Obituaries

Dec 4, 2023

Diana Howell Mershon, 74

PORTSMOUTH – Diana Howell Mershon, 74, of Portsmouth, passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023, at SOMC Hospice. She was born December 3, 1949, in Portsmouth, Ohio to the late Silas and "Betty" Rebecca Jane (Dale) Howell.

Diana loved her precious plants, dogs, and dancing. She especially loved her family and...

Dec 3, 2023

Alvena Jean Entler, 75

Alvena Jean "Tootsie" Entler, 75 of West Portsmouth, died Sunday, December 3, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. She was born July 21, 1948 in West Portsmouth, to the late Henry Carl and Jesse Marie Burt Tieman.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by 3 brothers: Robert, Lee and Charles...

Nov 30, 2023

Gary D. Hammond, 59

Gary D. Hammond, 59, of Portsmouth, died August 17, 2024, at SOMC Hospice.  He was born on October 22, 1964, to the late Gary and Suzie Barbara (Tong) Hammond.  Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Savahanna Mauk, and a brother, Danny Hammond.

Gary was a...

Nov 30, 2023

Anthony Scott Merritt III, infant son of Anthony Scott Merritt II and Briana Bravo of Lucasville passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at OSU Medical Center in Columbus.

Brody Christopher Lee Merritt, infant son of Anthony Scott Merritt II and Briana Bravo of Lucasville, passed away Tuesday March 26, 2024 at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus.

Nov 28, 2023

Harry C. "Tater" Litz Sr., 88

Harry C. "Tater" Litz Sr., 88, of West Portsmouth, died November 28, 2023, at SOMC Hospice.  He was born in West Portsmouth on June 2, 1935, to the late Henry D. and Carma M. George Litz. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by; 2 sons, Ritchie Askew and...

Nov 28, 2023

Leroy R. Easter, 97

Leroy R. Easter, 97 of Friendship, died Tuesday November 28, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. He was born August 30, 1926 in Buena Vista, to the late Ernest William and Lorena Hazelbaker Easter.

Leroy was a United States Navy WWII veteran. He was a retired Carpenter and a member of Carpenters Local...

Nov 24, 2023

Helen Malone, 87

Helen Malone, 87 of West Portsmouth, died Friday, November 24, 2023 at Wesley Village at Hillview Retirement Center. She was born June 12, 1936 in McDermott to the late Elmer and Helen Louise Shelpman Stevens.

Along with her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her grandmother who raised her, Gertrude Shelpman,...

Nov 21, 2023

Thelma White, 86

Thelma White, 86 of Stout, died Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at her home. She was born May 23, 1937 in Scioto County on Lower Twin Creek to the late Tom and Flossie Cook Howe.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Carl White whom she married on...

Nov 19, 2023

Rick Wittenmyer, 70

Rick Wittenmyer, 70 of West Portsmouth, died Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Southern Ohio Medical Center. He was born September 1, 1953 in Portsmouth, to the late George Franklin and Lucille Whitman Wittenmyer.

Along with his parents Rick was preceded in death by his wife Kimberly Sue Coleman Wittenmyer whom he married...

Nov 18, 2023

Dolcia Ann Hamilton, 89

Dolcia Ann (Bower) Hamilton, 89 of West Portsmouth, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at SOMC Hospice. She was born September 2, 1934 in Portsmouth to the late George E. and Mary Helen Lovejoy Bower.

Dolcia was a graduate of Portsmouth West High School, class...

Nov 16, 2023

Gladys Wetzel, 65

Gladys Wetzel, 65 of Portsmouth, died Thursday, November 16, 2023 at her home. She was born February 17, 1958 in Farmington, Maine to the late Ernest and Shirley Partone Robbins.

Along with her parents, Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Ray Wetzel, whom she married on December 25, 1977....

Nov 12, 2023

Reverend Lynn Wellman, 76

Reverend Lynn "Mick" Mitchell Wellman, 76, of Franklin Furnace, passed away at home on November 12, 2023. Lynn was born December 12, 1946, to the late Lynn Boyd and Pearl Jordan Wellman.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Lavonda and their children, Robert Edward, Serena Sue, Shad Robert...

Oct 31, 2023

Brenda Kay Hutchison, 71

Brenda Kay Hutchison, 71 of Portsmouth, died Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at Rosemount Pavilion in Portsmouth. She was born March 7, 1952 in Sylvester, West Virginia, to the late Estel Gunnoe and Mary Perdue Hill.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by daughter, Melinda Hill and a stepdaughter,...

Oct 29, 2023

David K. Maple, 73

David K. Maple, 73 of West Portsmouth, died Sunday, October 29, 2023 at his home. He was born December 19, 1949 in Portsmouth to the late Ralph and Marie Elizabeth "Betty" Wheeler Maple.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Lee Maple and a sister...

Oct 27, 2023

Donald E. Holt, 97

Donald E. Holt, 97 of Stout, passed away Friday, October 27, 2023 at his home. He was born July 22, 1926 in Scioto County to the late Russell and Cora Lindsey Holt.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by 2 brothers, 2 sisters and a great grandson Donald...

Oct 25, 2023

Violet Lucille "Lucy" Smith, 89

Violet Lucille "Lucy" Smith, 89 of Wheelersburg, died Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at her home. She was born September 25, 1934 in Portsmouth to the late William A. "Willy" and Gladys Mae Evans McGraw.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by both her husbands: Ray Roscoe Moore...

Oct 24, 2023

Herbert Franklin McGraw, 88

Herbert Franklin McGraw, 88 of Mary Esther, Florida, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Herbert (Herb) was born in Scioto County, Ohio on November 21, 1934, to the late William Ernest and Marietta Pearl (Blair) McGraw.

Herb was a US Army Veteran serving in Company E,...

Oct 24, 2023

Harold Lester Mills, 72

Harold Lester Mills, 72 of West Portsmouth died Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at Southern Ohio Medical Center. He was born May 8, 1951, in Portsmouth to the late Lester Leroy Mills and Jessie May (Grimm) Davis.

Along with his parents he is preceded in death by 2 stepsons, Jackson Holsinger Jr....

Oct 21, 2023

Joan Louise Freeland, 89

Joan Louise Freeland, 89 of Mt Vernon, Ohio, formerly of West Union, passed away October 21, 2023 at Altercare Canal Winchester in Canal Winchester, Ohio. She was born June 4, 1934 in Columbus, Ohio to the late David L. Ewing and Grace Green.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in...

Oct 21, 2023

Scott William Pickard, 58

Scott William Pickard, 58 of West Portsmouth, passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 21, 2023 at his home. He was born May 18, 1965 in Portsmouth to the late Ralph and Shirley Harrell Pickard.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Irene Pickard and a brother, David...