All Obituaries

William John Whitmore, Sr., 90, formerly of Navarre, passed away peacefully with his family at his side, early Sunday morning, March 17, 2019.  Born in Navarre, May 8, 1928, a son to the late Lloyd W. and Gladys D. (Salberg) Whitmore, Bill graduated from the former Navarre High School with the Class of 1946.  A proud veteran of the US Army, he served honorably during the Korean Conflict.  A life member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Navarre, Bill retired after 37 years...

Kimberly D. Shelt, 54, formerly of Massillon, more recently of Wilmot, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, March 14, 2019.  Born October 24, 1964, in Ironton, Ohio, a daughter to the late Paul D. and Edna (Freeman) Pinkerman, Kim graduated from Massillon Washington High School with the Class of 1983.  She had been employed in sanitation and production positions with Nickles Bakery for the last 15 years.  A loving mom and grandma, Kim placed her family at the center of...

Cara Fotevska, 95, of Massillon, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, March 14, 2019.  Born in Podmocani, Macedonia, February 8, 1924, a daughter to the late James and Para Evans, Cara came to the United States in the early 1960’s and became an American citizen about ten years later.  She worked for several years at the J.C. Penney store at Mellet/Canton Centre Mall. A loving wife, sister and aunt, she became a second mother to her nieces and nephew.  A...

Raymond Verne Ruwadi, 95, of Massillon, passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon, March 13, 2019.  Born in Massillon, December 24, 1923, a son to the late Frederick R. and Cota M. (Moullin) Ruwadi, Ray graduated from Washington High School with the Class of 1942.  He is an honorably discharged Army veteran of World War II, having served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1943-‘46 with the 322nd Engineer Squadron, 91st Air Service Group.  A life-long member of St....

Roscoe J. “Bud” Pumphrey, 92, of Massillon, passed away peacefully but rather unexpectedly, on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2019.  Born in Weston, West Virginia, February 17, 1927, a son to the late Orvil T. and Anna Fay (Camel) Pumphrey, Bud had been an area resident for most of his adult life.  An honorably discharged veteran of the US Air Force, he retired from the maintenance department of Apple Creek Developmental Center and had been a faithful and very active member...

Margaret Jeanne Westrick, 93, of Massillon, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, March 8, 2019.  Born in Massillon, July 19, 1925, a daughter and the only child of the late Walter S. and Mary P. (Charlton) Diehl, Jeanne graduated from Washington High School with the Class of 1943.  She had been a member of Grace United Church of Christ in Massillon and was employed for several years in the Dietary Department of the former Doctors Hospital.  Jeanne was devoted wife and a...

Grace Irene Oakleaf, of Navarre, following a long and purposeful life, passed away peacefully early Friday morning, March 8, 2019, at the age of 97.  She was born in Dover, Ohio February 25, 1922, a daughter to the late Rudolph and Eva (Ruff) Handrich.  Following the untimely death of her father, Grace was raised from the age of six by her maternal aunt and uncle, the late Roy and Ada Shetler.  She graduated from the former Navarre High School with the Class of 1940 and...

Lula Mae “Lou” Crawford, 80, of Navarre, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, February 28, 2019.  Born in Kesslers Cross Lanes, West Virginia, December 22, 1938, a daughter to the late Oscar and Lucille (Foster) Crawford, Lou attended Nicholas County High School in West Virginia and then graduated from Washington High School in Massillon after her family moved from West Virginia to Ohio.  After graduation she was employed by Nickles Bakery, retiring after more...

Mary E. Buchman, of North Lawrence, died Thursday, February 14, 2019.  A daughter of the late Christian and Mary (Indorf) Buchman, she graduated from the former Beach City High School and retired from Ecko Manufacturing Company. In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by five brothers; a sister and a niece.  She is survived by two nieces and a nephew; two great-nieces and two great-nephews; one great-great-niece and four great-great-nephews. The family would like to...

Richard Earl Fankhauser, 97, passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family on Sunday, February 10, 2019.  Born in Canton, January 4, 1922, to the late Walter and Leora (Kerstetter) Fankhauser, Sr., Richard graduated from Canton McKinley High School with the Class of 1940.  An honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army Air Forces, Richard served as a 2nd Lieutenant during World War II.  He retired after 43 years as a machinist and engineer with...