Gillespie, Brian Reese

Brian Reese Gillespie, 65, of Bellefontaine, died Sunday, October 31, 2021, in the Campbell Place, Bellefontaine. Brian was born in Bellefontaine on August 6, 1956 (“A.D.”), the son of the late W. Edward and Evelyn (Bersinger) Gillespie. Preceded in death by his beloved sister Christine H.G. Bullock and brother Bowen E. Gillespie. He is survived by his nieces and nephew, Roger (Maria) Gillespie, Courtney (Todd) Lones, Jennifer (John) Shannon and Whitney (Beannie) Taylor; his former spouse, Scott Mclaughlin; cousins and many incredible friends. Brian graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1974 and then from Miami University, Oxford, OH in 1978, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity,

serving as President his senior year. Brian had a long, successful career as a sales representative with Batesville Casket Company, covering as a sales trainee the states of North Dakota, eastern Montana, and western Minnesota (“places known but to God and Rand Mcnally”). In the summer of 1980, he accepted a sales territory with Batesville in central Pennsylvania, where he lived, excelled, and established many great customers and friendships. Following an additional seven years of service with Batesville in central Ohio, he completed his career in funeral service as an advance planning coordinator with Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Homes, Bellefontaine. Brian will be remembered for his sharp wit, sense of humor, attention to detail, and steel-trap memory for minutia. He loved life, people, travel, good food, his family, friends, and Miami University (not necessarily in that order). His favorite place on earth was Torch Lake, MI where his family vacationed since 1950. Fortunate were those Kerry Blue Terriers, Mazie, Jam, Bunny, and Mrs. Peel, his “shadows” over the years. Brian was a member and Past Deacon of First Community Church, Marble Cliff, where he also was a member of the Worship & Arts Council. He also belonged to the Order of Symposiarchs, Bellefontaine Masonic Lodge #209 F&AM and the Valley of Harrisburg (PA) Consistory. Rev. James Long will officiate a funeral service at 12pm Saturday, November 13, 2021, in the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 321 N. Main St., Bellefontaine. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. Burial will be in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to First Community Foundation, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43212, or to Capitol Area Humane Society, 3015 Scioto Darby Executive Court, Hilliard, Ohio 43026, or to WCBE 540, Jack Gibbs Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43215. EICHHOLTZ DARING & SANFORD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER, BELLEFONTAINE is honored to serve the Gillespie family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.