Glenn W. Baker
SHREVE — Glenn W. Baker, 83, of 7930 Millbrook Road, Shreve, died Saturday morning, Feb. 26, 2005, at Wooster Community Hospital from complications following a fall.

He was born Jan. 21, 1922, in Holmes County to D. Raymond and Erma Belle Baker. He married Violet R. Uphoff on Dec. 16, 1945, who survives. He was a 1940 graduate of Wooster High School. Along with his wife and children he was owner/operator of a dairy farm all of his life and was a member of the Farm Bureau. He was a member of Shreve United Methodist Church, where he had been active on many committees.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are children, Rebecca “Becky” Baker and Richard “Dick” (Lynn) Baker, both of Shreve, David (Debbie) Baker of Mount Vernon and Elizabeth “Beth” Baker of Shreve; grandchildren, Michael (Erin) Baker of Orrville, Jennifer (Matthew) Wolford of Shreve, Deanna, Denise and Derek Baker, all of Mount Vernon; great-grandchildren, Hannah Baker and Isabella Wolford; a sister, Norma (Donald) Varns of Wooster; brothers, Paul (Ann) Baker of Wooster and Robert (Martha) Baker of Marshallville; and a brother-in-law, Frederick Ackerman of Fredericksburg.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Carol Ann; a sister, Dorothy Ackerman; and infant sisters, Linda and Joanne.

Funeral service will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Shreve United Methodist Church with the Revs. Bill Lawson and Craig Redecker officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Shreve. Friends may call today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Schlabach Funeral Home in Shreve.

The family suggests contributions be made to Shreve United Methodist Church, BRIC Fund, P.O. Box 525, Shreve, OH 44676; or to the American Cancer Society, Wayne County Branch, 721 E. Milltown Road, Wooster 44691.

Kimi Birtcher
BLADENSBURG — A funeral service for Kimi Birtcher, 16, of Bladensburg will be held today at noon at North Side Church of Christ, 4588 Marion Road NE, Newark, with Bruce Hissong officiating. Burial will follow in Newark Memorial Gardens.

Kimi, a student at East Knox, died Feb. 23, 2005, at her residence. She was born Nov. 29, 1988, in Tampa, Fla., to Kathy Lynn Birtcher.

She was a member of the Newark High School freshman basketball team and National Junior Honor Society before transferring to East Knox High School, where she was captain of the Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad. She was also a referee for basketball and football at the Newark YMCA. Kimi loved sports, music and spending time with family and friends. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Kathy Birtcher-Arnette and John Hoover, sisters, Marci Irvin and Heather Callis, and stepsister, Andrea Hoover, all of Newark; paternal grandmother, Mollie Birtcher of Danville; grandparents, Don and Roseann Birtcher of Hanover, and Bill and Cathy Callis of Newark; aunts, Julie McGinnis of Bladensburg, Maryann Ralston of Norman, Okla., and Mindi Myers of Mount Vernon; uncle, Don, and aunt, Jill Birtcher of Bladensburg, with whom she resided; and stepgrandparents, David and Ersolene Persinger of Newark.

She was preceded in death by maternal great-grandparents, Curtis Fletcher, Martha (Dick) Wilkenson, and Fred and Elizabeth Birtcher.

The Law-Baker Funeral Home, Utica, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Park National Bank, Kimberly K. Birtcher Fund.

Joseph E. Hudson
CENTERBURG — Joseph E. Hudson, 52, of Centerburg died Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2005, from injuries received in an automobile accident in Sunbury.

He was born Aug. 1, 1952, in Fort Monmouth, N.J., to Harry and Ella May (Hulse) Hudson. A disabled U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam, he served his country for 13 years. He was a Licensed Practical Nurse for Mount Carmel Medical Center West.

He is survived by, and was most proud of, his son, Sean Alexander; former wife of 20 years, Joyce Smith of Centerburg; son, Michael E. Hudson, daughter, Tina M. Hudson, brothers, Frank, Tim, Al and Shawn Hudson, and sister, Ann Hudson, all of the Spring Lake Heights, N.J., area.

Friends may call today from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from noon until the funeral service at 2:30 p.m. at the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury. Interment with military honors will follow in Eastview Cemetery, Centerburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to AMVETS Post 59 or Centerburg Interchurch Social Services. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Harold F. Lester
MOUNT VERNON — Harold F. Lester, 72, of Mount Vernon died Feb. 27, 2005, at his residence.

