Alfred Lang
May 2, 1929 – September 30, 2026
Alfred Lang, 97, of Westerville, passed away Sept. 30, 2026. He was born May 2, 1929, in Hungary.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna, and his parents, Michael and Mary Lang.
He is survived by his children, David Lang and Cindy Lang, and his grandchildren, Deena Lang and Maya Lang. A private entombment with immediate family will take place later.
Deborah Lord Bennett
September 27, 2026
Deborah Lord Bennett, of Lebanon, Ohio, died of cancer Sept. 27, 2026. She was born in Akron, Ohio, to Clark and Donna Lord.
She graduated from Copley High School and Otterbein College. There will be no services; she will be interred at Otterbein Cemetery later. Donations may be made to the Lord Family Scholarship at Otterbein University.
Kathryn A. Mann
September 22, 2026
Kathryn A. Mann, 101, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away peacefully Sept. 22, 2026, at Embassy of Pickerington, where she had resided for the past 11 years, surrounded by her loving family.
A woman of Christian faith, Kathryn owned and operated a Christian bookstore, where she shared her faith and served others. She also drove a school bus for Westerville City Schools and worked at Good Circle, Roush Hardware in the Christmas department, and Lazarus. She had a sweet personality and a genuine love for sweets — especially Reese’s Cups, a Pepsi, and coffee with lots of sugar — and enjoyed coloring, word searches, and crafts.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clyde E. Mann; her son, Jerald Mann; her parents, Herman and Georgia Mock; and her sister, Jean.
She is survived by her sons, Richard Mann and Tim (Patty) Mann; grandchildren Sean (Ginger) Mann, Shannon (Josh) Pierce, Eric (Kaylyn) Mann, and Andrea (Marco) Paas; and many great-grandchildren who brought joy to her life.
She will be remembered for her faith, her warmth, and a lifetime of memories her family will cherish.
Kathryn Lee Fowles
September 5, 1950 – September 20, 2026
Kathryn Lee Fowles, 76, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Sept. 20, 2026. She was born Sept. 5, 1950, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Walter Lee Fowles and Helen Marie (Takac) Fowles.
Kathy advocated for all children, and every child she met felt seen, heard, and loved. She shared an incredibly close bond with her sister, Mary (Fowles) Clark, and embraced her niece, Kimberly (Clark) Geddes, and nephew, Paul Clark, as if they were her very own. One of her favorite poems, “Song for a Fifth Child” by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, described her best: compassionate, empathetic, loving, caring, strong, and simple.
She is survived by her daughters, Jennifer (Frissora) Vallella (Donnie Vallella), Katharine Frissora, and Toni Frissora (Ryan Nixon); grandchildren Dominic Vallella, Elaina Nixon, Charlie Nixon, and Harvey Nixon; sister Mary (Fowles) Clark; niece Kimberly (Clark) Geddes; and nephew Paul Clark.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Lee Fowles and Helen Marie (Takac) Fowles.
She will be remembered as “Grani,” whose love for children and family touched everyone she encountered.
John Masaru Utsunomiya
March 6, 1964 – September 7, 2026
John Masaru Utsunomiya, 62, passed away unexpectedly at home in Westerville on Sept. 7, 2026. He was born March 6, 1964, in Storrs, Connecticut, to Tsuyoshi and Misako Utsunomiya.
John graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in teaching from Ohio Dominican University. As the son of Japanese immigrants, he understood the challenges of navigating a new language and culture, and one of his proudest accomplishments was his work as an ESL teacher at Westerville South High School, where he helped newcomers find confidence.
He gave devoted, unwavering care to his mother and father, who passed away before him. He was named in honor of John Holm, who, with his wife Lillian, sponsored his parents’ immigration through their church.
He is survived by his brother, Ken (Michaela) Utsunomiya; nephews Matthew (Alex Thomas) Utsunomiya and Jared (Kathryn) Utsunomiya; and his grandniece, Vivian.
He will be remembered for the empathy and patience he brought to his students and to everyone in his care.
Robert E. Archer
July 30, 1955 – September 25, 2026
Robert E. “Bob” Archer, 71, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away Sept. 25, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Bob earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Akron and his CPA designation, building a successful career in finance. He retired after serving as Chief Financial Officer at various companies and continued working with Ohio Geese Control in retirement. But his favorite job may have been taking tickets for the Columbus Clippers, which combined his love of baseball with evenings at the ballpark. A devoted Catholic, he founded and served as treasurer of Mission Gratitude Family Friends, an organization supporting active-duty military members and their families.
He is survived by his wife, Patty Archer; children Kelly Tamerlano (Justin), Lyndsey Archer, Holly Archer, and Kevin Archer (Natalie Bui); and grandchildren Maura, John, Henry, Ava, Callie, and Morgan, who called him “Grampy.”
He will be remembered for his kindness, quiet strength, sense of humor, and the steady presence he brought to the lives of those who loved him.
Patricia Joan Pathy
November 2, 1932 – September 12, 2026
Patricia Joan Pathy, 93, formerly of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died Sept. 12, 2026, at her home in Westerville, Ohio. She was born Nov. 2, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, to Clarence and Ruth (Boedecker) Johnson.
She married Samuel Joseph Pathy on Nov. 13, 1954, and they raised three children: Paula, Chris, and Sam. After retirement, the couple moved to Las Cruces to enjoy the sun and scenery. Pat volunteered for more than 20 years at Memorial Medical Center through the New Mexico Hospital Association’s auxiliary program, and in 2007 she was named the state’s “Auxilian of the Year.” In 2024, she moved to Westerville to be close to family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Evelyn, Donald, Charles, Alice, and Robert; husband Samuel; daughter Christine Enright; sons-in-law John Boyd and Joseph Enright; grandson-in-law Brian Sydow; granddaughters Sara Sydow and Nicole Wolf; and great-grandson Kameron Strabley.
She is survived by her brother, William Johnson; daughter Paula Boyd; son Samuel (Kerry) Pathy; grandsons Joseph Strabley, Daniel Strabley, and Ryan Fosbinder; granddaughters Katie Ross and Samantha Walter; and nine great-grandchildren.
She will be remembered for her enduring love for her family, her unconditional kindness to her friends, and her empathy toward strangers.
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