All Obituaries

Bryan Christopher “Chris” Wright, 54, of Winder, GA, a Portsmouth native, passed away Monday, May 15, 2023, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Chris was born in Portsmouth February 22, 1969, to Beecher Emory Wright and Anise Susan Boggs, both of whom survive. Chris was a 1987 Portsmouth High School graduate and he attended Shawnee State University where he was a member of the golf team. He was a Navy veteran of the Gulf War and Desert Storm. For his service he...

Rosemary Skaggs, 82, of Portsmouth, went peacefully to her heavenly home on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at the SOMC Hospice Center with her loving husband of 66 years by her side. She was born in Portsmouth on October 12, 1940, to the late Rance and Rev. Ella Mae Smith Williams. Rosemary married William H. “Bill” Skaggs in Portsmouth on October 12, 1956, and they were blessed with two sons who survive: William R. “Randy” (Lora) Skaggs of Portsmouth and Michael A....

Joan Elizabeth Taylor, 85, of Portsmouth, a longtime Los Angeles, CA resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 5, 2023, at the Ohio State University Hospital-Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. She was surrounded by loved ones. She was born March 14, 1938, in Portsmouth, to the late Cassius Pedro and Pauline Celestine Melvin Taylor. Joan was an excellent cook who enjoyed preparing delicious meals for her family. She had a terrific sense of humor, an infectiously loving disposition, a...

Martha Jane Butler Wheeler, of Warren, passed away during the COVID pandemic on December 8, 2021, in Poland, Ohio. She was born November 17, 1922, in Portsmouth, a daughter of the late J. Edward and Alma Jeffords Butler. Martha was a 1941 graduate of Saint Mary's High School in Portsmouth. She had served as a WAVE in the US Navy during World War II and was awarded the American Area Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal for her service. Martha had been an active member of St....

  Samuel Peter Opper, 66, of Wheelersburg, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the SOMC Hospice Center. He was born August 16, 1956, in Elmira, NY, a son of the late Michael and Theresa Ann Doran Opper. Sam retired from HarbisonWalker International where he worked as a ceramic process engineer. He was a longtime member of St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church and was active in the Knights of Columbus and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Sam loved to tinker and be outside snow...

Carolyn Ann Lynch    Carolyn Ann Lynch, 90, of Portsmouth, passed away Monday, April 3, 2023, at Hill View Health Care. She was born November 15, 1932, in Portsmouth, a daughter of the late John Dent and Lillian E. Wilson Rowson.    Carolyn married Thomas Francis Lynch, also of Portsmouth, on November 11, 1958. This special couple attended Holy Redeemer Church and were blessed to be married for 62 years at the time of Tom’s death on January 7,...

  George Blanchard, 90, passed away on March 31, 2023 of heart failure. He was born on May 15, 1932 in North Syracuse, New York,  the son of Donald Moyer Blanchard and Bertha Ladd Blanchard.    George was married to Mary “Kessie” Blanchard for 63 years when Mary passed away from dementia in Middletown, CT on December 8, 2021.   George retired from the New York Telephone Company in 1986 where he was a manager in the coin collection department and...

   Betty Loucille McNamara, 82, of Tipp City, passed away Friday, March 24, 2023, at SpringMeade Health Center. She was born December 8, 1940, in Portsmouth, a daughter of the late General Taylor and Mary Ora Bloomfield Cooper.   Betty attended Portsmouth Baptist Church when living in the area and she went to Portsmouth West Schools. She started both the Community Services for the Deaf at SOMC, where she worked from 1984-2005, and the Deaf Studies program at Shawnee...

  Kay Skaggs Keeton    Ada Kay Keeton, 73, of Tallahassee, FL, a former Portsmouth resident, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2023, at her home. She was born April 2, 1949, in Puyallup, WA, a daughter of the late Willie Clarence and Sylvia (Skaggs) Skaggs.    Kay was a retired nurse practitioner, having received a BSN from Shawnee State University and an MSN-FNP from Southern Indiana University.    Her husband, Ralph Keeton, preceded her in death in 1993....

    Anne Tyler Cowherd Handy, 95, of Wheelersburg, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2023 surrounded by her family. Anne was born May 31, 1927 at Monteith Farms in Gordonsville, VA, a daughter of the late Roderick Grymes and E. Adelaide Walton Cowherd.    Anne lived a wonderful life, had five devoted children and was married to the love of her life for 63 years. She met her husband, Wesley Keith Handy, while they were both working in Saudi Arabia and they were married two...