Larry Wilson

Diana Holmes (Brown) let me know about a classmate who died back in 2018.  Russell "Cork" Bush did not graduate with us, but was in our class through his junior year.  She noticed it in an obituary for his brother, Mike, in today's Newark Advocate. Our prayers are with his family, as he has also lost two other brothers, Mike and Larry.  May "Cork" rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted.

Russell E. "Cork" Bush

April 2, 1948 - January 17, 2018

Newark - A funeral service for Russell E. "Cork" Bush will be held at 11am, on Monday, January 22, 2018, at the Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home in Newark. Burial will follow in Wilson Cemetery. Pastor Cory Campbell will officiate. Family and friends may call from 4pm-7pm on Sunday, at the funeral home, 985 N. 21st Street.

Mr. Bush, age 69, of St. Louisville, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at the Selma Markowitz Hospice Center. He was born April 2, 1948, in Lancaster, a son of the late Charles D. and Enid (Shockley) Bush. He had served his country in the U.S. Army from 1968-70. He was a member of the Heath Church of Christ and had attended the Rocky Fork Church of Christ.

Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Rebecca S. (Philipps) Bush, whom he married December 8, 1977; his children, Tonya (Chad) Hull of Utica, Michael (Dawn) Metcalf of Granville, Miranda (Eli Eddy) Bush of Gambier, Matthew (Taira) Bush of Maumee; his grandchildren, Sierra, Kyle, Jesse, Brooklynne, Maykayla, Samantha, Mia, Emma, Kiersten, Mikey, Gauge, Reagan, Pistol; four great-grandsons; his sister and brothers, Carol (Pete) Barber, Mike (Janet) Bush, Jerry (Penny) Bush and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Beth Ann Bush and two nephews, Larry Lee Bush and Kenny Bush.

The family would like to extend a personal thank you to nurse Joe of the Selma Markowitz Hospice Center staff for his special care and consideration.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com.

Larry Wilson

Diana Holmes (Brown) just let me know that Mitch Finney passed away.  May Mitch rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted.

Mitchell Addison “Mitch” Finney

September 6, 1950 - December 8, 1950

Mitchell Addison “Mitch” Finney, 75, of Newark, passed away Monday, December 8, 2025, at his home. He was born September 6, 1950, in Newark to the late William and Bonnie (Davis) Finney.

Mitch was a proud graduate of The Ohio State University and retired from the Army National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel. A devoted Buckeye fan, he also enjoyed the quiet peace of bird watching and was a longtime member of the Dawes Arboretum Bird Club. He loved nature, traveling, and especially cherished family trips to the beach. Known for his cooking and his sweet tooth—particularly for brownies—Mitch’s greatest joy was time spent with his family. Mitch enjoyed his time spent at the Finney Farm, a place that held deep meaning for him and where he created memories that will be treasured forever.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia (Ralston) Finney; sons, Kevin and Keith (Amanda) Finney; daughter, Kelli Finney; grandchildren, Arabella, Keegan, Olivia, Keira, Kaylee, and Dylan; sisters, Michele Wells, Nancy Loughman, and Ruth (Bruce) Stockum; brothers, William Finney, John (Cindy)Finney,  and Stephen (Sara) Finney; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his beloved cats, Fritz and Maggie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters Karen Zabel, Paula Tittle, and Molly Ewing.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mitch’s honor to The Dawes Arboretum or the Licking County Humane Society.

A private service will be held, with a public celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com

Larry Wilson

Diana Holmes (Brown) let me know that Don Shrock has passed away.  May Don rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted.

May we appreciate each other's presence as we face the shortness of our lives.  All too quickly it's over, so let us live in the present moment with all the gusto we can muster!

Donald Wayne Shrock

October 28, 1950 — December 10, 2025

Donald Wayne Shrock, a cherished resident of Newark, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the age of 75.

Born in Newark on October 28,1950, Don led a life full of curiosity and creativity. With a career as an expert electrician, he was known for his keen intellect and dexterous skills, contributions that have left a lasting mark on those who worked alongside him.

Don's passion extended beyond his profession. He was a man of varied interests who found joy in listening to all types of music and diving into the diverse worlds found within the many books he avidly collected and read. A true lover of the arts, Don was an accomplished stained glass artist whose works illuminated the homes and hearts of many. Don also had an adventurous spirit, reveling in the opportunities to travel and explore the world around him. His love for animals, especially cats, was evident to all who knew him, and it formed a significant part of his life.