He was born Feb. 3, 1933, in Weston, W.Va., to Clarence and Edna (Radcliff) Lester. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in the Korean conflict in the 2nd Field Maintenance Squad B-Wing Hunter Air Force Base, Ga. He was a private pilot and spent many years taking aerial photographs. He was an avid Lake Erie walleye fisherman. He was a member of the Moose Lodge, where he played on the golf league.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen Louise (Barnett) Lester, to whom he had been married 48 years; two sons, Kent Douglas Lester of Mansfield and Kevin Scott Lester of Mount Vernon; one grandson, Chris Lester of Mansfield; one granddaughter, Robin Lester of Mansfield; one brother, Shirley C. (Louise) Lester of Weston, W.Va.; and three sisters, Carolyn (Joe) Gum of Jane Lew, W.Va., Pauline (William) Sharpe of Weston, W.Va., and Gloria (Willis) Kemper of Buckhannon, W.Va.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Sylvia Lester and Delores Wilson.

There will be no calling hours. A graveside service will be announced at a later date with burial in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens. The North-Dilley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

This obituary, along with a guest registry, may be viewed online at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Zona M. Melick
UTICA — Zona M. Melick, 99, of Utica died Feb. 27, 2005, at The Laurels of Mount Vernon.

She was born Dec. 8, 1905, in Coshocton County to Clarence Elsworth and Harriet Eleanor (Clark) Conard. She attended the Bladensburg Church of Christ.

She is survived by one son, Robert (Mable) Melick of Gambier; one grandson, David (Rebecca) Melick of Centerburg; two great-grandchildren, Courtney and Dylan Melick; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter L. Melick, in 1994; three sisters, Mary Conard Divan, Sylvia Fern Johnson and Anna Jewell; and four brothers, Milton, James, William and Arthur Conard.

Friends may call Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harris-Dilley Funeral Home, where funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. with Ben McKinstry officiating. Burial will be in Bladensburg Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Zona M. Melick’s memory to the Bladensburg Fire Department. This obituary and guest registry may be viewed online at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Jerry F. Poff
DANVILLE — Jerry Franklin Poff, 29, of Market Street, Danville, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, in an automobile accident.

He was born Sept. 6, 1975, in Mount Vernon to Carson and Rose Marie (Bennett) Poff. Jerry loved his kids very much, and would do anything for them. He also enjoyed helping other people. He was a very hard worker. He enjoyed farming and working on cars. He liked a good challenge and was not afraid to get his hands dirty. We will all miss him very much.

He is survived by his parents; his wife, Carey (Whipple) Poff; two sons, Brandon James and Dylan Wyatt; a daughter, Ashley Renee; five sisters, Lisa (Phillip) Boucher of Newark, Sheri (Nick) Tharp of Danville, Kristin (Randy) Davis of Gambier, Lindsey (Dan) Carpenter and Angel Poff of Mount Vernon; three brothers, Darin (Cheryl) Poff of Mount Vernon, Christopher (Roxanne) Poff of Canton and Timothy Poff of Mount Gilead; a grandmother, Darlyne Bennett of Croton; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Roy Poff and Virgil Bennett; and a grandmother, Marian Poff.

A graveside service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Amity Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fischer Funeral Home in Danville.

Anthony ‘Tony’ Young
MOUNT VERNON — Anthony Martin “Tony” Young, 54, of Mount Vernon died suddenly Feb. 24, 2005, following injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

At the time of his death, Tony was an account supervisor with the Ohio State Patrol Federal Credit Union in Columbus. He was a graduate of Chico State University in California with a degree in mathematics. Tony was an avid reader, gardener and was the keeper of his family’s genealogy. Eldest son of John Charles and Carmella (Lovecchio) Young, he was born and raised in Springfield, Ill., on Jan. 31, 1951.

He is survived by his brother Robert J. Young of Norfolk, Va.; his paternal aunt, Maxine (Young) Pine of Springfield, Ill.; and his beloved companion, Ally.

A gathering of Tony’s friends will be today from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home, 201 Newark Road, Mount Vernon. A service celebrating the life of Tony Young will follow at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Knox County Humane Society, 400 Columbus Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. This obituary and online condolences to Tony’s family are at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.