Obituaries

  • /

Roger Dean Young, 1936-2026

UPDATE A memorial service will be held from 1:00-4:00 PM on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at the English Chapel at Ohio Northern University.  Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Ada. 

Roger Dean Young, age 89, of Ada, passed away peacefully at Vancrest of Ada, surrounded by his family, on March 19, 2026. 

He was born on October 13, 1936, in Middletown, Ohio, to Ellison and Beatrice Young. 

  • /

Juanita “Butch” (Hieb) Gordon, age 93, departed this earth on April 5, 2025, with daughters Betsy, Jenny and Peggy by her side. The daughter of William Edward “Fritz” and Ida (Dean) Hieb, she was born and raised with her younger brother William Carl “Bill” in Hamilton, Ohio.

  • /

M. Corrine Brown, age 91, of LaFayette, passed away on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Lima Memorial Health System.

Corrine was born on May 29, 1934, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Oak and Susan (Barr) Bassitt. On June 6, 1953, she married Donald G. Brown, and he preceded her in death on June 5, 2002.

Corrine is survived by five children: Cathy (Jeff) Augsburger of Lima, Donald E. (Karen) Brown of Bluffton, Karen (JR) Newman of McGuffey, Kenneth Brown of Alger and Cynthia (Bill) Calvert of Kenton; fifteen grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; a brother, Sam (Barbara) Bassitt of Lima; special niece, Pam Harless; and friend Cathy Schaaf.

  • /

Charrilyn J. “Sherry” Benjamin, 1947-2026

Charrilyn J. “Sherry” Benjamin, age 78, of Alger, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Vancrest of Ada, surrounded by her family.

She was born on May 31, 1947, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Grover and Doris “Jan” (Koons) Guyton, Jr. On September 11, 1971, Sherry married James J. Benjamin, and he survives in Alger.

Sherry retired from Ohio Northern University, Ada, where she worked in the Financial Aid Office. She was a member of the Alger First Methodist Church. Sherry was an EMT for the USV EMS.

  • /

UPDATED APRIL 9 / Vincent D. Whitehead, 1959-2026

Vincent D. Whitehead, 66, passed away at 1:55 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, at his residence after a courageous two and a half year battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Vincent was born on June 29, 1959, in Lima, Ohio, to Frederick and Janet (Henderson) Whitehead. On July 28, 1979, he married Cheryl (Bowerman) Whitehead, who survives in Harrod.

  • /

Laurene “Lolly” Hopson Cooney, 77, of Ada, entered the Lord’s embrace on Friday, March 27, 2026, at her home with her family by her side.

She was born on February 2, 1949, in Lima, Peru to the late Leonard T. and Heloise (Reid) Hopson. On March 27, 1971, Lolly married Dennis E. Cooney, who survives in Ada.

Also surviving are her two daughters: Rachel Cooney Temple of Ada, and Melanie T. (Matt) Dyer of Alger; five grandchildren: Melina, Collin, Carisa, Brenna and Quinn; and a sister, Marilyn R. (John) VanDyke of Mountainside, NJ; mother-in-law, Marcine Cooney.

Pages