Family was of utmost importance to Don. Though preceded in death by his beloved parents, Clarence David Shrock Sr. and Jeanette Maye Shrock, as well as his brother, Clarence David Shrock Jr., Don treasured his surviving family. He leaves behind his devoted nieces, Allison L. (Jason) Shrock and Catherine R. Shrock, along with his cherished great-nephew, Owen Anders.

In honor of his love for animals, Don's family kindly suggests that donations be made to the Licking County Humane Society, reflecting his lifelong affection for and dedication to the care of our feline friends.

The Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral and Cremation Service of Newark is honored to care for Don and his family during this difficult time. Services will be arranged to celebrate the rich and meaningful life of a beloved uncle, great-uncle, and friend whose presence will be profoundly missed, yet lovingly remembered by all who had the fortune of knowing him.

William Rissler

Larry Wilson

Diana Holmes (Brown) just let me know that Sharon Giles has passed away.  Obituary is incomplete as of now, but I will post it as soon as it is available.  May Sharon rest in peace and may her family and friends be comforted.

Sharon's Obituary

William Rissler

Larry Wilson

Sharon's obituary is listed now at Reed Egan Funeral Home. May Sharon rest in peace.

Sharon's Obituary

September 3, 1950 - January 8, 2026

Larry Wilson

Dwight Zahrndt just sent me a message that Robin McCracken passed away.  May Robin rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted.  May we keep each other in prayer as our class continues to age.

Robin Allen McCracken

September 29, 1949 - January 16, 2026

Funeral services celebrating the life of Robin Allen McCracken, 76, of Newark, will be held at Reed-Egan Funeral Home, 141 Green Wave Drive, Newark, 2 P.M., Thursday, January 22, 2026, with Rev. JCP Sullivan as celebrant. Friends and family may call at the funeral home, 12 Noon-2 P.M. Thursday, prior to the service. Burial in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Newark, will follow services, with military honors provided by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.

Robin, a 1968 graduate of Newark High School, died at his home on Friday, January 16, 2026. He was born in Newark, Ohio on September 29, 1949, to the late Searle K. and Elsie J. (Weakley) McCracken.

A United States Army Vietnam Veteran, Robin also served with the Ohio National Guard for several years. He was retired from Holophane where he faithfully worked for 46 years.

Robin was a quiet man who enjoyed the comforts of his home and his family. He enjoyed playing tennis and watching his favorite television programs.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 53 years, Cecilia (Wagner) McCracken; sons Brian McCracken and Doug McCracken; grandchildren, Connor (Ireland), Paige, Emmilee, Owen, and Collin McCracken.

In addition to his parents, Robin was preceded in death by his sister, Sharon Ann Jenkins.

To share your memory of Robin or leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.reedegan.com.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Robin Allen McCracken, please click here to visit our sympathy store.

Larry Wilson

We have lost another classmate.  Steve Ogilbee let me know that Kenny Salsberry has passed away.  May Kenny rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted.

Kenneth Earl Salsberry

February 11, 1950 - February 2, 2026

Steve left this post to me on Facebook Messenger, "I talked to Sue Hannah this morning. Kenny passed about 8:40 A.M. Monday morning 2/2/2026. He had been battling for a couple years and had no more avenues of recovery. He took a turn for the worse in the ICU at the James in Columbus. He told Sue he was tired and was ready but held on till his brother, Bruce, arrived. Sue, his son Brett, brother Bruce and family were with him. His choice was to be cremated, no funeral services, no obituary and ashes scattered in a place he loved. He was born Feb 11, 1950. REST IN PEACE, BEST FRIEND!  LOVE YOU BROTHER!"

William Rissler

Cathy Swisher (Kibler)

Kenny was simply the best!

RIP Brother. We will miss seeing you 9ish for ☕️

Cathy & Bruce

Roger McDonald

Gale Cady reminded us recently that "she was still here."  So are Dave Richards and me!  (Center of Effort vineyard, outside San Luis Obispo, early April 2026)

Diana Holmes (Brown)

Hello fellow classmates from NHS Class of 1968. 

