January 2025
Dr. Philip Walter Compton -
Dr. Philip Walter Compton, age 82, of Bluffton, passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. He is survived by his wife, LaDonna G. Shively, daughter, LeAnn (Raymond) Pryor of Ada; two grandchildren: Kelsey (Brendan) Tisher and Kyle (Raina) Zimmerly; great grandchildren: Isla and Brewer; brother, Ralph (Patti) Compton; a sister, Carol (Wayne) Spangler; and a bonus sister, Jaci (Joel) Cox.
Compton served as pastor for Rhinehart United Methodist Church and the chaplain for the Ada Liberty Fire Department. He was a co-founder of the West Ohio Food Bank and Table One Restaurant.
Memorial contributions may be made to the West Ohio Food Bank and/or the Mennonite Memorial Homes Benevolent Aid Fund.
December 2024
Scottie Sue Crabtree -
Scottie Sue Crabtree, age 87 passed away on December 24, 2024. She was preceded in death in 2019 by her husband of 61 years, Rev. Dr. Lowell Dean Crabtree.
As a clergy spouse, she dedicated her life to being his partner in ministry, serving for five years at Frazeysburg and Perryton (Muskingum County) United Methodist Churches, and Bethel United Methodist Church (Clermont County), from 1979 until retirement where they then attended Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church (Brown County). Upon moving to Hillview Retirement Center in Portsmouth, they attended Cornerstone United Methodist for several years. Her greatest passions in the church were love and care of the congregations and serving as the choir director for many years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wesley Village renovation fund. Checks should be made out to Hill View Retirement Center and in the memo line, denote that the donation go to the Wesley Village renovation fund. Address is 1610 28th St., Portsmouth, OH 45662.
Memorial services will be held at Hillview Retirement Community in the Forest Room on Saturday, February 8, 2025, with visitation at 12:30 p.m. and service at 1:00 p.m.
Rev. Dr. George Phillips -
The Reverend Dr. George Phillips of Mason, Ohio, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 39 years, Deborah Jane (Holcombe) Phillips, his surviving sister, Karen (Nevin) Seus of Bradenton, FL, his children, Katie Powell, Carrie (Drew) Powers, and Jensen Phillips, and grandchildren, Brenna, Liam, Natalie, and Ethan.
Miller served in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church at Cairo UMC, followed by appointments at Ware’s Chapel, Bluffton, Archbold, Centerville, Anderson, and finally, Mason. In retirement, he Served as Chaplain at Otterbein Sernior Life Community.
Services were previouly held at Otterbein Senior Life Community in Lebanon, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, George requested that donations be made to the Otterbein Benevolent Fund in his honor.
Click here to read full obituary.
Rev. Paul W. Miller -
Born on August 3, 1924, in Wetzel, Ohio, to Henry A. and Mary (Wisher) Miller, Paul lived a remarkable life filled with service, compassion, and dedication to others. He married the former Lorraine Clear who preceded him in death on October 11, 2014.
Miller served as a pastor in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church to these congregations: Grover Hill Charge 1961; St Paul's (Payne) 1965; Wesley (Van Wert) 1971; Wesley (Marion) 1977; Bethany (Celina) 1981; Van Wert Calvary-Pleasant Chapel (D) 1992; Countryside Chapel (D) 1994; Wren (D) 1994
He was a member of the Van Wert American Legion and First United Methodist Church in Van Wert.
Miller is survived by his son, Bruce (Sandy) Miller of Ft Wayne; his brother, Richard “Dick” Miller of Van Wert; 7 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 11 great great grandchildren; and 1 great great great grandchild.
In addition to his wife, Lorraine Miller, he was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary; daugther, Paulette Burnett; an infant son, Brian Miller; brother, Rev. Carl W. Miller; and sisters, Margaret Claypool Slusser, Nellie Adams and infant Ruby Miller.
Funeral services were previouly held. Online condolences may be expressed at www.alspachgearhart.com.
Rev. Theron (Ted) Homer Smith, Jr -
Rev. Theron (Ted) Homer Smith, Jr, 96, passed December 12, 2024.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Betty: daughter Jocelyn (George) Gibbs, and sons, Kevin (Kimbalyn) Smith and Matthew Todd (Patricia) Smith; his grandchildren Sarah Ashley (Les) Cheung, Jordan Rachel (Jerram) John, Abigail Elizabeth (Jordan) Poppe, Mollie Grace (Adam) Vigeant and Stella Gabrielle Smith; and his great-grandchildren Finley Therese Cheung, Theron Reid Poppe, Silas Paul Cheung, Sadie Jean Poppe, Lev Michael Vigeant and Magnalia Grace Vigeant; bothers Mark Lynn Smith and Myron Ray Smith.
Rev. Smith and his wife began ministry serving churches in Whorton and West Union, Ohio. The later serves as missionaries in Southeast Asia as part of the Orient Crusades. Returning to Ohio, he and Betty served appointments to Linworth, Troy, Forest Park (Cincinnati), Walnut Creek, Livingston (Columbus), and Westerville.
A memorial service for Rev. Smith is scheduled for 11:00 am, Saturday, January 11 at the Cypress Wesleyan Church, 377 Alton Darby Creek Road, Galloway, OH.
To read the full obituaty, click here. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Asbury University / 1 Macklem Drive / Wilmore KY 40390 / www.asbury.edu noting the Myron R. Smith Scholarship Fund in the memo field, or to Hollow Rock Holiness Campmeeting c/o Rob Aukerman, Financial Secretary / 1958 County Road 51 / Toronto OH 43964 / www.hollowrock.org.
