Harold ‘Hal’ Gates
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Harold E. “Hal” Gates, 72, formerly of Mansfield, died April 8, 2005, in Nashville, Tenn.

He was born Nov. 8, 1932, in Mount Vernon to Claude and Ruth Ann (Cochren) Gates. He was a member of the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tenn.; Baku Grotto in Mansfield; AASR Valley of Columbus; Venus Lodge 152 F&AM in Mansfield; AMVETS; the Aladdin Shrine; AARP Mansfield-Madison-Mifflin 4637; and colonel in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. He was a Navy veteran serving in the Korean War. He retired in 1993 from General Motors in Mansfield after 33 years of employment.

He is survived by two daughters, Lisa (Lee) Stephens of Reynoldsburg and Rhonda (Russ) Phillippi of Nashville, Tenn.; a son, Craig (Suzette) Gates of South Whitley, Ind.; six grandchildren, Rebekah Stephens, R.J. and Jonathan Phillippi, Tara Thompson, and Rachel and Elijah Gates; and a half brother, Gary Thompson of Cedartown, Ga.

Friends may call Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, where Masonic service will follow at 8 p.m. Funeral service will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Dennis R. Witt officiating. Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery at Gambier with military honors being conducted by the Knox County Joint Veterans Council. A memorial service will be held April 16 at 10 a.m. at the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tenn.; following which will be visitation with the family.

Memorial contributions may be made in Harold’s name to Shriners Hospital, 3229 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229; or Hillsboro Presbyterian Church Stained Glass Window Restoration Project, 5820 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, TN 37215. This obituary, along with an online guest registry, may be viewed at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Gayle C. Geiger
MOUNT VERNON — Gayle C. Geiger, 59, of Mount Vernon died April 8, 2005, at her residence.

She was born Aug. 12, 1945, in Cleveland to Edward V. and Marian (Wintering) Conroy. She ran the Rally For A Cure for several years, and was a member of the Mount Vernon Country Club and a variety of educational organizations. She was a longtime teacher at the Wiggin Street Elementary School in Gambier; Gayle retired in 2000. She received her bachelor’s degree at Bowling Green State University and earned a master’s degree at Southern Illinois University.

She is survived by her husband, Russell P. Geiger, whom she married on Sept. 10, 1966; three sons, Joel (Marcy) Geiger of Worthington, and Benjamin (Jesse) Geiger and Jesse Geiger, both of Columbus; three grandchildren, Julia, Michael and Jacob Geiger; her father, Edward V. Conroy, of Pompano Beach, Fla.; four sisters, Maureen (Richard) Lindenberg of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Patricia Paoli of Florence, Italy, Margaret (Skip) Mahar of Mount Vernon and LouAnn (Les) Harmeyer of Chicago, Ill.; and four brothers, Edward (Jan) Conroy Jr. of Raleigh, N.C., Timothy (Rae) Conroy of Gainesville, Fla., Michael (Rose) Conroy of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Jeff (Paula) Conroy of Destin, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Marian Conroy

A memorial service will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Gambier with the Rev. C. Edward Geiger officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made in Gayle’s name to Susan G. Komen/Rally For A Cure, P.O. Box 579, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0579; or Hospice of Knox County, 302 E. High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050. This obituary, along with an online registry page, may be viewed at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Harry Limings Sr.
SUNBURY — Harry L. Limings Sr., 91, of Sunbury died Friday, April 8, 2005, at Mount Carmel East following a brief illness.

He was born March 19, 1914, in Blevins, Ky., to Jarrett and Bessie (Boggs) Limings. Harry married Dorothy L. Miller on Aug. 5, 1939, they were blessed with 39 happy years of marriage before her death on Nov. 22, 2002.

He is survived by children, Mary Jean (Larry) Cantrell of Sunbury and Harry L. (Linda) Limings Jr. of Johnstown; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a brother, Herbert (Louella) Limings of Mount Vernon; sisters, Ivory Evans and Nora Limings; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by seven brothers; and two infant sisters.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury, where service will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. Pastor David Sedziol will officiate. Interment will be in Cheshire Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Grady, 561 W. Central Ave., Delaware, OH 43015. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

A. Willard Marlatt
WARSAW — Archie Willard Marlatt, 94, of Township Road 359, Warsaw, died April 7, 2005, at the Coshocton Health and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born Oct. 26, 1910, in Newcomerstown to the late Charles R. and Anne (Herbert) Marlatt. He was a retired farmer and retired from the Rice-Chadwick Rubber Co. in Killbuck after 35 years. He was a member of the Coshocton Church of Christ, Walhonding Grange, Warsaw Lions Club, Coshocton County Farm Bureau and the Warsaw Senior Citizens. He was a volunteer for the Red Cross Bloodmobile, Cancer Drive and March of Dimes.

He is survived by a son, Charles E. Marlatt of Warsaw and special friend, Terri Coakley of Coshocton; two sisters, Georgie (Paul) Haver of Newcomerstown and Opal Lacey of New Philadelphia; a sister-in-law, Minnie Little of West Lafayette; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Irene (Little) Marlatt, whom he married March 31, 1934. She died Sept. 1, 1979. He was also preceded in death by a son, a brother and two sisters.

Funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw with Minister Ed Boyce officiating. Burial will be in the West Lawn Cemetery at Newcomerstown. Visitation is Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and until service time on Monday.

L. Grace Mason
WALHONDING — Leah Grace Mason, 85, of County Road 367, Walhonding, died April 8, 2005, at the Country Club Retirement Campus in Mount Vernon.

She was born Sept. 12, 1919, at her residence to the late Charles E. and Bessie (Buxton) Babcock. She was employed by the former W.P. McCarren Co. of Walhonding and Apache Aggregate, with 21 years of service. She was a member of the New Guilford United Methodist Church; Glenwood Chapter 303, Order of Eastern Star; and a past matron of the Wakatomica Chapter 544, in 1948. She served on the Coshocton County Health Board, was a former member of the Perry Grange, Pythian Sisters, and former president of the Coshocton Social Order of Beauceant 79. She was a 1937 graduate of Warsaw High School.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Alfred Mason, whom she married Sept. 28, 1937. Also surviving is a daughter, Jean Anne (Harold) Armstrong of Millbrook, N.Y.; a son, Don R. (Ruth Ann) Mason of Warsaw; two grandchildren, Brian S. (Tammy) Mason of Coshocton and Nicole D. Mason (fiancé, Ezra Helmick) of Warsaw; and four great-grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Mason, Joshua Andrew Mason, Grant Jeffery Gunn and Ross Mason Gunn.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, April 12, at 1 p.m. at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw with the Rev. David Krankovich officiating. Burial will be in the Valley View Cemetery at Warsaw. Visitation is Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. and until service time on Tuesday. Eastern Star Memorial services will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Glenwood Chapter 303 OES, 25901 New Guilford Road, Bladensburg, OH 43005.

Zelphia Minnich
UTICA — Zelphia J. Minnich, 83, of Utica died April 8, 2005, at Newark Healthcare Centre, Newark.

She was born Jan. 27, 1922, in Newton, N.C., to Carl R. and Annie (Hoyle) Hughey. She was a member of the Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Granville.

She is survived by a son, Michael (Pam) Griggs of Taylorsville, N.C.; daughters, Joy Kindler of Mooresville, N.C., and Laura (Charles) Fisher of Marengo; sister, Mary Moose of Columbus; and dear friend, Plumah Campbell of Utica.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a daughter, Jane Griggs; brother, Fred Hughey; and sisters, Ethel Lineberger and Ruby Sherrill.

A funeral will be Monday, April 11, at 1 p.m. at Drum Funeral Home, 509 First Ave. South, Conover, NC 28613. Burial will be in Conover Cemetery. The Law-Baker Funeral Home, 34 N. Main St., Utica, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Calvin Rush Sipes
LOUDONVILLE — Calvin Rush Sipes, 82, of County Road 775, Loudonville, died Thursday afternoon, April 7, 2005, at his home after a brief illness.

Cal was born Oct. 11, 1922, in Waynesburg, Pa., and was the son of David G. and Stella (Rush) Sipes. He had lived in Loudonville since 1937, coming from New Philadelphia. He was a 1941 graduate of Loudonville High School and helped start the Class of 1941 Scholarship. He was a World War II veteran of the Marine Corps, and was wounded in action on Tarawa Atoll, in the Pacific, on Nov. 20, 1943, and was later awarded the Purple Heart. He was a retired employee of Ashland University, and had worked previously at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster; and The Flxible Co., Loudonville. He presently was working for Buckeye Livery, Mansfield; and was an associate with Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville, for the past 10 years.

He was a founding member, guide and member of the board of directors of the Mohican Historical Society. He was also a member, former usher and Sunday school teacher for 20 years of Zion Lutheran Church, Loudonville. He was a member and past master of Hanover Lodge 115 F&AM, a member and past high priest of King Cyrus Chapter 207 RAM, member and past illustrious master of Ashland Council 128 RSM, a member and past commander of Wooster Commandery 48 Knights Templar. He received the Knight of the York Cross of Honour In Ohio Priory 18 in 1972, and in 2003, Cal received the Grand Lodge of Ohio Distinguished Service Award. He received his 50-year pin from Grand Lodge in December 2002.

He was a member, past commander and finance officer of Loudon Post 257 American Legion; he was also the Ashland County commander, 5th District Adjutant and 5th District Finance Officer. He was also a member and past commander and chaplain of Robert Frank Post 8586 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served as chairman of Loudonville Central Park Veterans Memorial committee, to erect a monument dedicated to veterans who lost their lives during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

He is survived by his wife, Nellie Lucille (Strang) Sipes, whom he married Dec. 21, 1946; four sons, Luther Sipes, Marshall (Sandy) Sipes and Neal (Becki) Sipes, all of Loudonville, and Hiram (Renee) Sipes of Millersburg; and seven grandchildren.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter, Charlette L. Mishler, in 1987; and an infant son, William David Sipes, in 1957.

Funeral service will be held Monday, April 11, at 11 a.m. in Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville, with the Rev. Terry E. Ruther officiating. Burial will be in Loudonville Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home, where Masonic services will be held at 7:30 p.m.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1605 County Road 1095, Ashland, OH 44805; or Ashland County Cancer Association, 1200 E. Main St., Ashland, OH 44805. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.byerly-lindsey.com.