Duke Baldridge
DANVILLE — Dal “Duke” Clayton Baldridge, 61, of Pritchard Road, Danville, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007.

He was born April 8, 1945, to Claude Clayton and Ida (Forest) Baldridge.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Darlene (Hagans) Baldridge, whom he married on June 29, 1965; a son, Brian (Darcy) Baldridge of Danville; daughters, Claudia (Doug) Rine of Mount Vernon and Pashie of the home; sisters, Hazel (Junior) Bing of Wooster, Norma (Keith) Hammons of Danville, Shirley (Dan) Slone of Danville, Sharon Eikleberry of Apple Valley and Kathy (George) Williams of Loudonville; brothers, Marvin (Jean) Baldridge of Bealsville, Tony (Rosie) Baldridge of Wooster and Junior (Edith) Baldridge of Kentucky; beloved grandchildren, Courtney, Brachaus, Brandy, Braxton, Sierra, Gatlin, Abby, Austin, Skyler and Amelia; great-grandchildren, Mason, Hailey and Leelynd; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Harlan; and a sister, Elsie.

Duke was self-employed and owned his own business, Baldridge Logging, which is family operated. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports. Duke spent his whole life giving to others.

A funeral service was held Saturday at the Fischer Funeral Home in Danville. Pastor Lloyd Miller officiated. Burial was in Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Information is available at www.fischerfuneralhome.com.

Hazel Frye
MOUNT VERNON — Hazel Frye, 85, of Mount Vernon died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at the Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus.

Hazel was born Feb. 7, 1921, in Mount Vernon to Ira and Emma (Barrick) Workman and had spent her lifetime in the Mount Vernon area. Hazel was a member of the Grace Bible Church in Mount Vernon.

Surviving are her daughter, Jean Barker of Mount Vernon; her four sons, Eldon I. (Linda) Frye of Howard, Philip R. (Dixie) Frye, Thomas E. (Diana) Frye and James M. (Paula) Frye, all of Mount Vernon; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Margaret Hopkins of Mansfield.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon F. Frye; her son-in-law, Terry Barker; seven brothers, Ira Workman, Charles Workman, William Workman, Walter Workman, Lester Workman, John Workman and Arthur Workman; and five sisters, Mary Willis, Betty Varner, Iris Tucker, Audrey Workman and Helen Workman.

There will be no calling hours. Private graveside funeral services for the immediate family will be held at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon.

Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

William J. Harman
SUNBURY — William J. “Bill” Harman, 71, of Sunbury died suddenly Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at Grady Memorial Hospital.

He was born on March 22, 1935, in Gay, W.Va., to the late William C. and Thelma (Mitchell) Harman. Bill moved to the Sunbury area in 1970 from Columbus. He retired in 1989 as section chief computer specialist with the AT&T training center in Dublin.

He is survived by his children, Lisa (Christopher) Cirotto of Pataskala, Mitch (Dao) Harman of Sunbury and Jan Harman of Cardington; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his special lady, Pat Jenkins Bracken of Cardington.

He was preceded in death by wives, Dorothy and Diane; two sisters; and a brother.

Friends may call Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Ohio 3 at Ohio 61, Sunbury, where services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m., with his cousin the Rev. David Mitchell officiating. Interment will be in Blue Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions to American Cancer Society. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Eric A. Hawke
BRUNSWICK, MAINE — Eric Alexander Hawke, 88, of Brunswick, Maine, died Jan. 10, 2007, at MidCoast Hospital, Brunswick, Maine.

He was born in Parsons, Kan., but spent his youth in Ohio. Eric was the son of Alexander Ernest and Zella (Nichols) Hawke. Eric was a graduate of Kenyon College and Columbia. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Eric taught at Kenyon, Hobart and Columbia, before pursuing a career in New York City at Exxon.

After 18 years at Exxon he took early retirement and moved to his beloved Vermont where he taught for many years at Castleton College in the English department and was active with the drama department. He was a member of Mission Farm Church, Sherbourne, Vt., for many years and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick, Maine, at the time of his death.

Survivors include his wife, Margot (Stinson) Hawke; a sister, Eleanor Sullivan; and a niece, Judith Burdick.

A memorial service will be held Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, Pleasant Street, Brunswick, Maine. A reception will follow at Thorton Oaks Retirement Community, 25 Thorton Way.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 27 Pleasant St., Brunswick, ME 04011.

Arrangements are under the care of the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick. Condolences can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.

Fred W. McCleese
GALION — Fred W. McCleese, 89, of 668 Jackson Road, Galion, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at Knox Community Hospital, Mount Vernon.

