Crystal ‘Jerry’ Benson
FREDERICKTOWN — Crystal Geraldine “Jerry” Benson, 93, of Fredericktown met her Lord on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, at the Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness, Fla., under the care of hospice.

Jerry was born April 15, 1914, in Marengo to O. Clinton and Pauline Rose (Walters) McCoy and had spent her life in the Fredericktown area except 21 years wintering in Zephyrhills, Fla. She graduated from Fredericktown High School in 1932. Jerry married F. Irvine Benson on Dec. 19, 1936, and helped him maintain their farm in Berlin Township for 20 years. Before retiring in 1976 she had worked at the J.B. Foote Foundry in Fredericktown for 15 years.

She was a longtime member of the Fredericktown United Methodist Church where she participated in the United Methodist Women’s Widows Club. She was also a member of the Fredericktown Senior Citizens and The Station Break in Mount Vernon. Her favorite enjoyment was spending time with family and friends and she loved playing all types of games especially euchre.

Surviving are her sons and daughters-in-law, Neil and Jane Benson of Hamburg, Pa., Larry and Jean Benson of Atwater and John and Diana Benson of Fredericktown; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Jerry was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Irvine Benson; an infant son, Dennis Benson; three brothers, Lyle McCoy, Thelston O. McCoy and Wendell McCoy; and two sisters, Velda Ronk and Ethel McCoy.

A service celebrating the life of Geraldine Benson will be Saturday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. at the Fredericktown United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Draper officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour before the service. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery in Fredericktown.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Snyder Funeral Home in Fredericktown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Fredericktown United Methodist Church, 123 Columbus Road, Fredericktown, OH 43019. To send an online condolence to the family, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

John W. Bricker
GALENA — John Waldo Bricker, 71, of Galena died suddenly Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, at Riverside Hospital.

Arrangements will be announced by the DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home in Sunbury. Condolences may be expressed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Carrie A. Gallwitz
WALHONDING — Carrie A. Gallwitz, 85, of Walhonding passed away Aug. 20, 2007, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

She was born March 6, 1922, in Parkersburg, W.Va., to William and Celia (Moore) Abbott. Carrie will always be remembered as a dedicated mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her husband, Glen Gallwitz; two daughters, Abby Novel of Utica and Anna (Mike) Craig of Galena; two sons, Mike Mulligan of Martinsburg and Pat (Judy) Mulligan of Utica; two sisters, Helen Starr of Barberton and Ruth Lewis of Parkersburg, W.Va.; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a twin sister, Mary Wigal.

Friends may call Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Harris-Dilley Funeral Home in Bladensburg, where funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. with Mr. Bruce Hissong officiating. Burial will be in Martinsburg Methodist Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Carrie’s name to the Knox County Humane Society, 400 Columbus Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Condolences for the family may be left at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Ayngel M. Pruett
COLUMBUS — Ayngel M. Pruett, 34, died Aug. 17, 2007, at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus.

She was born June 30, 1973, to Richard A. Pruett and Deborah L. Ruby. After graduating high school, she worked as an LPN and was affiliated with the Church of God.

She is survived by her daughter, Iesha Taylor, sons, Diquan and Tye Taylor, and their father, Larry F. Taylor; her mother, Deborah L. Ruby of Gambier; a sister, Dawn A. Pruett of Urbana; sisters-in-law, Christen Drye and Debbie Taylor; brothers-in-law, Russell, Eddie and Kevin Taylor; aunts and uncles, Gloria and Jim Frost of Mount Vernon, and Liz Dove and Melvin Pruett of Centerburg; two nieces and nephews; and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard A. Pruett; grandmother, Pauline L. Gilliland; and grandfather, Lynn Gilliland.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m. at Covenant Church of God, 1330 New Delaware Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. Memorial contributions may be made to a fund set up through National City Bank or to the Covenant Church of God.

Beatrice M. Sparks
MOUNT VERNON — Beatrice May Sparks, 96, of Newark Road, Mount Vernon, died Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, at the Country Club Nursing Center in Mount Vernon. The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Margaret E. Tappan
SATSUMA, Fla. — Friends and family may join together for a celebration of life at a graveside service for Margaret E. (Van Winkle) Tappan, 86, of Satsuma, Fla., on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m. at Wilson Cemetery, Newark, with the Rev. Dr. Rick Rintamaa officiating.

Born in St. Louisville, Ohio, to Orville and Gladys Booth, she went home to be with our Lord on July 13, 2007. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Earl “Rip” Van Winkle; brother, Carney Booth; and sister, Katheryn Mitchell.

She is survived by her husband, Byron Tappan; son, Dale E. (Judy) Van Winkle; daughter, Sheila K. (Larry) Wright; brother, Franklin L. Booth; sister, Carol J. Van Winkle; four grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Dennis Tappan, Glenn (Dorothy) Tappan, Brian Tappan, Cherie (William) Fuchs, Donald (Linda) Tappan, Robert (Debra) Tappan, Dana (Dee) Tappan; and several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio or Central Christian Church.

Patricia A. Varner
MANSFIELD — Patricia A. (Harper) Shrader Varner, 68, of James Avenue passed away Tuesday morning, Aug. 21, 2007, at her home.

Patricia was born in Mansfield on July 30, 1939, to Robert and Emma (Kovacs) Harper. Pat enjoyed playing bingo, camping and fishing; she also volunteered at the Acts Community Center in Mount Vernon. She and her husband, Charlie, helped start an AA group in Butler, and were proud of the fact they helped many people straighten out their lives. Pat worked as a welder for three years at Breittinger, cashier for Citgo at Ohio 13 and I-71 for four years and as an assembler at Thermodisc for six years.

Pat is survived by her daughter, Kimberly (David) Whitford of Mount Vernon; sons, Timothy (Tess) Shrader of Mount Vernon, Dwaine Scott Shrader of Mansfield and Mikeal (Eva) Shrader of Mansfield; daughter, Amme (Rikey) Prince of Mansfield; stepdaugher, Debra Varner of Mansfield; 11 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; a stepgreat-grandchild; and sister, Barbara (Robert) Brown of Mansfield.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Varner; father, Robert Harper; mother and stepfather, Emma and Frank Reiter; grandparents who helped raise her, Andrew and Rebecca Kovacs; and a grandson, Dustin Whitford.

Friends may call Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Herlihy-Tinsman Funeral Home, 173 Park Ave. West, Mansfield, where funeral services will follow at 6 p.m. conducted by Lou Toscano. Private family burial will be held at a later date in Bellville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or MedCentral Hospice. This information is available online at www.herlihy-tinsman.com.