Obituary for Larry Arthur “Butch” Bergman

LARRY ARTHUR “BUTCH” BERGMAN

Larry Arthur Bergman ‘Butch’ passed away on April 10, 2021, at UC hospital surrounded by his loving family. The son of Arthur and Lottie (White) Bergman was 75 years old, born on October 17, 1945, in Batesville. On October 2, 1971, he married his love, Peggy Konnersman.

Butch, as he was known to all his friends and family, was a 1963 graduate of Batesville High School. The proud veteran served in the National Guard and belonged to St. John’s United Church of Christ. He held a long career as a US Postal Rural Carrier for 42 years while working as a school bus driver much of that time. He was a member of the FOE Aerie #1130 in Batesville and associate member of the Batesville Knights of Columbus #1461.  

Butch was a sports enthusiast. Over his lifetime he coached a lot of basketball, as an ICA and middle school coach. He was an avid Indiana University and Cincinnati Reds fan too, always ready to catch a game or talk sports shop. Being outdoors, whether it was going hunting, spending the day fishing or horseback riding were other favorites of his. Butch also enjoyed dancing and could be found singing karaoke from time to time. Most of all he loved the time spent with his beloved family.

Many will remember Butch as a man who worked hard to provide for his loving wife and kids.  He had many challenges in his life, but he had the true heart and grit a man can only aspire to have himself. He had a positive impact on a lot of lives in Batesville and unselfishly gave of his time and talents to benefit his community. 

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Peggy; daughters, Beth (Joe) Haverkos of Batesville and Stephanie Bergman of Cincinnati; granddaughter, Savannah Hall; three grandchildren, Conner, Madelyne and Mariah; along with his sister, Violet Christopher of Palm Harbor, FL.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Jennifer Bergman.

A Celebration of Life will take place on April 21, 2021, at the Knight of Columbus Hall in Batesville from 1-7 p.m.

Memorials may be given to the Jennifer Bergman Memorial Fund by bringing that day or by mailing to: Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville, IN 47006.

Obituary for David Baker

DAVID BAKER

David Ray Baker, age 69, passed away at home on Sunday, April 11, 2021. Born on March 3, 1952, to Raymond and China Baker of Okeana, Ohio.

On March 27, 1982, he married Priscilla Stewart.

David worked at Square D Company, Oxford, Ohio for 30 years. Then Lowes and Carter Lumber.

Preceding him in death were his father and mother.

Survivors include his wife, Priscilla Baker; daughter, Mindy (Andy) Hubbard; son, Andrew (Della) Baker; granddaughter, Layla Hubbard, and grandson Cole Hubbard; brother, Gerry (Nadine) Baker of Omaha, NE and sister, JoAnn (Tommy) Williams of Wilmington, N.C.; nephew, Brandon (Michelle) Lehman and great niece, Lily Lehman.

Private service being held at the convenience of the family. Urban Winkler Liberty Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.

To sign the online guestbook or to leave the family a personal message visit www.urbanwinklerfuneralhome.com.

Obituary for Elva Aylstock

ELVA AYLSTOCK

Elva Aylstock, of Connersville and formerly Blooming Grove, passed away on Friday, April 9, 2021, at Caroleton Manor in Connersville. She was born on March 2, 1929, in Franklin County, and is the daughter of the late Isaac Townsend and Myrtle Tuttle Townsend. Elva graduated from Brookville High School in 1947.

In May of 1953, she married William “Bill” Aylstock in Connersville, and they were able to enjoy more than 40 years together before he passed on April 5, 1996.

Elva retired from Ford Visteon in Connersville.  She loved working in her garden and taking care of her flowers.

She is survived by a daughter, Cathy Aylstock, of Seffner, FL; three grandchildren, Barry Aylstock, of Goodyear, AZ, Robin Holloway, of Clarksburg, MD, and Chrystal Gilbert, of Scottsdale, AZ; four great-grandchildren, Reese Holloway, Parker Aylstock, Everly Aylstock, and Arie Gilbert; a daughter-in-law, Vickie Aylstock, of Goodyear, AZ, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents and husband, Elva was preceded in death by a son, William Michael Aylstock; a sister, Ruby Stewart; two brothers, Warren and Ray Townsend, and a nephew, Danny Stewart.

Family and friends may gather at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville, at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, to proceed to Laurel North Cemetery for a graveside service at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Blooming Grove Volunteer Fire Department.  

