GATE CITY, Va. — Graveside services and burial will be 11 a.m. Friday at Stallard Cemetery, Ft. Blackmore, Va., for John Stallard Junior Emmert, 29, of Caldwell, Ohio, who died Sunday (March 25, 2001) of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Caldwell.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Gate City Funeral Home, Gate City. Services will be 8 p.m. today at Gene Falin Memorial Chapel of the funeral home, with the Rev. Gene Stallard officiating.

He was born Jan. 18, 1972.

He leaves his wife, Shauna Emmert of Caldwell; a son, Jacob Scott Emmert of Caldwell; his father and step-mother, John and Bobbie Stallard of Cleveland; his mother, Betty Stallard of Bristol, Tenn.; paternal grandfather, John W. Stallard of Ft. Blackmore, Va.; a sister, Terry Marie Doug of Bristol, Tenn.; two nephews, Brian and Justin Doug; and a niece, Kathy Doug.

DENNISON — Robert Ellsworth Benson, 90, of Uhrichsville, died unexpectedly Tuesday (March 27, 2001) at his home.

He was born July 22, 1910, in Dennison, son of the late Homer Elmer and Bessie F. (Chaney) Benson.

Mr. Benson was active in various theaters throughout his life. Locally, he was the first actor to portray Simon Girty in “Trumpet in the Land.” He had directed and acted in productions by the Deersville Community Players and held a number of roles in New Philadelphia Little Theater productions. He also performed in a number of theater groups in Cambridge. He and his late wife were noted ballroom dancers and square dancers.

He retired from Ohio Bell, after 39 years of service as a central office repairman.

He was a life resident of the Cambridge and Uhrichsville areas, and was a graduate of North High School.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet R. (Murray) Benson, on Aug. 7, 1983. They were married Feb. 18, 1950.

He leaves a sister-in-law, Mrs. Robert (Peggy) Prushing of Columbus; two nieces, Mrs. Terry (Linda) Nicholson and Mrs. Vernon (Nanette) Metz; two great-nieces, Laura and Anne Nicholson; several friends, including Tom and Charlotte Bell of Uhrichsville, and his kind neighbors, the Shuss family.

According to Mr. Benson’s wishes, his body will be cremated.

A memorial service will be at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Deersville Community Players, c/o Clarence Lannum, 120 W. Main St., Freeport, OH 43973.

R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Dennison, is handling the arrangements.

BETHESDA — Vance L. McKeen, 32, of Belmont, died Wednesday (March 28, 2001) at his home.

He was born Jan. 19, 1969, in Wheeling, W.Va., son of Roger H. and Evelyn (Gatten) McKeen of Belmont.

Mr. McKeen was an employee of Bob’s of Barnesville. He was a baptized Christian.

He leaves his wife, Shawn (Nation) McKeen; a daughter, Jessica McKeen, and a step-son, Allen Nation, both of the home; a sister, Mrs. John (Sandra) Stanford of Belmont; a brother, Roger W. McKeen of St. Clairsville; his maternal grandmother, Dorotha Wheeler of Bethesda; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Kelly-Kemp-Braido Funeral Home, Bethesda, where services will be 11 a.m. Saturday with Brother Raymond Crow officiating.

Burial will be in Belmont Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Belmont E-Squad, Barrister Street, Belmont, OH 43718, or Valley Hospice, 380 Summit Ave., Steubenville, OH 43952.

Memorial services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bundy-Law Funeral Home, Cambridge, for Lewis J. Springer, 78, formerly of Cambridge, who died Saturday (March 17, 2001) in Chandler, Ariz., where he had lived for the past six years.

The Rev. Ken Phillips will officiate. A private burial for the family will be at Northwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Guernsey, P.O. Box 1165, 9711 East Pike, Cambridge, OH 43725, or to Multiple Sclerosis Society for research for his granddaughter’s illness.

NEWCOMERSTOWN — Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Ourant Funeral Home, Newcomerstown, for Laura E. Wright, 85, a resident of West Lafayette Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, formerly of West Lafayette, and also a lifelong resident of Coshocton County, who died Tuesday (March 27, 2001) at the center.

The Revs. Frank Conley and Marian Glass will officiate. Burial will be in Everal’s Church Cemetery, Coshocton County.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday noon to 1 p.m. Saturday.

She was born Aug. 23, 1915, in Oxford Township, Coshocton County, daughter of the late Charles C. and L. Blanche (Howell) Silverthorn.

Mrs. Wright was a member of Everal’s United Methodist Church for most of her life, where she served as Sunday school teacher, church superintendent, church treasurer and pianist. She was also president of Everal’s Ladies’ Aide and was a member of and past president of Newcomerstown Senior Citizens. While president of the senior citizens, she was involved with the construction of the new building in Newcomerstown. She was a member of Dover Senior Citizens.

She retired from Simonds Industries, Newcomerstown, where she served for more than 30 years as a file cutter. She was a 1933 graduate of Newcomerstown High School.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Hugh Perkins, on Aug. 20, 1960. They were married April 16, 1954. Also deceased is her second husband, Foster Wright, who died Nov. 7, 1973. They were married Nov. 7, 1969. She was also preceded in death by three step-daughters, Mary Miller, Melva Wright and Virginia Krider; five brothers, Orville, Everett, Earnest, Clarence and Blake Silverthorn; and a sister, Helen Silverthorn.

She leaves two sisters, Mrs. John B. (Ethel M. Dorsey) Parr of Newcomerstown and M. Ruth Engler of Newcomerstown; seven step-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Everal’s Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 229, Newcomerstown, OH 43832.

ZANESVILLE — Harry V. Ault, 77, of Zanesville, died Tuesday (March 27, 2001) at Hospice of Genesis, Morrison Home.

He was born Sept. 1, 1923, in Zanesville, son of the late Talmage and Bessie Ault Sr.

Mr. Ault was a member of The Salvation Army and a former member of George Selsam VFW Post 1058.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II and the Korean War.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Leslie Ault; four sisters, Grace Hardy, Hattie Sutherland, Margaret Skinner and Hazel Wood.

He leaves his wife, Pearl (Worden) Ault of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Ted (Annette) Davis of Columbus and Paulette Kroffet of Zanesville; two step-daughters, Clara of Zanesville and Mary Nickelson of Carrollton; two step-sons, David Calendine and Frankie Calendine, both of Zanesville; two brothers, Talmage Ault Jr. of Cleveland and Eugene Ault of Zanesville; three sisters, Alice Layton, Susie Caw and Laura Binkley, all of Zanesville; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at DeLong-Baker & Lanning Funeral Home, Zanesville.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at The Salvation Army with Major Leslie Walter officiating.

Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by George Selsam VFW Post 1058.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Genesis, Morrison House.