Our History
The Rutherford Funeral Homes and Crematories have been serving the families of Columbus and Central Ohio for 95 years from their four convenient locations in Columbus, Worthington and Powell, Ohio.
Rutherford Funeral Homes and Crematories were first established in 1923 by Perry E. and Ruth Rutherford as the P.E. Undertaking Co., located at the corner of Frambes Avenue and North High Street. In 1925, the funeral home moved to its present location at 2383 North High Street as the P. E. Undertaking Company. It is now known as the Rutherford Funeral Home, which was later operated by the late William P. Rutherford, the son of Perry E. and Ruth Rutherford.
In 1961, the Rutherford Family acquired the Corbin Funeral Home in Worthington, Ohio. This formed the Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, located at 515 High Street, three blocks south of Dublin-Granville Road (State Route 161). Also located at that facility are two of our four crematories.
1976 saw further expansion of the Rutherford Funeral Homes by the acquisition of the Shroyer Funeral Home, forming the Rutherford-Shroyer Funeral Home. The smallest of our four locations, it is located in historic "Franklinton" at 1278 West Broad Street, just west of downtown Columbus.
In 1996 our firm continued to grow. The Rutherford family added our newest location, Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell, located at 450 West Olentangy Street (Powell Road). Also located at this new facility are two crematories to offer greater service and convenience to the families of Central Ohio.
In the many years of caring for the families of Columbus and Central Ohio, our firm has understood one very basic concept: that real service is based on trust and offering families a variety of choices to carry out their last wishes. As we continue into the twenty first century, Rutherford Funeral Homes and Crematories continues to build on our 90 year tradition of service and meeting the needs and desires of the communities we serve.
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Joseph P. Hayes III, President
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Lynn Harper, Owner
Lynn Harper is the daughter of the late William P. Rutherford and Helen Rutherford. She is owner of all four locations and in charge of the accounting for all four of our locations.
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Scott E. Zinn, Funeral Director and Embalmer
Scott E. Zinn, Manager of Rutherford Funeral Home, 2383 North High Street, Columbus has been a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer for 32 years. Born and raised in southeastern Ohio near McArthur he attended Boston University, Ohio University and received his Bachelors of Mortuary Science from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Scott is an Eagle Scout, BSA and is still active in the Chief Logan Reservation Alumni Association. He is a member the National Funeral Directors Association; Ohio Funeral Directors Association; Central Ohio Funeral Directors Association; New England Lodge #4 F&AM; 32nd Degree Masons, Valley of Columbus, and King Avenue United Methodist Church.
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Jeff Craig, Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist
Jeffrey Craig serves as a Funeral Director and Embalmer with the Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Homes and Crematories. Born in Frazeysburg, Ohio, he is a graduate of Tri-Valley High School, Ohio University, and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Jeff has been a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 1984 and is a Certified Cremationist. He attends Jersey Baptist Church, and is a member of the National Funeral Directors, the Ohio Funeral Directors, the Central Ohio Funeral Directors, and the Ohio Embalmers Associations. He is currently a member of the Columbus North East Lions Club, and is past president, secretary and Zone Chair of the Heath, Ohio Lions Club and a member of the Newark Kiwanis Club. Jeff is a member of the Marion County Historical Society, as a living historian of the 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry and 9th Ohio Light Artillery, and the Central Ohio Chapter of the Ohio University Alumni Association.
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Shannon Hall, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Shannon Hall is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She is originally from Huber Heights, Ohio. Shannon graduated cum laude from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science with her bachelors degree in Mortuary Science. She is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. Shannon is a proud fur momma of two beautiful longhair dachshunds, Stevie and Sophie. In her spare time she enjoys reading, sewing, crafting, cooking, going to the zoo and museums, and watching the travel channel, hockey and football.
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Todd Steiner, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Todd Steiner is an funeral director and embalmer, as well as a certified crematory operator. He hails from Centerville Ohio, and attended Centerville High School. He received an A.A. in psychology from Sinclair Community College, a B.S. in psychology from Wright State University, and a B.M.S. from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He graduated top of his class at C.C.M.S. and received the Nunnamaker award for academic excellence and student citizenship. Todd has studied the Japanese martial arts of the Bujinkan for 13 years. He is a technology enthusiast, and enjoys keeping up with the latest psychological and other scientific research.
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Dan Booze, Apprentice/Certified Crematory Operator
Dan was raised in Millersport, Ohio and is a 2001 graduate of Millersport High School. Dan graduated in 2009 with an Associates in Security Management and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelors in Psychology from Ohio Christian University. Dan is an active member of the Millersport Lions Club and is a parishioner of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Lancaster. Dan is a Certified Crematory Operator and is currently serving his apprenticeship to become a Licensed Funeral Director.
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Jocelynn Priest, Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Mark Strong, Funeral Director/Embalmer
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Donald C. Jones, Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist
Donald C. Jones has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer for over 34 years and is a Certified Cremationist. He attended The Ohio State University and is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He is a member of McKendree United Methodist Church; the National Funeral Directors Association, the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and former board member of OFDA. He is a Past President of the Central Ohio Funeral Directors Association and serves on the Advisory Board of Walnut Grove Cemetery.
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Sue Sheatzley, Administration
Sue is an administrative assistant at Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell. Before joining Rutherford's staff, she worked for hospice, initially as a volunteer with patients and families for 5 years, and later as intake coordinator for 9 years. Sue graduated from The Ohio State University where she studied Education and Spanish. Outside of work Sue enjoys traveling with friends and family, historical novels, and a good Netflix binge.
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Tara Dodaro, Administration
Tara is an administrative assistant at our Rutherford Corbin Funeral Home In Worthington. She is from Hollywood Florida and a graduate of South Broward High school in 2001. She came to Ohio when she turned 18 for what was supposed to be one year but we are happy to still have her in Ohio. She says it suits her better here. She is also a small business owner with her husband. When not working, Tara spends time with her two fur babies, daughter & husband. Her hobbies are online shopping, reading, playing with makeup, anything that has to do with pop culture and hanging out with friends.
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Kyle Poling, Office Manager
Kyle is the Office Manager for Rutherford Funeral Homes. Born and raised in Southeast Lancaster, Ohio, Kyle started his passion for serving people at the young age of fifteen. He started as a crew member in the service industry and worked his way up the ranks into leadership. After fifteen years of food service management, he decided it was time for a change of pace and went into the career that he has always been passionate about (the funeral industry). He feels that by being part of the funeral industry he is able to fulfill his mission of giving back to his community. Kyle has served in many types of leadership roles over the years. He is the proud father of twelve-year-old, Bella and Lab Pup, Molly.
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Joe Frazier, Funeral Director's Assistant
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Andy Wyman, Cremationist
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Connie Haag, Administrator Assistant
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Chadd Drake, Funeral Director's Assistant
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Kobey Simpson, Maintenance
