Area Obituaries

Cooper Jay Dye, 31 of Wooster, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023 at The Cleveland Clinic after a lengthy battle with failing health. Cooper was born in Canton on Feb. 6, 1992 to Keith and Tammy (Efaw) Dye and graduated from Dalton High School and the Wayne County Career Center in 2011.  On Oct.…

Christy “Chris” C. Nichols, 81, of Massillon, passed away into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ, on March 3, 2023. He was born on December 4, 1941 in Wooster, Ohio to the late Cecil and Ada (Nussbaum) Nichols. He attended Dalton High School and proudly served in the United States Army in Vietnam. Chris…

Orrville — Freda J. Kilmer, age 66, of Orrville, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023, at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster, following a period of declining health. Freda was born on May 14, 1956, in Lodi, Ohio, to the late Donald and Shirley (West) Leathers and married Stephen Lee Kilmer on April 24, 1976, in Orrville.…

Richard P. Arter, 97, of Kidron, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at West View Healthy Living in Wooster. He was born in Crestline on January 29, 1926 to the late Charles and Harriet (Klinkle) Arter and married Barbara M. Kenestrick on August 10, 1947.  She died March 17, 2017. He retired in 1985…

Wooster — Linda J. Hardman, age 80, of Wooster, passed away Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Smithville Western Care Center in Wooster, following a period of declining health. Linda was born on May 24, 1942, in Clendenin, West Virginia, to the late Rexford and Thelma (Parker) Harrah and graduated from Clay County (WV) High School. …

Richard “Dick” E. Dorffer, age 87, of Dalton, formerly of Massillon, died unexpectedly on Friday, February 24, 2023 at Wooster hospital surrounded by his family. Dick was born on November 21, 1935 in Massillon, Ohio to the late Joseph E. and Ruth E. (Franz) Dorffer. He graduated from Massillon Washington High School in 1954. After…

Dalton — Donna J. Schneider, age 90, of Dalton, went home Sunday, February 26, 2023, at The Avenue at Wooster in Wooster, following a period of declining health. Donna was born on December 19, 1932, in Wooster, Ohio, to the late Merle and Oris (Parker) Johnson and married Paul O. on April 23, 1949, in…

Larry Lehman, 81, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on February 18, 2023, surrounded by family. He went to be with the Lord after a long, tiring battle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Larry was born near Kidron, Ohio on February 5, 1942, to the late Sylvester and Martha (Bixler) Lehman. He grew…

Wooster — Rhonda K. Burkey, age 62, of Wooster, died Saturday, February 25, 2023, at her residence, following a period of declining health. Rhonda was born on September 4, 1960, in Orrville, Ohio, to the late William and Linda (Lautzenhiser) Sipes and graduated from Orrville High School.  She married Ron Burkey on June 23, 1984,…

Belvia Hann, 89, passed away February 21, 2023 at her home with her granddaughters & beloved cat by her side. Belvia was born in Diana, West Virginia on January 16, 1934 to the late Roy & Bertha (Armentrout) Gilles. Belvia is survived by her loving granddaughters Crystal (Kevin) Haug of Medina, Angela (Pete) Kolomichuk of…