Ann L. Bessette
MOUNT VERNON — Ann L. Bessette, 70, of Murray Road, Mount Vernon, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at the Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus.

She was born July 20, 1933, in Hamilton to Robert and Eleanora (Zimmerer) Johnson. Mrs. Bessette was a member of the Green Valley Southern Baptist Church, where she served as the secretary, pianist, organist, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school director and CIA (Children In Action) director.

She is survived by a son, Michael (Kelly) Bessette of Mount Vernon; four daughters, Sue Ann (Charles) Pitman of Clermont, Fla., Rebecca Ann (James) Cooper of San Clemente, Calif., Rhonda Lynn Seamonds of Laguna Nigel, Calif., and Elizabeth (Scott) Campbell of Mount Vernon; six grandchildren, Chuck Pitman, Michael Bessette Jr., Candra Pitman, Karinne Bessette, Joshua Campbell and Sarah Bessette.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Bessette; and a sister, Mary Elaine Rinehart.

Friends may call today from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home. A funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at the Green Valley Southern Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Green Valley Southern Baptist Church, 1680 Old Delaware Road, Mount Vernon 43050. This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Charles ‘Ed’ Boyd
CENTERBURG — Charles “Ed” Boyd, 76, of West Houck Street, Centerburg, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

He was born on Aug. 8, 1927, in Grundee, Va., to Emmett and Carrie (Crawford) Boyd. Mr. Boyd retired from the Mount Vernon City Schools where he worked as a mechanic and part-time bus driver. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the AMVETS Post 95, Olive Green Church of Christ in Christian Union and was a past member of the Bell Church of Christ in Utica.

He is survived by his loving wife, Clarajean (Daniels) Boyd; 11 sons, Charles E. Boyd Jr. of Mount Vernon, Dennis (Candy) Boyd of Mount Vernon, Barry (Connie) Boyd of Fredericktown, Clay (Susan) Boyd of Butler, Dariel (Annette) Boyd of Mount Vernon, Dale (Jodi) Boyd of Mount Vernon, Dean (Heather) Boyd of Bloomfield, Bill Bush Jr. of Delaware, Richard Bush of Marion, Kevin (Haddie) Bush of Delaware and Anthony (Martha) Bush of Howard; four daughters, Brenda Boyd of North Fork, Va., Denise (Herman) Rittenhouse of Martinsburg, Darlene (Ed) Smith of Mount Vernon and Mary Ann (Ron) Nininger of Centerburg; 42 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; five brothers, Fred (Shirley) Boyd of Centerburg, Carl (Millie) Boyd of Lafayette, Tenn., Robert (Barbara) Boyd of Tennessee, John Boyd of California and Larry (Barbara) Boyd of Newark; two sisters, Juanita (Robert) Woods and Irene Bailey, both of Scottsville, Ky.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Boyd; two grandchildren, Casey Lynn Boyd and Craig Boyd; and a sister, Helen Arrwood.
A memorial service will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at The Salvation Army with Pastor James Cichon officiating. The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the family. This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

William B. Carper Sr.
MOUNT GILEAD — William Ballard Carper Sr., 84, of Mount Gilead died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at the Woodside Village in Mount Gilead.

Mr. Carper was born Jan. 7, 1920, at Gap Mills, W.Va., to Charles and Mary Lavia (Wall) Carper, and had been a resident of Waterford for most of his life. He was retired from the Continental Can Co. in Mount Vernon, where he had been employed 31 years as a printer. Mr. Carper served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Waterford Church of Christ and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Mount Vernon.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth (Henderson) Carper, whom he married Nov. 7, 1959; his son, William B. (Deanna) Carper Jr. of Marengo; his daughter, Carolyn Sue (Norman) Harvey of Dublin; two stepsons, James (Anne) Brookover of Pineville, La., and Steve (Irelia) Brookover of Newark; his stepdaughter, Judith Donaldson of Weston, W.Va.; six grandchildren, April Nicole Carper, Terri Lynn (Randy) Sutfin, Cheryl Ann (Jeff) Blankenship, John Wesley Breneman, Dawn (Tom) Jordan and John Carper; 16 stepgrandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert (Betty) Carper of Mount Vernon and Earl (Nellie) Carper of Howard; and two sisters, Ruby Arthur of Mount Gilead and Viola Debolt of Johnsville.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a son, William Charles Carper; two stepsons, Jack Brookover and Howard Donaldson; four brothers, Frank Carper, Eddie Carper, Kyle Carper and Homer Carper; and two sisters, Hallie McPherson and Mamie Bradley.

Friends may call Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown. The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Waterford Church of Christ, with Mr. Ray Linn officiating. Burial with military honors by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council will follow in North Fork Cemetery near Waterford.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Waterford Church of Christ. This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Dale J. Hite
MOUNT VERNON — Dale J. Hite, 82, of Columbus Road, Mount Vernon, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Arlington Nursing Home in Newark.

He was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Licking County, the son of Clarence and Irene (Coakley) Hite. Mr. Hite had been an employee of several schools in the Mount Vernon local school system, at Amity School and had been a farmer. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served in the European Theater of War.

He is survived by a sister, Goldie Holland of West Virginia; two brothers, Lester Hite of St. Louisville and Donald Hite of California; many nieces and nephews; and friends of over 50 years, Beverly Evans and sons of Johnstown.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters.

A graveside service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens. Pastor Joe Blevins will officiate and military honors will be observed by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council. The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

This obituary and a guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Ruth Rhodes
WOOSTER — Ruth (McManis) Rhodes, 95, of Wooster died Saturday, March 27, 2004, in Wayne Manor.

She was born Feb. 17, 1909, in Mount Vernon, the daughter of Judson and Minnie (Hutchison) McManis. She retired in 1974 after 19 years from the Wayne County engineers office, where she was secretary to the county engineer. She was a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ, the Wooster Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star and the Wimaudais.

Surviving are a son, John Lewis Rhodes of Paris, France; four grandsons; nieces, Marlene (Griffin) Hedges of Mount Vernon, Sue (McLarnan) Kirby of Odessa, Texas, Linda (McLarnan) Short of Mesa, Ariz., Nancy Martin of Madison, Wis., Sally Neill of Ogden, Utah, and Sue Crankshaw of St. Simons, Ga.; and nephews, Stephen Rhodes of Wooster, Gordon L. Griffin of Danville, Lanny McManis of Batavia, Walter Rhodes of Quinta, Fla., Paul Rhodes of Bloomington, Minn., Ken Unger of Chandler, Ariz., and Ron Unger of Fredericksburg, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Rhodes, in 1954, whom she married Dec. 29, 1928; a daughter, Joan Durbin, in 1983; brothers, Carl and Paul McManis; and sisters, Grace Griffin and Eleanor McLarnan.

Friends may call Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the McIntire, Davis & Greene Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster, where Eastern Star Memorial Service will precede at 6:45 p.m. Graveside service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Wooster Cemetery. The Rev. Glenn Royer will officiate.

Those who wish may make memorial contributions in her memory to the charity of the donor’s choice; Hospice of Wayne County Inc., 2525 Back Orrville Road, Wooster 44691; or to American Cancer Society, Wayne County Unit, 721 E. Milltown Road, Wooster 44691.

Warren G. Wells
FREDERICKTOWN — Warren G. Wells, 83, of Wirick Road, Fredericktown, died Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Knox Community Hospital. The Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown is in charge of arrangements.