Fred was born in Lewis County, Ky., on April 10, 1917, to the late Hiram and Dora (Stamm) McCleese. He married Nillia Buckner on Jan. 10, 1939, and she went to be with the Lord on Dec. 30, 2004.

He is survived by his son and two daughters, Donnie (Cindy) McCleese of Howard, Bonnie (David) Edwards of Galion and Fredia (Ollie) Ferrell of Scotsdale, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; step-granddaughter, Missy Atkinson; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Frances Frodge and Icie Cooper, both of Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Jess; two infant brothers; and his sisters, Myrtle Hessler and Elsie Little.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Mark A. Schneider Funeral Home, Galion. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. at the Bucyrus Freewill Baptist Church, 1676 Hopley Ave., Bucyrus, with the Rev. Lewis Copley officiating. Burial will follow in Iberia Cemetery, Iberia.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bucyrus Freewill Baptist Church in care of the funeral home.

Marilyn A. Ricker
MOUNT VERNON — Marilyn A. Ricker, 67, of Mount Vernon passed away on Jan. 12, 2007, at her residence, west of Mount Vernon. Her loving family, husband, Don, and son, Donald, were by her side.

Marilyn was born in Montclair, N.J., the daughter of Ralph and Frieda Albertson and had been a resident of the Mount Vernon area for the past 10 years.

In addition to her husband and son, Marilyn is survived by two sisters, Delores Herndon of Virginia and Louise (Stan) Snogans of New Jersey; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Presently, no Mount Vernon area services are being held, however it is anticipated that a service in New Jersey will be held at some later date. The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon is assisting the family with arrangements.

The family requests that if anyone wishes to make a memorial donation, please direct it to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. To send an online condolence to the family visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Larry R. Steinmetz
FREDERICKTOWN — Larry R. Steinmetz, 65, of Fredericktown, formerly of Mount Vernon, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at his residence.

Larry was born Jan. 1, 1942, in Knox County to Dwight and Mildred (Hartshorn) Steinmetz. He was a 1959 graduate of Utica High School and had spent his lifetime in the Knox County area. He had worked for 26 years with Lamb Glass, Chattanooga Glass, Diamond Bathhurst Co. in Mount Vernon and then 19 years with Cooper Energy Services and Rolls-Royce in Mount Vernon, retiring last week. Larry had attended the Green Valley Southern Baptist Church in Mount Vernon.

Surviving are his wife, Betty M. (Dickerson) Steinmetz, whom he married Sept. 9, 1971; his children, Troy (Diane) Steinmetz of Gambier, Lou Anne (Donald) Dietrichson of Turmont, Md., Pamela Moehnke of Burkburnett, Texas, Debbie (Joe) Gantt-Gschwender of Dayton and Douglas (Tracy Pierce) Gantt of Newark; 11 grandchildren, the two granddaughters he helped raised as his daughters, Cayla Steinmetz and Britney Gantt, and Danielle Gschwender, Amber Gantt, Aaron Gantt, Donald Dietrichson, Stephanie Dietrichson, Amy Moehnke, Taylor Moehnke, Amanda Steinmetz and Adelyn Steinmetz; and two great-grandchildren.

His parents preceded Larry in death.

Friends may call Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where funeral service will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Dan Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Union Grove Cemetery near Gambier.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a scholarship fund for the two granddaughters he raised or to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Lenore Strouse
MOUNT VERNON — Lenore Strouse, 84, of Mount Vernon died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

Lenore was born July 25, 1922, in Coshocton County, near Walhonding, to Russell and Verna (Wilkey) Fry and had spent her lifetime in the Coshocton County and Knox County areas. She had been an employee of the former Ringwalt Department Store in Mount Vernon for 28 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Mount Vernon. Lenore belonged to the Rake and Hoe Garden Club in Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon Pythian Sisters, the Tuesday Morning Volunteer Group at the Mount Vernon Developmental Center and the Ringwalt’s Retirees Club.

Surviving are her daughter, Nola Bell of Mount Vernon; her son, Larry (Jane) Strouse of Westerville; five grandchildren, Jeffrey (Angela) Strouse, Jennifer (Kevin) Tomes, Jim (Anita) Hauger, Mike (Carrie) Hauger and Tiffanie Hauger; seven great-grandchildren; and her sister, Margie McFarland of Nellie.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Strouse, in 1971; her brother, Donnie Fry; and her sister, Elsie Dobson.

Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Flowers-Snyder Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, where funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of one’s choice in memory of Lenore Strouse. To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.