funeral director, Ballard & Sons Funeral Homes, Middletown, Indiana, died February 6, 2023, at age 65. Ballard received a bachelor’s degree in business from Hanover College and his mortuary science degree from Indiana College of Mortuary Science. He attended Christian Theological Seminary and received his master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Olivet Nazarene University. He was an ordained elder and had retired as the lead pastor at Yorktown Church of the Nazarene in Yorktown, Indiana, after 12 years.

Ballard was past master and secretary of Middletown Masonic Lodge; past president, secretary and former Fair Board co-chair of Middletown Lions Club; an 11-year member of Middletown EMS, where he served as training officer; and he had formally been on staff with Middletown Church of the Nazarene. He was co-chairman, with wife Gina, of Middletown Fall Funfest and was part of the Wall That Heals Committee.

Ballard was awarded EMT of the Year, Lion of the Year, was the first Business Associate of the Year by the ABWA and named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Otis Bowen, M.D.

Ballard is survived by wife Gina, son Ryan, daughter Kayla, five grandchildren and brother Jon.

funeral director, Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home, Reese, Michigan, died January 28, 2023, at age 73. Struthers attended Northwood University and while there found a part-time job with Ware Smith Funeral Home and Ambulance Service. He earned his mortuary science degree from Wayne State University and began a lifelong career in funeral service. In 1974, Struthers became managing director at Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home in Reese.

He held various offices with the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church and Reese Fire Rescue.

Struthers is survived by children Christina and Michael, three granddaughters, sister Sandee and fiancée Rhonda Farver.

retired funeral director, The Wood Mortuary, Greer, South Carolina, died February 3, 2023, at age 75. Rampey attended the University of South Carolina and Lees-McRae College and was a retired employee of The Wood Mortuary after 41 years of service. He was a past president of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association, a Mason and a member of Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church.

Rampey is survived by wife Alice; sons Clyde T. “Tee” III, also of The Wood Mortuary, and Jason; daughter Amy; brother John; nine grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

retired funeral director and owner, Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens, Ohio, died January 28, 2023, at age 89. Jagers graduated from Ohio University and Cincinnati College of Embalming and was a funeral director in business with his father, brother and son at Jagers & Sons for more than 66 years; he considered his job a community service.

He was a member of Paramuthia Lodge 25 F&AM, Athens York Rite Bodies, Athens Chapter OES 175, the Aladdin Temple Shrine, the Athens County Shrine Club (past president), Amesville Grange 798 and Athens Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and a former member of Athens Lions Club.

Professionally, Jagers was a member of NFDA, the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the Ohio Embalmers Association.

He is survived by wife Peggy Lou; children Tim, Teresa and Christopher; six grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

retired funeral director and owner, Lunsford Funeral Home, Cuthbert, Georgia, died October 30, 2022, at age 83. Ragan, a U.S. Army veteran, graduated from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science and worked for funeral homes in Macon, Fitzgerald and Griffin before returning to his native Cuthbert. He joined his partner, Elton White, in purchasing Lunsford Funeral Home, where he continued to serve his community until his health required him to reduce his duties about a year ago.

Ragan is survived by sister Mary Iva, two nieces and a nephew.

funeral director and owner, Cabot Funeral Home, Woodstock, Vermont, died February 2, 2023, at age 85. Camp spent most of her professional career as a funeral director and was a past president of the Vermont Funeral Directors Association. She is survived by husband Dwight; sons Jeff, Greg and Brad; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brothers Gordon and Wayne.

retired funeral director and owner, Foley Funeral Home, Rolla, and brother of funeral director Dale Niewoehner, Niewoehner Funeral Home, Rugby, North Dakota, died January 13, 2023, at age 89.

He graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science-Chicago in 1957 and attained funeral licenses in Illinois and later North Dakota. At his death, he held the oldest active license in North Dakota, #815.

In fall 1960, Niewoehner and his wife purchased Foley Funeral Home in Rolla and operated it, along with an ambulance service, until they retired in 2002, serving their community for 43 years. He was involved in the Rolla Fire Department and was a charter member and officer of Rolla Kiwanis Club.

He is survived by children H. Mark VII and Heather, three grandchildren, a great-grandson and brother Dale.

retired funeral director and former owner/operator, Price Brothers Funeral Home, Elizaville, Kentucky, died October 2, 2022, at age 86. Price was a graduate of Kentucky School of Embalming and owned Price Brothers Funeral Home for more than 62 years. He grew up working in the funeral home, starting at age 12. The funeral home also provided ambulance service to county residents.

Price also owned and operated Price Farms, which raised Angus cattle, tobacco, hay, corn and soybeans, and was involved in showing Tennessee Walking Horses. He was a member and past master of Favorite Lodge and member of Oleika Shrine Temple in Lexington for more than 50 years. A former member of the Fleming County School Board, Price also served as secretary-treasurer for Elizaville Cemetery Company for more than 40 years, as well as serving as Fleming County deputy coroner.

He is survived by wife Ann; daughters Melissa and Suzanne; one granddaughter; children from his previous marriage Margaret, Jana, Angie and Jill; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and friend Mike Gray, whom Price thought of as a son and mentored in the funeral service profession.

retired funeral director and past NFDA Policy Board representative from Tennessee, died January 4, 2023, at age 83. Gibson graduated from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science and served on many state and national associations, including the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and NFDA. He was past president and co-founder of Independent Funeral Group and past president of Smith Funeral & Cremation Service. Gibson had a long and distinguished career as a visionary funeral professional, embalmer and certified funeral service practitioner.

He is survived by wife Sue, daughter Lisa, sons Lynn and Jason, daughter Michele, 15 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister Betty and long-time business partner and friend Lee Chambers.

funeral director, Camero Funeral Home, Von Ormy, Texas, died January 6, 2023, at age 64. Garcia graduated from the San Antonio College Mortuary Science Program and worked in the funeral service industry in San Antonio for more than 40 years as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She began her career as general manager of Trevino Funeral Homes and later worked at Castillo Mission Funeral Home; in 2004, she and her husband began working with Jerome Camero to establish Camero Funeral Home.

Garcia provided mentorship to many students and graduates of the Mortuary Science Program at San Antonio College, where she served on the school’s Advisory Board.

She is survived by husband Michael; sons William Torres, Nicolas Torres and Andrew Garcia; five grandchildren; two sisters; and two brothers.