The reunion committee met yesterday to discuss our 60th class reunion in two years and plan an informal get together later this year  In attendance: Kathy (Applegate) Danner, Linda (Miller) Brucker, Donetta (Phillips) Kirk, Bob White, Jeff Danforth, Linda Korns, Jan (Burch) Campbell, Larry Wilson, and Diana (Holmes) Brown. 

Preliminary plans for the reunion is to have a sit down dinner on October 3 or 17.  We are beginning by looking at Licking Springs Country Club.  For those of you who may not be familiar, it is the former Licking Springs Trout Club that was bought by Moundbuilders Country Club.  This will hopefully be a minimal charge for attendees,  

The plan for the informal get together is from late August to the end of October. We are tentatively thinking of October 24 @ 6PM.  Bob White is checking with the FOP and the Buckingham House.  Not sure what the food option will be until we have a location  it could be a variety of pizzas or attendees would pay for their own food.  We will advise more details as soon as we can  

Keep these dates in mind and, hopefully, everyone can plan ahead for one or both. Would really like to see as many classmates as possible. 

We will advise you as more details are available.

Further, if anyone knows of a classmate who passed away and is not listed on our In Memory page, please let me know. There are still several classmates that we do not have an obituary for them or a date of death. As it gets closer to reunion time, I will start a search on websites,  For the time being, I am relying on the Newark Advocate, local funeral homes and Licking County Area Obituaries on Facebook.  Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

The following is a list of those i know or have been advised who passed away (for further details see my forum post on 10/23/2023):

Robert Scott Brickels
James Henry Decker
Carolyn Clara Ford (Butcher)
Karen Sue Hurst
Philip Ivan Mick
Anita Ruth More (Butts)
Linda Lou Pierce (Frischen-Lee)
Roderick Neil Simpson

Nancy Baughman (Fetter)

Thank you, Diana, for all the hard work you and the committee are doing. Sounds like fun.

Nancy Baughman Fetter 

Patricia Gould (Ritchie)

Bruce Erwin passed away in Jackson, Ohio on March 3, 2024. He attended NHS for two years, graduating with the 1968 class. There is no obituary or death notice. He and I were married for a short period, but lost touch over the years. I know he spent most of his adulthood working for nonprofits in New England, returning to Ohio after retirement. 

Charles Price

Diana,

Thanks to all of you being so proactive in planning the 60th.

Thank you for your post  #992 on 6/18/26 at 2:58 PM.

It is not uncharastic for me to be confused.

The preliminary plans for the reunion is to have a sit down dinner on October 3 or 17.

My question is are you referring to a planning sit down dinner on Saturday October 3 or Saturday 17 2026? If you are referring to the 2028 60th Renunion year October 3 and 17 falls on a Tuesday as does the 24th at 6 PM. 

Thank you for helping with my confusion.

Charles (Chuck) Price

Diana Holmes (Brown)

Thank you Patricia (Gould) Ritchie for the info on Bruce Erwin.  If you can provide any other information or know where I can obtain motor information, it would be greatly appreciated.  The committee wants to assure that all deceased classmates are included in our memory page.

To Charles Price,  thanks for letting me know about the mistake.  Our meeting location ended up not being the best place to conduct a meeting (too much background noise) and catching up with classmates we haven't seen since 2023. Exact dates aren't definite at this time, but it should still be in October on a Saturday. I'll make sure that we update whenever we get together again.   

Larry Wilson

The 24th refers to Saturday, October 24th of this year.  We are trying to have an informal get together that Saturday evening, possibly at the FOP.  Plans for the 60th in 2028 are up in the air.  We are just beginning to talk about that.

Larry Wilson

Thank you, Pat, for your information on Bruce Erwin.  I will make sure we post your information on our "In Memory" section.  May Bruce rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted.

Bruce Erwin

Deceased March 3, 2024

Larry Wilson

Diana Holmes (Brown) sent me an obituary notice on Willard Dillon.  May Will rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted.

Willard Eugene Dillon

August 9, 1948 - February 2, 2025

Willard E. Dillon, Jr., passed away peacefully on February 2, 2025, in Virginia at the age of 76. Born on August 9, 1948, in Ohio, he lived a life marked by hard work, loyalty, and love for his family. Willard was preceded in death by his father, Willard E. Dillon, Sr., his mother, Mildred Lake, his brother, David Dillon, and his sister, Dora Quick. He is survived by his brother Steve Dillon, his loving children Tiffany Dillon Griffin, and Willard Dillon, III, his five cherished grandchildren (Emilee, Allison, Reef, Bruce, Little Will), and two great-grandchildren (Cloe and Leonardo). Willard is also remembered fondly by his nephews Dennis, Joshua, Zachary, Taylor and Matthew.