Obituary for Charles “CH” Hargis Parrett

CHARLES “CH” HARGIS PARRETT

Charles “CH” Hargis Parrett, 45, of Connersville, passed away on Friday, April 9, 2021. He was born on August 25, 1975, in Connersville, to Charles Parrett and Letha “Toots” Oliver Lykins.

Charles was a heavy equipment operator and an avid outdoorsman. He loved going fishing and hunting, especially for mushrooms. He could often be found working on cars or trying to fix anything that was broken.

He is survived by two daughters, Christian Showalter and Hannah Parrett, both of Connersville; a son, Charles “Chuck” Parrett, of Connersville; a sister, Crystel (Marvin) Ellison, of Brownsville, and two brothers, Johnny (Shannon) Parrett, of Laurel, and Michael (Carolyn) Parrett, of Milroy, along with several nieces and nephews.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his maternal grandparents, Hargis and Elizabeth Oliver, and his paternal grandparents, Hiram and Effie Parrett.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 15, 2021, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., at Urban Winkler Funeral Home, Connersville. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m., on Friday, April 16, at the funeral home, with Pastor Jeff Hensley officiating. Burial will follow in Everton Cemetery. 

Obituary for Jennifer Brooke Davidson

JENNIFER BROOKE DAVIDSON

Jennifer Brooke Davidson, 38, of Connersville, slipped away with grace and dignity on Saturday evening, April 10, 2021, at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, following a lengthy hard-fought battle with cancer.

The daughter of Robbie and Diane Vest Gough, Jennifer was born in Connersville on December 9, 1982. She attended elementary at St. Gabriel School and graduated from Connersville High School with the class of 2001.

On June 7, 2003, Jennifer married in St. Gabriel Church to Mikey Davidson who survives.

Jennifer was employed at St. Gabriel School where she was adored by her students and received the Distinguished Graduate Award for 2021. She cared deeply for all whom she met, especially those in need. Her courage led her to be a steadfast rock to many. Jennifer had a way of giving gifts to people unbeknownst to them. A faithful member of St. Gabriel Church, Jennifer led by example, participating in many church activities including the bereavement committee, cleaning crew, and Warriors for Kathryn. A true friend, Jennifer’s strong faith and love of people will be missed by many.

Besides her husband of 17 years, Mikey Davidson, survivors include Jennifer’s greatest joy in life, her two children, Trot and Lyla Davidson at home; her parents Robbie and Diane Gough of Connersville; a brother, Michael Gough of Connersville; special cousins Jennifer considered as sisters, Nicole (Paul) Martin of Connersville and Christian (B.J.) Cole of Georgetown, Kentucky; father-in-law, Jr. Davidson of Rush County; mother-in-law, Jeannie Davidson of Connersville; a special nephew that made her want to become a mom, Logan Neukam; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Jennifer was preceded in death by two stillborn babies; paternal grandparents, Bob and Janice Gough; maternal grandparents, Roy and Helen Vest; and an uncle, Mike Gough.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Dustin Boehm at 11 a.m., on Friday, April 16, 2021, at St. Gabriel Church. Burial will follow in Dale Cemetery. Recitation of the Rosary will be conducted at 2 p.m., on Thursday, April 15, 2021, with visitation to follow until 8 p.m., at Miller, Moster, Robbins Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Gabriel School and to honor Jennifer, please do a kind act in her memory.

UC Bicentennial Committee thanks commissioners for efforts to give Bicentennial money and voice the need for more money

By John Estridge

Union County Bicentennial Committee finally received the $30,000 pledged to the committee but delayed due to a lack of communication.

Bicentennial Committee members Melissa Spillers and Linda Brookbank thanked UC commissioner Howard Curry for helping the committee to receive the $30,000. That amount was pledged to the committee by the UC Tourism Board in early December 2020. However, Spillers reported at the March 18 commissioners’ meeting, the committee had yet to receive the money and that fact put the Bicentennial in doubt.

What was discovered was that a contract had not been signed by the UC Tourism Board and the Union County Development Corp., which had delayed the process of getting the signed contract to UC Auditor Cheryl Begley in order to release the money. UCDC is a conduit for the money to be used by the Bicentennial Committee.

