Freda Grace Ball
CENTERBURG — Freda Grace Ball, 79, of Centerburg died Friday morning, Jan. 23, 2004, after a long illness at Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

She was born on April 27, 1924, in Elliot County, Ky., to Fred and Bertha (Barker) Howard.

She is survived by her loving husband, Duran Ball of Centerburg; sons, James (Janice) Barker of Columbus and Duran (Penny) Ball of Marion; a daughter, Brenda (Greg) Reynolds of Centerburg; eight grandchildren; a brother, Witten Howard of Kentucky; sisters, Betty Hall of Rich Hill, Katherine Bush and Katrina Hamilton, both of Kentucky; and many other loved ones and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved son, Danny Ball; three brothers; and three sisters.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at 61, Sunbury, where funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Fred Albrecht officiating. Interment will follow at Sunbury Memorial Park.

Memorial Contributions may be made out to Meals on Wheels of Knox County.

Cecil O. Bender
MOUNT VERNON — Cecil O. Bender, 90, of Divelbiss Road, Mount Vernon, died Jan. 25, 2004, at his residence.

He was born Sept. 1, 1913, in Morrow County to Clark and Edna (Mickley) Bender. He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Hill Church.

He is survived by two daughters, Carolyn Coffman of Bolivar and Nancy (Lee) Venis, with whom he made his home; a son, Ronald (Renee) Bender of Garfield Heights; 11 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, James Bender of Bellville and Ora Bender of McKeesrock, Pa.; a sister, Mary Barnhill of Mansfield.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Inez Bender; and his second wife, Josephine Bender.

Friends may call Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, where funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Peter Simpson officiating. Burial will be in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Helen Ann Campbell
HOWARD — Helen Ann Campbell, 78, of Coshocton Road, Howard, passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, at the Country Club Rehabilitation Center.

She was born April 30, 1925, in Knox County, the daughter of Paul and Elva (Doolittle) Ralston. Helen Ann was a Gambier High School graduate and went to and received her nursing degree from Mansfield General Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital, Kenyon Health Service and Pittsburgh Plate Glass. Helen Ann was a member of the Howard Christian Church.

She is survived by her daughter, Cathy (Dan) Barnes of Howard; two sons, Curt (Donna) Campbell and Craig (Denise) Campbell of Howard; six grandchildren: Stephanie Beach, Eric Beach, Ericka Campbell, Christopher Campbell, John Campbell and Sarah Campbell; two great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Brandon Beach; and a brother, Dick (Jean) Ralston of Mount Vernon.

Helen Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Earl N. Campbell; her parents; and a sister, Linda Kirk.

Friends may call Wednesday from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. in the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home, where the funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Ben McKinstry will officiate. Burial will follow in Workman Cemetery at Danville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Earl Campbell Scholarship Fund at East Knox Lions Club, P.O. Box 3, Howard 43028. This obituary and guest registry can be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Evelyn L. Dunlap
MOUNT VERNON — Evelyn Louise Dunlap, 97, Yauger Road, Mount Vernon, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004, at the Country Club Rehabilitation Center. The Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon is in charge of arrangements.

J.C. Groves
BUCYRUS — J.C. Groves, 81, of 322 E. Irving St., Bucyrus, died at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, in Bucyrus Community Hospital.

He was born June 6, 1922 in Portland, Tenn., to Issac and Ozzie (Groves) Groves. He retired from Dresser Industries in 1984, and was a member of the Kaler Avenue Church of Christ in Christian Union. He was married Feb. 6, 1943, to the former Margaret Clinard, who survives.

Mr. Groves is also survived by five children, Sandra (William) Barber, Roger (Anne) Groves, Susan (Robert) Zeigler and David Groves, all of Bucyrus, and Sarah Miller of Mount Vernon; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; brothers, Thomas of Portland, Tenn., Benton and Alton, both of Bucyrus; and two sisters, Della Sapp of Campbellsville, Ky., and Nettie Houck of Bucyrus.

He was preceded in death by two children, Joyce Newman and June Groves; granddaughter, Vicki Lynn Newman; two brothers, Oscar and J. Houston; and one sister, Rebecca Perry.

Friends may call Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Munz-Pirnstill Funeral Home. The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Kaler Avenue Church of Christ in Christian Union. The Rev. Bob Jividen will officiate. Burial will be in Crawford County Memory Gardens.

Family suggests memorials to Heartland of Bucyrus through the funeral home.

Barbara S. Smith
MOUNT VERNON — Barbara S. Smith, 56, of McGibney Road, Mount Vernon, passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, at her residence.

She was born Oct. 12, 1947, in Mount Vernon to Robert and Lucette (Mercier) Starnes. Barbara had been a Knox County resident all of her life and was a member of the Elks of Mount Vernon.

Besides her mother she is survived by a daughter, Kim (Brian Weiser) Smith of Mount Vernon; two sisters, Joyce (Chris) Marchand of Mount Vernon and Jean (Louis) Urbano of Centerburg; nieces, Christi Baldwin and Stacy Urbano; a great-niece, Hannah Baldwin; the father of her child, Don Smith; and a special friend, Ron Carpenter.

She was preceded in death by her father.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home, where funeral will be conducted at 7 p.m. The family will observe a private burial at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Knox County Chapter, Central Ohio Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 72, Mount Vernon 43050. This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Edward VanHouten Sr.
BELLVILLE — Edward Lewis “Ed” VanHouten Sr., 74, of 131 1⁄2 Main Street, Bellville, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, in MedCentral Mansfield Hospital.

He was born Dec. 22, 1929, in Knox County to Roy I. and Dorothy G. (Price) VanHouten.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Marie (Swank) VanHouten; their children, Ed “Spanky” VanHouten Jr., and his life companion, Sandy Sawdey of Bellville, Dennis (Jeanne) VanHouten of Bellville and Vonda (Bruce) Robinson of Fredericktown; four grandchildren; a brother, Glenn VanHouten of Fredericktown; a cherished niece, Carmen Frazier of Fredericktown; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Douglas J. VanHouten; and two brothers; and three sisters.

The family will receive friends today from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home, where the funeral will follow at 7:30 p.m. Pastor Steve Kistler will officiate. Private interment will be in Bellville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to Jefferson Township-Bellville Rescue Squad or Knights of Pythians Casca Lodge 382 may be made at the funeral home.