Guy Archer Varner

Guy Archer Varner died on Wednesday, March 31, at Friends Care Community, after a number of years of poor health. He was 84.

He was born May 3, 1919, in Fairfield Township, near Layman in Washington County, the son of Don and Addie (Conrad) Varner. Guy attended local schools where his oldest sister, Bernice, was his eighth-grade teacher. He graduated from Barlow Rural High School in Vincent in 1937. He was president of his class.

He worked as a farmer, a lumberman and a tool dresser for the next few years. On Nov. 1, 1940, Guy and Ruth (Gribble) Varner were married. They spent the next year on the Breckenridge farm near Watertown. Mrs. Breckenridge died in October and the farm was sold. The U.S. entered World War II on Dec. 7, 1941, and no farmer wanted to rent to a man classified as 1A in the draft. Because of this, Guy came with his family to Fairfield (now Fairborn) on Feb. 12, 1942, to work as a plumber at Patterson Field. They lived in a house trailer for a year or so, then moved into Hebble Homes, a federal housing project in Fairfield. By 1947, they were able to find a home in the country.

In 1951, Guy resigned from Patterson Field and purchased a plumbing and heating business from Raper Hughes in Yellow Springs. He operated this business until 1969, when he became a plumbing inspector in Clark County. A few years later he became chief plumbing inspector in Greene County, retiring in 1985.

He participated in a number of community activities. He was a member of and assistant chief of the Miami Township fire department; member and president of the Yellow Springs Lions Club, and member and noble grand of the Yellow Springs International Order of Odd Fellows; and a member of Michael Finnel Lodge No. 711. He had been a 4-H member and served as an advisor for 10 years in both Washington and Greene Counties. In 1960, he and Ruth, Bill and Emma Brannum, Lloyd and Miriam Scott and Arthur and Dorothy Evans organized the first two 4-H saddle clubs in Greene County, the Yellow Springs Vaqueros and the Cedarville Clip Clops.

After retiring Guy became an active member of the Clifton Old Timers Club. He and his wife were named “Couple of the Year” in 1988. He enjoyed old tractors and gas engines. He purchased his first draft horse in 1986. He enjoyed driving his horses in parades, for picnics and for Mike DeWine’s ice cream socials. He especially enjoyed driving his horses and wagon at Yellow Springs High School’s School Forest Festivals. He played Santa Claus for different groups, and was always ready to help anyone with a job or a problem.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, Bernice and Orson Knisley, Freda and Frank Jones; brother and sister-in-law, Benson and MaryLou Varner; brothers-in-law Ray Stackhouse, Forest Stephens, James Yost; and sisters-in-law, Marie Gribble and Lulu Gribble.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth; four children, Howard and Molly Varner of Cutler, June Varner of Yellow Springs, Janet and Gene Ward of Urbana and Carol and James Brack of Martinsville, Ind.; three grandchildren, Adam of Yellow Springs and Elizabeth and Gwendolyn Brack of Martinsville, Ind.; two sisters, Kathryn Stephens of Enon and Donna Stackhouse of Fairborn; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Mary Yost of Barlow, Robert Gribble, James and Jean Gribble of Cutler and Bruce and Jean Gribble of South Canton; a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held Monday, April 5, in the Yellow Springs United Methodist Church. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, April 6, in Union Cemetery in Fairfield Township, Washington County. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to the United Methodist Church, 202 South Winter Street, Yellow Springs, or the Tecumseh Land Trust, P.O. Box 417, Yellow Springs.

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Nathan Jefferson Jr.

Elder Nathan Jefferson Jr. of Springfield died on Saturday, April 3, at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. He was 78.

He was born Aug. 18, 1925, in Cincinnati, the son of of Nathan and Lillie Mae Jefferson.

He was a member of New Fair Street Christian Church, where he served as an elder of the church, superintendent of teachers, trustee, Sunday school teacher and was involved in the Adopt-A-Block Ministry. He loved the Lord and was passionate about sharing his faith.

He served in the U.S. Navy and retired from Vernay Laboratories.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Estelle Jefferson; two daughters and a son-in-law, Patricia Daniels of Dayton and Carolyn and Roy Ellis of Augusta, Ga.; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Nathan III and Michele Jefferson of Louisville, Robert and Sue Jefferson and Bruce Jefferson, all of Dayton, and Timothy and Gloria Jefferson of Atlanta; one sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Robert McCormick of Xenia; one brother and sister-in-law, Thurlow and Rundette of Yellow Springs; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 10, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., at New Fair Street Christian Church, 705 Linden Avenue in Springfield. The family will be present at 9:30 a.m. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 10:30 a.m., with burial to follow in Glen Forest Cemetery in Yellow Springs.

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Joseph Clark Sr.
Joseph E. Clark Sr. of Springfield died on Sunday, March 28, at Mercy St. John Care Center. He was 64.

Born on March 15, 1940, in Springfield, he was the son of Calvin and Julia (Beach) Clark. He was a member of Trydestone Missionary Baptist Church and served on the deacon board.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Darla Clark; son, Joseph E. Clark Jr.; sisters, Florence Quarrels and Audrey Clark; and brother, James Clark.

He is survived by his children, Danita Fudge, Natala Glanton, Deborah A. Lytle, Douglas E. Clark, all of Springfield, and John Williams of Columbus; four sisters, Linda Evans of Indiana, Mary Ann Wade of Springfield, Grace Benton of Columbus and Judy Brown; five brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard and Rachel Clark of Detroit, William and Patty Clark, Gary and Mary Alice Gilbert, all of Springfield, John and Sonja Clark of Yellow Springs and Robert and Karen Clark of Indiana; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 3, at Highlight Baptist Church in Springfield. Upon Mr. Clark’s wishes, his remains will be cremated.

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James Franklin Stewart
James “Frank” Franklin Stewart of Cedarville died on Thursday, April 1, at the VA Medical Center in Dayton. He was 57.

He was born on April 6, 1946, in Cedarville, the son of John L. and Mozel (Minor) Stewart.

Mr. Stewart graduated from Cedarville High School in 1965. He served in the Army in Vietnam. He was a member of the Cedarville American Legion and United Presbyterian Church and was employed at Morris Bean & Company. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Donny, Gene and Danny Stewart; and sister, Peachy Fife.

He is survived by his wife, Carol (Webber) Stewart, whom he married on July 29, 1972; children, Ben Stewart of Cedarville, Brian Stewart of Clifton and Becky Stewart of Cedarville; sisters and brothers-in-law, Regina and Beryle Yeater of Illinois, Janet Hackley of Xenia, Carolyn Glass, Marilyn and Dick Arment and Jane and Dale Stevenson, all of Cedarville; and two brothers John Steward of Illinois and Dale Stewart of Dayton.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 6, at Cedarville United Presbyterian Church, with burial following in Massie Creek Cemetery in Cedarville.