenton Recreation Hall, 5138 Depot Street, New Trenton, IN 47060.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions be made to a savings account set up with Franklin County National Bank for Kennidy and Devin’s daughter, London Davis. Checks may be made payable to London Davis.
Janet Pearl Anthony (Myers), age 77, of Peoria, Arizona passed away Thursday, April 22, 2021. Janet grew up on a farm in Eastern Indiana with her parents, Marvin and Faye Myers and brother Lowell. She graduated from Union School in College Corner. After achieving a scholarship as Miss Franklin County, she moved to Indianapolis, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Michael Anthony.
Janet and her husband Mike raised two daughters, Felicia and Amanda, while living in Indiana, California, Texas and Arizona. She had an exciting and long career as a senior administrator in Livermore at “The Lab.” She traveled extensively for both pleasure and work to France, England, Spain, Germany, Austria and Japan. She enjoyed the friends she made and the wonderful places she saw.
She leaves this earth too soon and will be missed by her husband, daughters and grandchildren – Marina, Wyatt, Talia, Olivia and so many friends along the way.
