retired funeral director and founder, The House of Day Funeral Service, Toledo, Ohio, died March 28, 2020, at age 93. Day, along with her husband, the late James Day, founded the firm in 1964, and in 1990, she built a new facility. Day had been a licensed funeral director since 1969 and a past member of NFDA and the Ohio and Northwest Ohio funeral directors associations.

Day taught for more than 25 years in the Toledo Public School system and was a leader in her community, active in various community and civic affairs. She was an active speaker, leader for women’s rights and ­author of Down, But Not Out, a book of inspirational poems.

Day is survived by children Cassandra and Michael, licensed funeral directors and embalmers; and grandson Michael II and her daughter-in-law, also licensed funeral directors.

funeral director and owner, Christy Funeral Home, Millville, New Jersey, died at age 83. Christy earned his mortuary science degree from Eckels Mortuary School of Philadelphia and had served the Millville community for more than 60 years as a funeral director. The family-owned and -operated business has been in the Christy family since 1898 when Christy’s grandfather, Matthias H. Christy, founded it.

Christy received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant. He was a member of the New Jersey and West Jersey funeral directors associations, the University of Pennsylvania Faculty Club, Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Greater Millville Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Nabb-Leslie, Post No. 82 of Millville and B.P.O. Elks Lodge 580.

He is survived by wife Jane, daughter Rebecca and two granddaughters.

retired funeral director, Billow Funeral Homes, Fairlawn, Ohio, and past Selected Independent Funeral Homes Board member, and wife Retta H. Billow, parents of Charles M. Billow, president and CEO of Billow Funeral Homes and Selected past president, have died, Charles W. on March 27 and Retta on April 1. They are also survived by daughters Ann, corporate secretary and funeral director of the firm, and Laura; nine grandchildren, including Nathanael, funeral director and executive vice president and treasurer of the firm, and Anastasia, funeral director at the firm; and four great-grandchildren.

retired funeral ­director and former co-owner, Betts & West Funeral Home, Nicholasville, Kentucky, and mother of David West, NFDA Policy Board member, died February 8, 2020, at age 92.

Prior to becoming a funeral director, West was active in the Eastern Star, served as a Cub Scouts and Brownies den mother, was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a founding member of Jessamine County Hospice. She helped establish the Amigas Ministry, was a cadet nurse in World War II and later a registered nurse.

She is survived by children Holton Jr., John, David and Janet; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and owner, Waite & Son Funeral Homes, ­Medina, Ohio, died February 18, 2020, at age 93. Waite served in World War II in the European theater. He attended Cleveland School of Mortuary Science and then joined both his father and grandfather in the family business. Waite served the Medina area as a funeral director for more than 50 years, taking over the family business from his father. He also served as president of the Tri County Funeral Directors Association.

Waite was a scoutmaster for 30 years and received the Silver Beaver Award. He served on the Medina School Board and was one of the very first in the community to receive the Jaycees Young Man of the Year Award. His crowning honor in the community was the naming of Ralph E. Waite Elementary School in 2009.

Waite was president and a 52-year ­member of Medina Rotary Club, president of Medina City School Board of Education, inducted into the Medina City School Hall of Fame and headed city government for more than 12 years. He is a life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Medina AMVets, proudly served as Honor Guard at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery and was appointed to the Medina County Veterans Service Commission.

He is survived by twin sons Harold and Darrell, six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Gordon Funeral Homes, Canton, Ohio, died August 16, 2019, at age 75. Tucker was a graduate of Youngstown University and Boston University School of Theology, where he earned a master’s degree in theology and a doctorate in divinity from Boston University. He was additionally trained in pastoral counseling. After a long and varied career in the ministry, Tucker became a licensed funeral director in 1997 and served as director of pastoral care at Reed Funeral Home until 2007.

He was a member of William McKinley Lodge 431 F.&A.M. (he served as Master in 1999-00), Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Canton and all York Rite Bodies. Tucker also belonged to Plain Township Rotary Club, where he served as president and was a Paul Harris Fellow; served on the Strategic Planning Commission for Plain local schools; was chairperson of the Subcommittee on Planning for the new high school; and chairman of Buckeye Council Boy Scouts of America.

He is survived by wife Diane, daughter Gretchen, sons Scott and Mark, five grandchildren and an aunt.

funeral director and owner/operator (1971-2004), Vanderford Funeral Home, South Fulton, Tennessee, and most recently as funeral director and crematory operator, Pettus-Rowland Funeral Home, Paducah, Kentucky, died June 19, 2019, at age 74.

Vanderford was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He graduated from Lane College, Murray State University and Draughon’s Business College, where he received a degree in business administration. He then attended and graduated from Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, becoming a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Vanderford was an active member of the Kentucky Association of Morticians, the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky, West Kentucky Funeral Directors and the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association.

He is survived by wife Beverly.

retired funeral director and former president, Tobias Funeral Homes, Dayton, Ohio, died March 6, 2020, at age 83. Tobias was a past president of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. He is survived by daughter Kristi; brother Dan, also an OFDA past president; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

funeral director, Murray-Fettro Funeral Home, Greenfield, Ohio, died February 19, 2020, at age 39. Randolph became an EMT and member of the Emergency Response Team, working at Adena Regional Medical Center while putting himself through Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science to obtain his bachelor’s degree. He was then employed at McColaugh Funeral Home (Xenia) as a funeral director/embalmer for 11 years before recently joining Murray-Fettro Funeral Home.

He is survived by wife Janelle; children Gavin, Clayton, Brantley and Remington; sisters Carrie and Tiffany; brother Travis; father and stepmother Kenneth and Beverly; and his grandmother.

retired funeral director and former owner, Busch Funeral Homes and Crematory Service, Cleveland, Ohio, died February 23, 2020, at age 87. Busch is father of funeral directors J. Mark and James Busch, also of Busch Funeral Homes and Crematory Service.

A graduate of Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where he served as president of the Fellows Association, Busch followed his grandfather and father to become the third generation to lead Busch Funeral Homes and was very proud when his sons joined him as the fourth generation of the legacy. He was also the second generation to serve as secretary-treasurer of Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

Busch’s interests included sailing, powerboating, navigating, saltwater fishing, technology and the importance of serving God and others. He served as an elder in his church and as deacon and Stephen minister. He was noted for his commitments to Brooklyn Kiwanis, Brooklyn YMCA and the Cleveland and Chippewa yachting clubs, both of which he served as commodore. Later in life, Busch became a U.S. Sailing senior race officer.

He is survived by daughters Julie and Catherine, sons Mark and James, and five grandchildren.