A tourism meeting was held Wednesday, April 7, where the Bicentennial Committee received the $30,000. Spillers said the committee has received an additional $9,500 in sponsorships.

“We want to thank the businesses and the sponsors because without them the $30,000 from the innkeepers would not have been enough to do this,” Spillers said.

Spillers said that still leaves the committee $10,600 short in planned expenditures.

To put the planned expenditures for the Bicentennial in perspective, Union County Sesquicentennial organizers spent $40,000 for a company to come in and plan the Sesquicentennial events. Additionally, one person was hired and the utilities and rent paid for 18 months for an office and place to sell Sesquicentennial memorabilia. That amount for the office space and a person to run it was in addition to the $40,000 spent on the company. According to the inflation calculator on the Internet, just the $40,000 in 1971 is equivalent to $259,766.91 50 years later in 2021. Thus, the $51,000 planned to be spent by the committee is less than 20 percent of just the money the county leaders spent on the company in 1971.

Spillers said the Bicentennial Committee has pledged to do anything the members’ can to raise the still-needed money.

“If we have to stand in the middle of the street and beg, we will,” Spillers said. “We believe we can raise $10,000.”

People who want to donate to the Bicentennial celebration can send checks to the auditor’s office at 26 West Union Street, Liberty, Indiana 47353. Commissioner Tim Williams said people can drop off donations in the Treasurer’s Box on the outside of the courthouse but just mark on the envelope it is a Bicentennial donation.

Also, the Bicentennial is in need of volunteers. People can go to the Bicentennial Facebook page and offer to volunteer. The Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/Union-County-Indiana-Bicentennial-2021-101778181421015

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https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/dennis-kolb-brookville-in/100081480

https://thepatriotsales.com/

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https://www.facebook.com/pourlillysisters/about/

Nominations needed for UC Bicentennial King and Queen

UC Bicentennial press release

Union County’s Bicentennial Committee is looking for nominations for the Bicentennial King and Queen.

Nomination forms must be turned in by April 30. They can be sent by snail mail to Union County Bicentennial 2021, PO Box 133, Liberty, Indiana, 47353 or by email to ucbicentennial2021@gmail.com.

Those submitting nominations should put why they think the couple should be the King and Queen for the Bicentennial festivities. Things worthy of mention include: public service, church activities, clubs or anything special concerning the couple. Additional pages of information may be added if necessary.

The couple must be willing to participate in the festivities, which will be held from June 27 through July 11. They must be willing to have photos placed in local newspapers, post Bicentennial publications and be willing to wear their crowns during special events.

All nominated couples will be placed on the official King and Queen ballot. Voting will be from May 14 through June 7.

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/Union-County-Indiana-Bicentennial-2021-101778181421015

https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/dennis-kolb-brookville-in/100081480

https://thepatriotsales.com/

https://www.riversidecandleandco.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pourlillysisters/about/

https://www.larkin-ford.com/

Obituary for Kim D. Paul

KIM D. PAUL

Kimberly (Kim) D. Paul of Oldenburg, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at the age of 55.

She was born in Springdale, Ohio to Kermit and Rosemary. Kim dropped out of middle school to help her grandpa on a garbage truck. She later earned her GED and was pursuing a degree in nursing at Ivy Tech (both things she was very proud of achieving) when a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in 1993, forced her to quit.

In 1983, Kimberly married Dudley Paul. Together they had two daughters, Heather and Brittany. Heather and Brittany gave them two grandchildren: Harper and Ian, respectively. There was nothing more important to her than family, and her grandchildren were the absolute lights of her life and brought her immeasurable joy.

Most people recognized Kim for her beautiful long, curly red hair, but her most admirable traits were her strength to persevere through any of life’s challenges and her sacrificial, giving nature.

Kim had an insatiable appetite for good junk and good food. Rummage and yard sales and heavy trash pick-up events were always a definite highlight and never being one to pass up a good deal (especially one mixed with food), she loved attending freewill offering dinners at local churches.

She enjoyed traveling to see family and nature when she was physically able. More recently, she quenched that thirst by spending time outdoors watching birds at her bird feeders. Houseplants and flowers were also a passion.

Kim was well known for her quick wit and sharp (and sometimes shocking) one liners. She was, hands down, the most hilarious person you had ever known.

She once said, “Our bodies are just a vessel for our spirits to get us to the other side. Some people get stuck with jalopies and they require more maintenance than others. Some people get to cruise through life in a Cadillac. I got stuck with one you have to push like a Fred Flintstone car.”

