Obituaries

Diana Lee (Copas) Maple, 66, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, passed away on April 1, 2026, at SOMC Hospice in Portsmouth, Ohio. Diana was born on January 8, 1960, in Ulm, Germany, to Virgil and Laura (Stephens) Copas. She graduated from Northwest High School in 1978 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in…

Everett E. Fodge, 76 of Wheelersburg, died Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at SOMC Hospice. He was born August 9, 1949 in Portsmouth, to the late Everett and Vada Musser Fodge. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Sharon Galloway. Everett owned and operated Fodge Sanitation for many years in Wheelersburg.…

Joshua Stephen Michael Perkins, 48, of Greenup, KY, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2026, at his residence. He was born in Portsmouth, OH, on July 6, 1977, a son of Stephen and Rebecca Arras Perkins. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Mary Nickel, and paternal grandparents, Joseph and Eleaner Perkins. Josh loved…

Michael Joseph Carty, 70, of Portsmouth, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at his home.  He was born on April 3, 1955, in Huntington, WV, to the late Robert Joseph and Floreine Mae Massie Carty. Mike was a welder, having worked in Columbus, and he was a 1973 graduate of Portsmouth High School and…

Dr. Eugene John Valentine passed away on February 15, 2026, at the Southern Ohio Medical Center Hospice Center in Portsmouth, OH. He was born on May 12, 1940, in Detroit, MI, the son of Ruth Emma Townsend and Eugene John Valentine, Sr. He is survived by his wife of forty years, Anne Ellen Nickerson; his…

Edwin J. Warren, 79, of McDermott, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at Resthaven Rehab. He was born July 7, 1946 in Portsmouth, a son of the late Raleigh and Edna Strickland Warren. Edwin was a 1966 Northwest High School graduate and proud US Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War. He was a…

Michael Rafferty Obituary Lucasville, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2026 at his home. He was born October 8, 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota, a son of the late Robert G. and Leona Ida Hansen Rafferty. Michael was a graduate of Fon Du Lac High School and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from West…

Bobby Eugene Graff, 74, of Lucasville, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 28, 2026. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife and children. He was born November 24, 1951 in Ironton, a son of the late Ralph E. Graff and Elsie Brown Royal. Bobby was a 1970 Portsmouth…

Stephen Spencer Adkins, 65, of McDermott, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2026 in South Webster. He was born July 2, 1960 in Portsmouth a son of the late Walter “Jr” and Mildred Baldridge Adkins. Stephen was self-employed entrepreneur with many interests and talents and was a 1978 Northwest High School graduate. He was also preceded…

Laura “Lynn” Russell, 55, of Lucasville, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2026. She was born February 25, 1971 in Portsmouth, a daughter of the late Tom and Kay Yates and the late Roger Russell Sr.. Lynn was a 1989 Valley High School graduate and worked as a social worker/activities director at River Run Healthcare of…