History & Staff
We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.
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.
Our Valued Staff
Joseph P. Hayes III, President
Donald C. Jones, Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist
Donald C. Jones serves as the Executive Vice-President of Rutherford Funeral Homes and Crematories and is the Managing Director of the Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High Street, Worthington. Don 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.
Scott E. Zinn, Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist
Scott E. Zinn, Manager of Rutherford Funeral Home, 2383 North High Street, Columbus has been a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer for 16 years and a Certified Cremationist. 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; member the National Funeral Directors Association, the Ohio Funeral Directors Association ; Central Ohio Funeral Directors Association; New England Lodge #4 F&AM; 32nd Degree Masons, Valley of Columbus, Worthington High Twelve Club and King Avenue United Methodist Church.
Larry Schuster, Funeral Director, Embalmer, and Cremationist
Larry Schuster is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. Larry is also our certified crematory operator at the Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home in Worthington.
Ron L. McDonald II, Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist
Ron L. McDonald has been a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 2002. He is a graduate of Newark High School, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and The Ohio State University. Ron is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association and The Ohio Embalmers Association.
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.
G. Scott Smith, Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist
Scott Smith is a licensed funeral director, embalmer and cremationist for the Rutherford- Corbin location. Scott Smith served in the U.S. Army from 1970-72 and trained as a combat medic. He then went on to complete two years of pre-licensing requirements for Mortuary School at Kent State University. He graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1975. He began his career with Carrol Weir at the Weir-Arend Funeral Home in 1975. He has also worked as a licensed insurance agent with the State of Ohio and has helped numerous families with pre-arrangements in Central Ohio and continues to do so today. He is a member of the American Legion Post 82 where he has served as commander. He is a member of the Civitan Club of North Columbus. He is a founding member of the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce and has held all offices including President. Scott has served on the board of Clintonville Incorporated. He’s been President of the Clintonville July 4th Inc. for 15 years. This is a volunteer organization and provides day long 4th of July activities for 25-30,000 people each year at Whetstone Park of Roses. He also collects food and book donations for the Kid’s club at Clintonville/Beechwold Community Resources Center. Scott enjoys cooking and spending time with his lovely bride and two sons.
Thom Verdi, Funeral Director, Embalmer, Cremationist
Thom is thrilled to be back in the Columbus area after recently moving here from Pittsburgh, PA. Thom attended the Nationwide Beauty Academy, Columbus, OH; graduating in 1986. After nearly three decades of work in the beauty industry, Thom decided to return to college to fulfill his lifelong calling, becoming a Funeral Director, and enrolled in The Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. After graduating Cum Laude and holding the office as president of the student senate, he began his apprenticeship in Beaver Falls, PA, eventually licensing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2015 as a Funeral Director/Embalmer. In August of 2017, Thom enrolled in the Bachelor's program at Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA, to complete his BS in Funeral Service, majoring in Business Administration, with a minor in Psychology, graduating Magma Cum Laude in April of 2018. Thom is licensed as Funeral Director/Embalmer in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. In his free time, Thom enjoys spending time with his son Josh, daughter-in-law Rachel, and the love of his life-- his granddaughter, Aria Juliet Verdi.
Diana Williams, Director of Family Services and Advanced Funeral Planning
Diana serves Rutherford Funeral Homes and Crematories as Director of Family Services and as the Advance Funeral Planner. She has been recognized for her outstanding performance and has received numerous awards throughout her career in the funeral industry. Her experience has prepared her in all aspects of preneed, including burial, cremation arrangements, and memorialization. Diana is a licensed agent in Ohio for burial agreements. Diana has a passion for serving families and is here to assist you and your family as you prepare to honor and celebrate your life and the lives of your loved ones. She truly believes that funeral pre-arrangement is the greatest gift of love that you can give to your family. Diana frequently holds community seminars to educate families about the critical benefits of Advance Funeral Planning. Diana and her husband Mike reside in Johnstown and she is a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, in New Albany. In her spare time she enjoys interior design, landscape design, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
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.
Beth Rudecki, Office Manager
Beth Rudecki serves as Office Manager of the Rutherford-Corbin Funeral Home in Worthington. Beth is a member St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Pickerington where she sings in the choir. She also uses her musical talents as a member of the Reynoldsburg Community Band. She and her family have been living history re-enactors for over 30 years and share their love of history as volunteers at several historic sites.
Ross Bartchy, Company Courier
Ross Bartchy is the company courier for all four of our Rutherford Funeral Home locations. He has enjoyed playing golf for the last 60 years. He also enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife, five children, several grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He attends Trinity United Methodist Church.
Larry Colacci, Greeter
Larry is the greeter at the Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell. Larry is also a parishioner at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Powell.
Cathy Wentzel, Administration
Cathy serves as Assistant Office Manager. She came to the funeral home with four years of experience as a Funeral Director’s Assistant at Brown Funeral Home in Martinsburg, WV. She is an active member of Unity of Delaware in Delaware, OH. She is a Unity Chaplain and a Reiki Master. She also enjoys watching college sports and is an avid OSU Buckeyes fan. Free time is spent with family and friends.
Justine Ramser, Administration
Shannon Hall, Funeral Director
Shannon Hall is a licensed funeral director and embalmer and is also certified through the NFDA as a certified crematory operator. She is originally from Huber Heights, Ohio. She graduated from Wayne High School, Sinclair Community College and graduated cum laude from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. She is a member of the Buckeye State Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association,
Todd Steiner, Funeral Director
TTodd 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.
Barb Good Fortkamp, Funeral Director
Dean Hall, Funeral Director's Assistant
Joe Frazier, Part-Time Funeral Director's Assistant
Dan Booze, Funeral Director's Assistant
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.