Stratton - Karsteter Funeral Home
P.O. Box 84
1114 South Ripley Estates Dr.
Versailles Indiana
812 - 689 -1171
Obituaries for Year 2023
James L. Meyer, 79, of Dewberry passed away at 9:40pm, Sunday, March 12, 2023 at the Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. He was born at the Whitlatch Clinic in Milan on March 24, 1943, the son of Herman and Mabel Fischer Meyer. He was married to Connie Ison on August 19, 1961, and his wife of 61 years survives. Other survivors include one son Brian (Wendy) Meyer of Dewberry; two daughters Monda (Mike) Holland of New Whiteland and Melissa (Paul) Tunny of Versailles; 8 grandchildren Katie (Taylor) Montague of Mooresville, Jessica (Jared) Atkinson of Bargersville, Samantha (Randall) Paul of Madison, Emma Wilhoit (Samuel) of Indianapolis, Jacob (Shelby) Mullins of Cross Palins, and Lindsay, Rachel, and Sarah Meyer of Dewberry; four great-grandchildren Jed and Will Mullins and Kindall and Ranzee Paul; two sisters Ruth Dalbec of Howard Lake Minnesota and Rita (Tom) Cassidy of Wesley Chapel, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Roger. Mr. Meyer was a 1961 graduate of Cross Plains High School. He was a 34 year employee of Cummins Engine Company in Columbus and after retiring in 1996 he worked for six years as a maintenance supervisor for the NMLRA in Friendship. Jim played on the Cross Plains Wildcat basketball team in high school and had the distinction of scoring 58 points in a game against Dupont, a record which still stands today. In 2005 he was inducted into the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2002 Jim left his NMLRA job so he could spend more time doing the things he loved, spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, and hunting. Jim was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dewberry and served as the church cemetery superintendent for 40 years. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 11am at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dewberry with Pastor Jared Tucher officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will also be on Saturday at the church beginning at 9am. Memorials may be given to the Friendship Fire Department in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles.
Irma Louise Caroline Hurelbrink Obendorf Rohls, 100, of Versailles, died March 8, 2023, at River Terrace Health Campus, Madison. She was born June 16, 1922, in Dewberry, the daughter of Henry and Louise (Bokenkamp) Hurelbrink. Irma attended grades 1 through 8 in the one-room schoolhouse at Correct. She was a member of the 1940 graduating class of Versailles High School and went on to graduate from Christ Hospital School of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH, in 1943. On May 6, 1944, she married Arnold “Shorty” Obendorf at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Irma and Arnold had three children: Ellen, Kenneth, and Phyllis. Arnold preceded her in death in 1973. On February 26, 1994, Irma married Leonard Rohls at St. Paul Lutheran Church and he preceded her in death in 2017.
As a registered nurse, Irma’s career spanned more than 50 years where she held various jobs in the nursing field: industrial, hospital, private duty, and school nursing. Her career included working at Margaret Mary Hospital, Jefferson Proving Ground, Reliance Electric, and finally South Ripley School Corporation. She maintained her active nursing license until she was well into her 90s.
Irma was a faithful member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Olean, for over 95 years and was the oldest member of the congregation. She was the first woman in the congregation to be elected to Church Council. Irma served as church organist, president of the women’s organization, Sunday School Superintendent, and sang soprano in the choir until the age of 80. In 2002, she started the Prayer Shawl ministry at Olean as a way to reach those who were in need of comfort. In addition to prayer shawls, she crocheted hundreds of blankets, hats, and IV covers for Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati.
Irma was an accomplished seamstress and baker. She was able to share her talents with others through making bridal party dresses, designing and making quilts, baking and decorating intricate wedding cakes for local couples, including her children.
As a resident of River Terrace Health Campus for the past year, Irma continued her active lifestyle. She participated in baking, crafting, outings with the “lunch bunch,” and rarely missed a bingo game. Irma always wanted to visit all 50 states during her lifetime. The staff at River Terrace assisted her in that dream by taking her on a trip to visit her 49th state at the age of 99.
Irma was known for her kind, giving heart and was always ready for her next adventure. She will be missed by so many in the community, but especially her family.
Irma is survived by her daughters Ellen (Dr. Bob) Mulford and Phyllis Armbrecht; daughter-in-law Susie Obendorf; grandchildren Shannon, Brian, Beth, Becky, Jennifer, Erin, and Michael; 15 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister Ruth Althoff; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husbands Arnold “Shorty” Obendorf and Leonard Rohls; brothers Robert and Ralph Hurelbrink; son Kenneth Obendorf; son-in-law Edward Armbrecht; and granddaughter Megan Mulford.
