Raymond M. Donnelly died of heart failure on Tuesday, May 11, while recuperating from surgery in the hospital in New Albany, Ind. Three of his four children and most of his grandchildren were able to gather with him before his surgery. His wife, Barbra, was with him at the time of his death, as was his grandson, Evan Raff, who as an orderly in the hospital had been attending to his grandfather.

He was born Raymond Michael Sabla in Terre Haute, Ind., in 1917. His mother died shortly thereafter. He was adopted in his first year by Dr. James and Margaret Donnelly and grew up in the care of his two loving adoptive sisters, Elizabeth Donnelly Nattkemper and Margaret Donnelly Heard. He was the last surviving sibling of his two Donnelly sisters and of the Sabla family’s six brothers and two sisters. Throughout his life, he maintained close ties with his siblings and their children.

Ray attended the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy but before graduation joined the Army Air Corps to train as a pilot. He had left the Air Corps before the start of World War II and worked in war industries.

He married Barbra Jean Voelcker, also of Terre Haute, in 1941. They moved to Louisville, where he worked for the U.S. Navy for 31 years, retiring in 1972 as quality control supervisor for the Naval Ordnance Station. In Louisville, they joined the First Unitarian Church, which remained a central part of their lives.

He is survived by his wife, Barbra of Louisville; his son, Richard Donnelly and his daughter, Lara, of Yellow Springs; and three daughters and their families, Linda Donnelly of Spring Green, Wis., Sarah Donnelly and Tom Venus of Chico, Calif., and daughter, Ariadne, and Drs. Patricia Donnelly and Marty Raff of Louisville, and sons, Jason, Evan and Joshua.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Memorial Fund of the First Unitarian Church of Louisville, Fourth and York Streets, Louisville, Ky., 40203.

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Donald R. Husted

Donald R. Husted of Springfield died Sunday, May 16, in the James Cancer Center of Community Hospital. He was 76.

Born March 6, 1928, in Springfield, he was the son of Cecil A. and Lois (Linson) Husted. Mr. Husted graduated from Enon High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.

He retired from International Harvester in 1990. He was an active member of Emery Chapel United Methodist Church and the church choir. He was a life member of the Military Order of Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans and the Marine Corps Tankers Association. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 421 in Yellow Springs and served as grand marshal of the 2001 Clark County Memorial Day Parade.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Betty Breeze.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Martha (Arthur) Husted; children, Deborah and David Howell of Centerville, Douglas and Linda Husted of Springfield and David and Stephanie Husted of Springfield; sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Floyd Covington of Fort Myers, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Benjamin Husted, Kristin Husted, Jessica Lipscomb, Amanda Husted, Megan Husted, Matthew Howell, Abigail Howell, Josephine Howell; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 19. Burial was in Enon Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the James Cancer Center of Community Hospital, 2615 East High Street, Springfield 45505, or Emery Chapel United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 3500 Springfield-Xenia Road, Springfield 45502.

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Gordon Lee Groby

Gordon Lee Groby died Monday, May 10, at St. Ann’s Hospital in Westerville. He was 83.

He was born in Dayton on June 11, 1920. A WWII veteran of the Army Air Force, he graduated from Western Maryland College and Boston University School of Theology, and served for 23 years as a minister to several Ohio congregations in the Methodist Church. He then took up teaching as a professor of philosophy at Ohio University-Lancaster. After retiring from teaching, he became a prolific artist, selling hundreds of landscape paintings.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Louise Blanton Groby.

Gordon is survived by his children, Barbara and Bruce Meyers of Westerville, Melissa and Warner Slavic of Asheville, N.C., Leslie Groby of Yellow Springs, John Groby of Urbana and Charles Groby of Sugar Grove; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his siblings, Dorothy Johns, Betty Stinemetz, Melissa Bechtel and Frank Groby; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services were held Thursday, May 13, at Schoedinger East Chapel in Columbus.

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Phyllis A. Wall

Phyllis A. Wall of Xenia died Saturday evening, May 15, at her residence, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She was 65.

Born June 16, 1938, in Jamestown, she was the daughter of Lowell F. and Lela Weis Earley. Mrs. Wall retired as a licensed practical nurse in 2000, and was a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Rebecca Sue Wall; brother, Frederick Earley; sister, Judith Earley; and a sister-in-law Delores Earley.

She is survived by her husband, Clarence E. Wall, whom she married Jan. 9, 1959; children, Marty and Michael Collier of Jamestown, Jenny and Shawn Foley of Miamisburg, Julie and Tim McKay of Beavercreek, Douglas and Carolyn Wall of Beavercreek; 10 grandchildren; siblings, Jean and Mike Mason of Wilmington, Ronald and Mary Ellen Earley of New Vienna, Richard Earley of Wilmington, Harry and Doris Jean Earley of Lees Creek, Gary and Cathy Earley of Sabina and Kenny, Linda Earley of Jamestown and Martha Ann Earley of Jamestown.

Services will be held Thursday, May 20, at 10 a.m., at the Pleasant Grove Missionary Church, with the Rev. Kenneth Moore officiating. Burial will be in Silvercreek Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Grove Missionary Church.