BENJAMIN CRAWFORD BLASINGAME
Benjamin Crawford Blasingame, 91, of Opelika, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Ben was born on Sept. 22, 1934 in Camp Hill, Alabama. He was the youngest of five children born to Turner L. and Nettie Irene Blasingame. Ben was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, James, Vivian (Williams), Mary Ellen (Abbott) and Clyde.
He graduated from Camp Hill High School in 1952 and attended Auburn University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. After college, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for three years.
In 1964, Ben took a job as an engineer with the Uniroyal Tire plant in Opelika, where he worked for 31 years. He earned his Masters of Science from Auburn in 1976, and in 1994 received a patent for inventing a special bead apexing process used at Uniroyal.
Ben was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Opelika where he served as a trustee, deacon and Sunday school teacher. After his retirement, Ben took great pleasure in visiting the shut-in members of the church. In his retirement, Ben also enjoyed working with the Opelika Lions Club.
Ben is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara; his son, Benjamin (Heather); two granddaughters, Maggie and Abby; and sister-in-law Peggy Merritt.
Services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Opelika. Visitation will precede the service at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Camp Hill Cemetery in Camp Hill.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to First Baptist Church of Opelika or Alabama Lions Sight Conservation Association.
DEVONA “DEE” ELLEN STUCK KAHN
Devona “Dee” Ellen Stuck Kahn went to be with her Savior on Nov. 21, 2025.
She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel Jacob Kahn, to whom she was married for 61 years.
Dee worked as an administrative secretary, skilled watchmaker and IT specialist for Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. Her favorite things in life were being a mom, a grandmother and dancing.
Dee is survived by her son, Steven C. Kahn (Jamie); her daughter, Leah Kahn McMurray (Michael); and six grandchildren: Parker McMurray, Hannah Jones (Vince), Molly Power (Harper), Sarah Judd (Davis), Bonnie Kahn and Joseph Kahn. She also leaves behind two great-granddaughters, Emory and Lainey Jones.
Dee cherished many friendships throughout her life, but she held Arthur Pearson in a very special place in her heart. She will also be remembered fondly by her friends in Recycled Teenagers, and by all who shared her love of cards, puzzles and her joyful spirit as an avid member of the Zumba Gold class.
Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Hospice or VFW.
JOHN HEARD SMITH
John Heard Smith, a long-time resident of Tuskegee, Alabama, passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. John was born on Jan. 8, 1956, in Tallassee, Alabama, the son of late William L. and Patricia T. Smith, and the grandson of the late Dr. William L. and Kate P. Smith and the late Horace A. and Kerxie B. Taunton.
John was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and Alabama Football. He was preceded in death by his sister, Kathryn S. Bracken, and his uncle, J. Larry Taunton.
He is survived by his daughter Caitlin Anckner (Michael); grandchildren, Carter Anckner and Amelia Anckner of Savannah, Georgia; his sister, Charlotte Smith of Auburn; and brother Will Smith of Atlanta, Georgia.
John is also survived by his nephew, Brad Dyson (Teresa) of Rock Hill, South Carolina and Mathew W. Bracken (Regan) of Portland, Oregon; nieces, Candace D. Mangum (Shane) of Auburn, Stephanie W. Harris (Hunter) of Auburn and Sarah B. Moore (Gary) of Louisville, Kentucky; and six great-nephews.
The graveside service was held Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, at Smith Family Cemetery in Tuskegee.
LANOICE WHEELES
Lanoice Wheeles passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, Thanksgiving Day, surrounded by family and loved ones after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Euna Dick Wheeles and Martin Wheeles; and by his spouse, Dean Wheeles.
Lanoice is survived by his beloved wife Martha; and his children, Jeffery (Kandy), Michelle, Jackie (John) and Dawn; his grandchildren, Jackson, Andrew, (Cierra), Amelia (Cody), Jordan (Heather) Magan (Tyler), Ashton, Bailey and Baker; and his great-grandchildren, Kai, Brooks, Addie and Everett.
A man of deep faith, Lanoice sang in a gospel quartet and had a unique gift for making everyone smile. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone and was loved by all who knew him. Lanoice will be remembered for his strength, warmth and the deep bonds he shared with those around him. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.
Visitation was held at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home in Opelika on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at noon, with the memorial service to follow at 2 p.m.
BETTY LOVE TURNEY CORBIN
Betty Love Turney Corbin, 79, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Betty was devoted to her faith and family. She was born on Feb. 14, 1946, in Opelika, to Dewey Mason Turney and Mary Love Martin Turney. Betty grew up in Auburn, and received a B.S. degree in Mathematics at Auburn University.
Betty had a long career in the computer industry. She was a certified project management professional and was the co-founder of the Montgomery Chapter of the Project Management Institute. Her most recent position was at Auburn University Montgomery where she taught computer and project management courses to government and corporate employees.
