John F. Barnhart
WESTMINSTER, Calif. — John Fribley Barnhart, 84, of Westminster, Calif., died Sunday, May 2, 2004, at SunBridge Care Center in Fullerton, Calif.

John was born on the family farm in Knox County’s Fairview community, Jan 11, 1920, son of Harmon Vance and Blanche (Fribley) Barnhart. Upon his father’s death, John became the family’s breadwinner at age 16. Although from farm country, John never farmed. He was a free-lance electrician, machinist, tool designer and engineer. Attending school at Homer and Mount Vernon, his education was completed via correspondence courses.

John is survived by sons, Jack (Eileen) Barnhart of Whittier, Calif., and Tom (Sandy) Barnhart of Higley, Ariz.; and grandchildren, Shannon, Troy, Scott, Adam, Todd and Shawna Barnhart.

John worked at Cooper-Bessemer in Mount Vernon during the war, then at Ohio Brass in Mansfield. The family moved to California in 1950, where a job with Hughes Aircraft was awaiting John. There he stayed for 30 years and was instrumental in the design and production of spacecraft, notably Surveyor I, the first to soft-land on the moon. He retired at age 50 when, he often said, he started to work.

He and his wife owned and managed various investment properties, beginning with a four-unit apartment building. From then on, it was always a hands-on endeavor for them, preferring the challenge of doing the work themselves rather than hiring tradesmen or other “professionals” whenever possible.

Besides his parents John was preceded in death by his wife, Esther; a sister, Margaret Jane (White); and grandson, Eric Barnhart.

John will be laid to rest Monday, May 10, at Westminster Memorial Park in Westminster, Calif. The Rev. Fred Morse of Tempe, Ariz., will preside over the services.

William J. Brown
DANVILLE — William Junior Brown, 61, of Brinkhaven Road, Danville, died May 4, 2004, at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, Calif.

The funeral will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Fischer Funeral Home, Danville. Burial will be in Workman Cemetery at Danville. Visitation will be Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Wednesday until service time.

A full obituary will appear in Tuesday’s edition of the News.

Evelyn J. Hashman
DANVILLE — Evelyn Jane (Stull) Hashman, 81, of Danville-Jelloway Road, Danville, died Friday, May 7, 2004, at Knox Community Hospital, Mount Vernon.

She was born July 27, 1922, in Knox County to Cleve and Bertha (Lease) Stull. On Oct. 18, 1937, she was married to Arthur B. Hashman, who survives. She was a member of the North Bend Church.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, James Hashman and Larry (Joyce) Hashman of Danville; a daughter, Joyce (Andrew) Wenger of Mount Vernon; a grandson, Larry Hashman Jr. of Mount Vernon; two granddaughters, Lori Hashman and Angie Hawk of Mount Vernon; and three great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by her parent, a brother and two sisters.

A graveside service will be Monday at 10 a.m. in Workman Cemetery, Danville. The Rev. Lloyd Miller will officiate. The Fischer Funeral Home in Danville is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, 1501 N.W. Ninth Ave./Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136.

A. Duane Hawthorne
COSHOCTON — Alois Duane “Skunky” Hawthorne, 76, of 604 Highland Blvd., Coshocton, died May 6, 2004, in the emergency room of Knox Community Hospital, Mount Vernon.

He was born Feb. 24, 1928, in Coshocton County to John and Oneida (Elder) Hawthorne. He retired in 1989 from the Coshocton Post Office where he was a window clerk. He was a 1946 graduate of Roscoe High School, a member of the VFW 2040, AMVETS 36, Coshocton Moose Lodge 935, and an avid camper and animal lover.

He is survived by his companion, Lawanda Getz of Coshocton; two sons, Tom Hawthorne of Coshocton and Rick (Phyllis) Phelps of West Lafayette; a daughter, Pam (Jim) Asire of Coshocton; five grandchildren; a brother, Wade Hawthorne of Coshocton; a sister, Beverly Hawthorne of Coshocton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Gephart) Hawthorne, whom he married Sept. 3, 1962. She died Nov. 20, 1991. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Hawthorne; and a granddaughter, Jodi Dickerson.
The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. in the Fischer Funeral Home, Warsaw, with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Robert Wright will officiate. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery at Warsaw.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Coshocton County Animal Shelter, 21755 TR 164, Coshocton 43812-9183.

Sammy Simmons
FAIRFIELD, Calif. — Sammy J. Simmons passed away at his home May 6, 2004, after a six month battle with cancer.

Sammy, a native of Fredericktown, has lived in Fairfield, Calif., the past 30 years. He worked for Tesoro Refinery in Martinez, Calif., for 22 years and was in the Air Force as an air traffic controller for 6 1/2 years.

Sammy is survived by his wife, Janis; sons, Shane and Troy of Fairfield, Calif.; his mother, Leona Simmons of Mount Vernon; a sisters, Peggy Kirkpatrick of Cape Coral, Fla., Sondra Hess of West Chester and Judy Simmons of Mount Vernon; brother, Terry Simmons of Powell, Tenn.; brother and local family includes, Vic and Penny Herndon of Fairfield, Calif., Jane Herndon of Fairfield, Calif., Sue Bockover of Pittsburg, Calif., Marcie and Gary Quigley of Loomis, Calif., and John Herndon of Lafayette, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

Sammy was preceded in death by his father, Harold Simmons.

A memorial will be held today at 1 p.m. at Vaca Hills Chapel, 524 Elmira Road, Vacaville, CA 95687.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to NorthBay Hospice at 1300 Oliver Road, Fairfield, CA 94533, or to a charity of one’s choice.