Rev. Jerry D. Wortham -
Rev. Jerry D. Wortham, age 91 of Lebanon, Ohio passed away peacefully on Monday, December 09, 2024, at Otterbein Lebanon.
Wortham's life was his ministry as a Pastor in the United Methodist Church. Hey served these churches within the West Ohio Conference: Essex & Mt Olivet (S) 1955; Casstown-Bethel (S) 1958; Aldersgate (C) 1960; Mt Victory (L) 1963; Cole Grove Memorial (P) 1965; Nast Trinity (C) 1971; Maynard Ave (CN) 1979; St Mark's (L) 1981; West Milton (DN) 1987; Hartzell (C) 1991
Jerry was a life time member of the Boy Scouts of America and a longtime member of Rotary International. He also enjoyed biblical archaeology and collected artifacts from the Holy Land.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary (nee Culp) Wortham; children Jay (Lori) Wortham, John (Sheila) Wortham, and Mary Beth (John) Rutherford; step-children Karen (Billy) Colyer and Terri (Joel) Boyette; 5 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law Judith and Mel DeWitt; as well as many other family members and friends.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, December 18, 2024 from 11:00 AM until time of funeral services at 12:30 PM, all at Stine Funeral Home of Lebanon. Immediately following services, Jerry will be laid to rest in Arlington Memorial Gardens in Mt. Healthy, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Boy Scouts of America Dan Beard Council or the Parkinson's Research Foundati
November 2024
Rev. Richard Alfred (Dick) Donnenwirth -
An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Donnenwirth served in the New England and Texas Annual Conferences before serving in West Ohio. In West Ohio, he served as chaplain at Bethesda Oak Hospital for 15 years where he started Cincinnati’s first Clinical Pastoral Education program as well as an outpatient Pastoral Counseling Center. In 1983 he left Bethesda (Trihealth) to establish a pastoral counseling center in Kenwood (First Psychotherapy Institute, then Professional Pastoral – Counseling Institute)
He retired in June 2020.
Rev. Donnenwirth is survived by his wife, Rosalie; his two children, Jack Donnenwirth (Columbus) and Ellen Donnenwirth (Raleigh, NC); two living grandchildren Maria Donnenwirth and Ben Brown; as well as another grandson, J.R. Donnenwirth deceased at age 26; 2 great-grandchildren, Tyler and Coralai Donnenwirth.
A memorial service will be held at Twin Lakes Chapel on Tuesday, November 19th at 11AM. Cremation ashes will be interred at Greenlawn Cemetery, in Plymouth, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Life Enriching Community Foundation, Twin Lakes’ Pastoral Care Division.
Condolences may be sent to Rosalie Laurenti, 1020 Heritage Lake Dr. Montgomery, OH 45242
Click here to read the full obituary.
October 2024
Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Sagendorf -
Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Sagendorf, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 30, 2024, at Otterbein NorthShore Assisted Living.
Rev. Sagendorf, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, served at the Powhatan Point Charge, NE OH Conf 1965; Internship For Clergymen In Urban Ministry, Case Western Reserve 1966; East Glenville, Cleveland, EO Conf 1967; Dir. Interfaith Action Council, Flint, Michigan Detroit Conf 1968; Dir. Grand Rapids Youth Ministry, Grand Rapids MI 1972; Director, Youth Contact Center, Muskegon, Mich 1974; Zanesville First (N) 1976; Linworth (CN) 1980; Marietta Christ (A) 1982; Monroe Street (T) 1989; and Bexley (CN) 1995.
He earned his graduate theological degree from the Methodist Theological School of Ohio.
Tom was preceded in death by his faithful wife of 61 years, Judith Grace (Morgan) Sagendorf. He is survived by daughters Emily (Randy) Dickman of Elmore & Kristen Chapman of Columbus; his beloved grandchildren Madeline (Austin), Jeremy, Lauren & Ellison; great-granddaughters Makenna and Blaire; sisters Mary (Jack) Siebers, Ruth (Curt) Holleman and sister & brother-in-law Marian (Al) White; and numerous nieces & nephews.
No memorial service will be held. A family celebration of Tom’s life will be held at a later date. For family and friends who wish to celebrate Tom’s life, tributes may be made to First United Church of Christ, Marblehead.
Rev. Arlis Robina Vaughn -
Rev. Arlis Robina Vaughn, 69 was born on January 31, 1955.
Rev. Arlis was a Full Elder and throughout her career served the West Ohio Conference and these congregations: Caldwell Memorial (S) 1994; New Hampshire Charge (L) 1995; Fairborn St Luke Associate (DS) 2000; Newark Christ (N) 2002; Grace (W) 2005; Columbus: Asbury North (CAN) 2010.
She retired in 2020
Arrangements have not been shared at this time. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.
Marlene Kay Eipper -
Marlene Eipper was the spouse to Rev. Keith Eipper, pastor in the West Ohio Conference. They married July 10, 1959, and celebrated 65 years of marriage this summer.
After retirement in 2002 Marlene and Keith moved to Parker, Colorado, to be near their 2 children and 1 grandson. Marlene was known for her great smile and friendly disposition to all. Her favorite times were spent with her husband and family.
Marlene is survived by her husband Rev Keith R Eipper, their daughter Susan and son-in-law Dennis Reiter, son Keith II and his partner Alan Quintana, grandson Austin Reiter and spouse Brittany, and a great-granddaughter Danielle Reiter. Also a brother Richard Laub and his wife Beverly.
Condolences may be sent to Rev. Keith Eipper, revkeithre@gmail.com