Isabel Richmond, 96, of Versailles passed away at 6:05pm, Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Morning Breeze in Greensburg. She was born near Cross Plains on July 5, 1926, the daughter of Dr. Lora and Edith Gullion Hooton. She was married to Verne Richmond on April 1, 1949 and he preceded her in death on August 20, 1998. Survivors include four sons Mark Richmond of Versailles, Gary (Debbie) Richmond of Greensburg, Rick Richmond of Vero Beach, Florida, and Mike (Cheryl) Richmond of Versailles; 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Quentin, Troy, Damon, Roland, Abell, and Bud Hooton, and her sister Lela Ricketts. Mrs. Richmond was a 1945 graduate of Cross Plains High School. Her working career spanned many years, being a former employee of Reynolds Gas Company in Osgood, Magnavox in Franklin, and Pearl Packing in Madison. She was an avid collector of Fenton ware and devoted much time and energy to taking care of stray animals that came her way. Isabel was a member of the Tanglewood Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 11 at 11am at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Roger Dean officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 5pm to 7pm. Isabel’s wishes were to be cremated an burial will follow at a later date at the Tanglewood Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Ripley County Humane Society or the Tanglewood Cemetery in care of the funeral home.
Louise Sipples, 84, of Versailles passed away at 8:30am, Friday, February 3, 2023 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. She was born at Curt in Breathitt County, Kentucky on January 2, 1939, the daughter of Lonzo and Flossie Chatt Bowling. She was married to Wayne Sipples on August 7, 1958 and he survives. Other survivors include two sons David Sipples of Madison, and Paul (Kris) Sipples of Batesville; one daughter Jill (Neal) Adams of Fountain City; 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; two brothers Ernie (Lisa) Bowling of Lawrenceburg and Lonzo (Cindy) Bowling of Osgood; two sisters Lizzie (Sam) Turner of Union, Kentucky and Lois Oaks of Newport, Kentucky, and her sister-in-law Barbara Bowling of Batesville. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Elmer and Earl Bowling, her sisters Glenna Bowling, Jill Turner, Christina Bowling, and Gail Siebert, and her great-grandchildren Knox Hewitt and Lacey Sipples. Louise was a very familiar face in the community, especially to the school children, as she worked at the Versailles and South Ripley Schools for over 39 years as a cook, retiring in 2013. She enjoyed quilting and had amassed a large collection of cookbooks. Louise was a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 8 at 12pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Luke Koors of the Hopewell Baptist Church and Louise's brother Ernie Bowling officiating. Burial will be in the New Marion Cemetery. Visitation will also be on Wednesday beginning at 10am. Memorials may be given to the Hopewell Baptist Church or the Christ Hospital Foundation in care of the funeral home.
Former Ripley County resident Bertie Lou Myers, 98, of Greenwood passed away at 4pm, Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at Envive Health Care in Beech Grove. She was born at Panbowl in Breathitt County, Kentucky on December 13, 1924, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Barnett Cole. She was married to David Myers on August 31, 1946 and he preceded her in death on January 14, 2008. Survivors include one son Carlos (Patricia) Myers of Greenwood; one daughter Lynn Fox of Milton, Kentucky; 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Price, Seldon, Everett, Edward, Clarence, Raymond, and Dorsey Cole, and her sisters Dorothy Poynter and Mary Salyers. Mrs. Myers was a 1946 graduate of New Marion High School. She worked for 35 years as an inspector for the United States Playing Card Company in Norwood, Ohio, retiring in 1985. She enjoyed reading her Bible and keeping a journal. Bertie was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Greenwood attended there faithfully as long as her health permitted. Her faith and her walk with the Lord were very important aspects of her life. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 7 at 11am at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Pastor Doug Rumsay of the Trinity Baptist Church in Greenwod officiating. Burial will be in the New Marion Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 5pm to 7pm. Memorials may be given to the New Marion Cemetery in care of the funeral home.
Mark D. Belanger, 62, of Versailles passed away Monday, January 30, 2023 at his home. He was born at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on August 29, 1960, the son of Durham and Peggy Jean Bakeman Belanger. He was married to Michelle Tolbert on December 7, 1999 and she survives. Other survivors include two sons Bryan (April) Belanger and Joey Belanger both of Versailles; two daughters Deanna (Noah) Glaza of Las Vegas and Sarah (Cass) Belanger of Los Angeles; 8 grandchildren Brock, Loree, Nevaeh, Mariyah, Alyssah, Maddie, Kason, and Cora; three sisters Kerin of Texas, Diane of Nebraska, and Peggy Todd of Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his parents, his granddaughter Kennedy, his sister Renee, and his brother James. Mr. Belanger was a veteran of the United States Air Force and was a fork-lift operator for Zumbiel Packaging in Hebron, Kentucky. Mark was a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals. Mark's wishes were to be cremated and a visitation will be held on Thursday, February 2 beginning at 5pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with a celebration of Mark's life at 6pm with Randy Thieman officiating. Memorials may be given to the Ripley County Humane Society in care of the funeral home.