Willard proudly served in the Army and fought in the Vietnam war. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. After completing his Army obligations, he built a respected career as a skilled machinist at Norshipco in Norfolk, VA, where he served with dedication and integrity repairing many of the largest military ships and sea vessels in the United States. His skills and commitment to excellence led him to a prestigious appointment to refurbish the USS Sequoia (former Presidential Yacht), a testament to his professional capabilities and trustworthiness.

Beyond his work at the shipyard, Willard was a passionate woodworker, who built two personal garages from the ground up. Above all, Willard cherished the time spent with his children and grandchildren, who brought immense joy and laughter into his life. He had a love for the ocean, and would often take his son, Will, surfing. He greatly enjoyed going out to eat with his daughter, Tiffany, and sightseeing around the Hampton Roads area.

Though he will be deeply missed, Willard’s spirit lives on in the hearts of those who knew him. His life serves as a reminder of the enduring power of love, hard work, and the joy found in everyday moments.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Willard, please visit our Tree Store.

Larry Wilson

Diana Holmes (Brown) has found through several sources that Linda Lou Pierce (Frischen-Lee) passed away in 2023.  As we discover more details, we will post them here.  May Linda rest in peace and may her family and friends be comforted.

Linda Pierce (Frischen-Lee)

April 7, 1950 - March 12, 2023

Margaret Freytag (Stewart)

I so appreciate all the work all of you do to keep this class of 1968 message forum going and also for all the work you do for the reunion.  I had some catch up to do reading the site.  My husband Bill had a massive stroke in early May of 2024, and after six weeks of hospitals he was sent home but he had no use of his right arm, had lost cognitive skills to a large degree, could walk with help a tiny bit at first, could not swallow without horrible choking and consequently could only eat totally pureed food plus other health issues.  I cared for him at home which I would have been unable to do, but could because my oldest son lives here and helped me.  Bill then developed further problems and ended up bedridden and on hospice in our home which means a weekly nurse visit, twice a week bed/bath tech and a social worker for me. My son and I did everything else.   Bill passed away last September.  I miss him oh so much.  During this time, multiple house, yard and financial mysteries (Bill could not talk and had all that cognitive damage), arose and I was clueless on handling a lot of it and had to find an accountant and lawyer, and I've been overwhelmed with it all and still have to fix a lot of those.  But, I do plan, God willing, to attend the next reunion.  There is an ever so slight chance that I could be in Ohio late this October too, but that is slight.  My granddaughter starts college this August at Cedaraville University in Cedarville, Ohio which is just east of Dayton and I might go there to see her flying in and out of Columbus, but that is very iffy, but still a slight chance. With God's help, I'm working my way through all of this.

Deborah Miller (Pintz)

Margaret, I am so sorry you are going through all this. My husband is disabled with Amyloidosis and ATTRCM.  It is a daily struggle to care for him, but when you love someone that's what you do.  You are so right that it is only with God's help that we get through these rough times.  I will keep you in my prayers. 

Larry Wilson

Margaret, Deborah, and all of our classmates who are dealing with any kind of issues, especially from old age (sorry -  but we are getting old), may we keep one another in prayer, and may we give life all the gusto we can for as long as we can.  Hope to see everyone in October and looking forward to our 60th reunion in 2028.

Kathy Applegate (Danner)

Margaret,

My prayers go out to you.  You sound like a very strong person  but I can understand how overwhelming and tiring the past couple of years have been.  No matter how difficult the situation,  you are now dealing with grief loss, and sadness.  My husband, Ed, had a stroke in 2017 and then a heart attack in 2020.  He was so athletic and healthy, it was difficult to come to terms with it.   It is a miracle that he survived both and  with making some modifications to our lifestyle, we have survived and are pretty much thriving.  A day never goes by that I am not thankful for each day that we have together.  I pray for peace and comfort for you and your family.   You are blessed that you have a dedicated son!

We are working to put together an informal get together in the fall for our class and will be able to firm up date and location very soon.   We will begin working on our big 60th reunion next year and be in a position to announce date and location at least a year in advance so it will give all our classmates time to plan to attend..  We are hoping to have a strong turnout.