An active member of Auburn United Methodist Church, she led women’s Bible studies, taught Sunday school and volunteered for the Village Friends organization. Her hobbies included time on the golf course, yoga classes, taking walks in her neighborhood and enjoying views of trees, flowers and birds from her porch. Joy, her cat, was a very special companion.
As a lifelong Auburn fan, she cheered “War Eagle” in the stadium, Auburn Arena or at home as she supported her Auburn Tigers. Betty enjoyed attending AU women’s basketball with a group of friends including Charlene Jenkins and Addie Adams.
Thanksgiving was a special event each year when Betty hosted an old-fashioned southern dinner for relatives and friends. Betty had a special interest in preserving family history and writing. She wrote remembrances and worked on several projects to preserve family letters and photos. Betty was a very optimistic person and her faith gave her great comfort. Her Caring Bridge posts always ended with a description of her flowers or the birds in her yard. Through her health journey she was an inspiration to many.
Betty was preceded in death in 2015 by her husband of 43 years, Carl Ross Corbin; in 1969 by her husband of two years, Marshall J. Conner Jr.; her parents Mary Love and Dewey Turney; and her sister Berta Jean Turney.
She is survived by aunt Charlene Martin of Enterprise; many cousins including Jim and Patty Allen of Opelika, Virginia Howell of Hartselle, Alabama, Mary Allen Hall of Gainesville, Florida; special friends Charlene Jenkins of Auburn and Addie Adams of Auburn; nieces Shannah Corbin Dorfman (Shane) of Canton, Georgia, and Jill Corbin Studwell (Chris) of Mableton Georgia; and nephew Jay Conner (Krysten) of Auburn.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary of Auburn United Methodist Church located at 137 S. Gay St. in Auburn. Parking is available in the Gay Street parking lot behind the sanctuary.
Memorial funds or donations suggestions: Auburn United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 3135, Auburn, AL 36830, or the Turney Corbin Scholarship in the College of Education, Auburn University Foundation, 317 S. College St., Auburn, AL 36849.
LAURENE JO WYMAN
Laurene Jo Wyman (Standrige), age 78, of Opelika, formerly of Dadeville, passed away peacefully on Nov. 24, 2025, at Arbor Springs Health and Rehab. Laurene was born on Feb. 18, 1947, in Waukegan, Illinois, and spent her childhood in Zion, Illinois. She was the middle child of three, with an older brother, Robert, and a younger sister, Cindy. As a teenager, she moved with her family to Port St. Lucie, Florida, where she graduated from high school.
It was there that she met the love of her life, Richard Albert Wyman, whom she married on Sept. 23, 1967. As a devoted military wife throughout Richard’s 20-year Air Force career, Laurene traveled the world, from Hawaii to Europe and nearly every state in the country. She embraced every move, every adventure and every challenge with the spirit of a force of nature. She always had the best surprises, the best plans and the best adventures waiting just behind her smile.
Laurene and Richard settled in Dadeville, Alabama, in 1995, where they lived until her transition to Arbor Springs in 2022. In their retirement years, the two enjoyed flipping houses together, turning hard work into shared joy and new beginnings.
Laurene enjoyed knitting, gardening, camping, traveling, the outdoors and a competitive round of Yahtzee. She volunteered at Boys & Girls Clubs, supported her husband’s work as Scout Master — including projects, meals and countless camping trips — and poured her heart into every role she took on.
Above all else, Laurene’s greatest calling was motherhood. She gave every bit of herself to raising her children, and yet somehow she still found the drive to pursue higher education, proudly earning her degree in accounting. She was her children’s fiercest supporter — steady, wise, loving and unshakably loyal. She was the rock of her family, the safe harbor and the one they turned to for advice, comfort and courage. She loved with the ferocity of a mother bear and stood beside her family through every chapter of their lives.
Laurene is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years, Maj. Richard Albert Wyman; her sister Cindy Standrige; her brother Robert Standrige; and her parents.
She is survived by her three children, Jeff Wyman and wife Wendy, of Rock Hill, South Carolina and their children Aaron, Mason, Dylan and Brandon; Tim Wyman and wife Becky, of Auburn, and their children, daughter Bethany Cummins (and wife Kylee) and children Samuel, Ethan, Phillip, Lauren and Samantha Sweezey; and Bethany’s children Emma and Chloe; and Craig Wyman and wife Micki, of Wichita Falls, Texas, and their children Steve (and wife Kenya) and daughter Jessica and Steve’s son Kolton.
She also cared for many bonus children through the years including Sean Williams.
Laurene’s legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and in every life she touched. She held her family together with strength, grace and a love that never wavered.
Funeral and viewing will be a private family gathering.
JAMES MEDDERS
James Medders, 90, passed away Nov. 26, 2025.
A service was held Tuesday, Dec 2, 2025, in the Chapel at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home.
Frederick-Dean Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.