Louise Shaw, 79, of Benham passed away at 4:30pm, Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at her home. She was born in Vevay on August 31, 1943, the daughter of Roscoe and Gladys Bray Jackson. She was married to Danny Shaw on October 30, 1961 and her husband of 61 years survives. Other survivors include three daughters Bonnie Shaw of Cincinnati, Brenda Shaw of Benham, and Dana (BB) Porfirio of Madison; one sister Nancy (Billy) Lock of Vevay. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Harold and Curtis Jackson, and her sister Rosemary Gaylord. Mrs. Shaw was a 1961 graduate of Vevay High School. Her working career spanned many years, working as a seamstress at US Shoe in Osgood for 35 years. After the shoe factory closed, Mrs. Shaw retired from J & J Packing in Sunman. Louise enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers and just being outside. She also found time to read and was an outstanding cook. Her favorite past time was enjoying her grandchildren Crystal, Greg, DJ, Jasmine, Fred, Nick, Elizabeth, Lexi, Josie, and Levi, along with her great-grandchildren Wyle, JJ, Barley, Jordan, and Reece. Louise was a faithful member of the Concord Wesleyan Church. Graveside services will be held at 11am, Friday, January 20 at the Benham Cemetery with Pastor Jerry Vandervort officiating. Memorials may be given to the Benham Cemetery in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles.
Ms. Betty L. Smock Castner of Versailles Indiana, entered this life on November 23, 1930 in Ripley county in Osgood Indiana and passed on the evening of January 12th 2023 in Versailles, In.
She was raised in the Catholic faith and loved attending mass as much as she could.
She was the daughter of the late Temple and Helen Abplanalp Smock. Betty graduated in 1949 from Osgood high school.
Her working career spanned many years where she worked as a secretary of both the South Ripley High School and the Ripley County Health Department. Betty received her Realtors license in 1981 and was an agent and secretary for Meisberger Realty in Versailles for over 40 years. She had many interests in life one of them being work. At age 92 Betty had worked in the real estate office the very day she passed away. She also enjoyed mowing, feeding the birds, talking on the phone with friends and family and was a fabulous cook.
Betty was a devoted loving mother, grandma and great grandma to her five children , four sons-Craig (Ginger) Castner, Greg (Annette) Castner and Tim Castner all of Modesto, California, and Todd (Donna) Castner of Indianapolis; one daughter Mary Beth (Sandy Pickett) Castner of Versailles; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, Siblings Donna Siebert of Batesville , sister-in-law Carol Smock of Canaan. All of which enjoyed receiving her greeting cards with a balloon inside . She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Bill, Jim, and Ray Smock, brother-in-law Lloyd Siebert, former spouse and father of her children Jarvis Castner and her long time partner Marvin Meisberger.
Betty was a member of the St. John Catholic church in Osgood . Bettys wishes were to be cremated and a memorial mass honoring her life will be held on Saturday, January 28 at 11 AM at the St. John’s Catholic church Osgood, Indiana with a meal being served immediately after in the Church basement. At a later time her wish was to have her ashes taken to California and scattered out into the ocean at Half moon bay. Betty will be missed by many.
Memorials may be given to the Multiple Sclerosis foundation or the Osgood Cemetery in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral home in Versailles, In .
Joyce Ann Wahl, 52, of Versailles passed away at 12:30p.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at the Columbus Regional Hospital. She was born in Hamilton, Ohio on March 17, 1970, the daughter of Ray and Jeanette Arvin Cox. She was married to George Wahl III on September 30, 1988 and he survives. Other survivors include one son Lance Cox of Versailles; two daughters Sarah Wahl and Rebecca Wahl both of Versailles; two brothers Richard Cox of Hamilton, Ohio and James Cox of Broadhead, Kentucky. She was preceded in death by her parents. Mrs. Wahl was a 1988 graduate of Hamilton (Ohio) High School. She was a full time Mom and Grandma and her family was first priority in her life. Joyce also enjoyed crocheting, along with keeping an eye on the political landscape in America. After raising her children, her eight grandchildren, Aiden, Braydon, Christopher, Damian, Eli, Ellie, Zoey, and Rylee became the focus of her life. Joyce was a member of the Hilltop Baptist Church in Versailles. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 13 at 11am at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rev. Carter Corbrey officiating. Burial will be in the Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles. Visitation will also be on Friday beginning at 9am. Memorials may be given to the donor's choice in care of the funeral home.