In addition to her husband, daughters and grandchildren, she is survived by brothers, Kurt (Joyce), Kenneth (Vanessa), and Brian; sister, Letitia (Joel); numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews (all of whom she loved dearly).

She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, brother Denver, uncles Homer and Wayne, and nephew Tristan.

Due to Covid-19, the family has decided to have a celebration of life in the near future when it is safe to gather and safely enjoy one another’s company so that we can share stories and memories of Kim’s life, as well as a good meal.

Obituary for Mary Alice Essex

MARY ALICE ESSEX

On April 7, 2021, Mary Alice Krall Essex of Batesville, (formerly of San Diego, CA) left this world to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

She was born September 7, 1933, in Preble County, Ohio, to Bertram and Mildred Krall. She spent her early adult years in the US Navy. She was a stay-at-home Mom once her children arrived, but returned to the work place once they were all school age. She had a lengthy career working for the City of El Cajon, CA as dispatcher for the Police Department and Fire Department. She retired from NOSC in Pt Loma, California. In 2003 she and her husband, Gary, moved to SE Indiana.

She is survived by her husband Gary Essex, whom she married in 1982. Gary’s love for her was boundless. He took his marriage vows as sacred, for better or for worse, by caring for her to her end, at home,  as she suffered with dementia. 

She is survived by her six children, Victoria Lynn Lewis (Steve), Robin Gail Hanson (Dave), Dawn Melissa Brown (Bill) and Wendy Hope Watson Morris (Jerry), Dawn Christine Tinker (Phil), Dixine Kathleen King and her sister-in-law, Dawn Lawrence (Albert). She was predeceased by her son, Alan Bates, her son-in-law, Michael Watson and her granddaughter, Erin Watson.  

She was a fun loving, devoted and very active Grandma to her grandchildren. They are Shannon Brady (Jason), Jeffrey Lewis, Jesse Hanson (Ashley), Andrew Bates, Jonathan Bates (Jessica), Mary Lawrence (Jonathan), Devon Watson (Joe Ochs), Alice Claxton (Chuck), William Brown Jr. (Emily), Luke Tinker (Hillarey), Amanda Tinker and Larry King.  She also was Aunt Mary Alice to several nieces and nephews. She was later blessed by the arrival of 26 great grandchildren.  

Even though her final years were marred by dementia, her happiness, cheerfulness, silliness, playfulness and love for each of us never waned. She has impacted our lives forever. As a wonderful Wife, Mother, Grandma and Great Grandma, she will be missed terribly.    

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.  

Obituary for Laura (Bridenhager) Daniel

LAURA (BRIDENHAGER) DANIEL

Laura (Bridenhager) Daniel, 60, of Cincinnati, and formerly of Liberty, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Laura was born on March 7, 1961, and is one of five daughters to Charles and Lillian (Pomeroy) Bridenhager. On May 13, 2006, she married Tim Daniel in Cheviot, Ohio at White Oak Christian Center. Mr. Daniel survives.

Laura was a proud graduate of the Union County High School Class of 1979. Following, she went on to the Cincinnati Bible College where she attained her Bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education and Theology.

Laura was a devoted member of White Oak Christian for many years. Throughout her membership, she held the positions of wedding planner, sang in the choir, and also oversaw their daycare center. She was also an active member in the ASPCA where she is credited with rescuing several cats. One of her long time accomplishments and commitments was to the Girl Scouts. She was a lifetime member where she had spent years travelling abroad to London, Switzerland, Japan, and Austria. Travelling was among her favorite things to do. She loved to sit and share stories with family of the places she had been.

Laura was an avid crafter and worked with wood, fabric and stamping. She and her husband participated in area festivals and craft fairs. They enjoyed participating in Ohio’s Renaissance Fair in Waynesville.

In addition to her husband, Tim, Laura will be greatly missed by her mother, Lillian Bridenhager of Liberty; four sisters, Paulette (Dic) Worcester, Kathy Schmidt, Mary (Jack) Haberthier, and Margaret (Kevin) Jackson; as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Bridenhager.

A service commemorating Laura’s life will be held for family and posted online at a future date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the 4C’s Food Bank c/o Gene Sanford, those may be sent to 323 E. Union St., Liberty, Indiana 47353.