THOMPSON FUNERAL HOME
After serving his country during W.W. II, Hope Miller decided to return to his home community of Hillsboro to form a partnership in the funeral business. In 1959 he decided to open his own business as a sole proprietor at our present location. In October 1981, Hope Miller Funeral Home, Inc. was formed when Steven W. Thompson joined the business.
Hope and Steve worked together to serve the Hillsboro Community until Hope retired in April of 1986. At present, Steve continues to operate the business and looks forward to serving the community for many years to come.
WYLIE-THOMPSON FUNERAL HOME
Charles Willing Byrd, 1770-1828, moved to Sinking Spring in the year of 1822 and purchased the land at 126 S. Main Street, where the "Sinking Spring" was located, and built the present home on this site. The brick used to build the house was made on the property. He was acting Governor of the Northwest Territory from 1802-1803, and the house is still called The Governor Byrd Home today.
When Jeff Wylie returned home from W.W. II, the community of Sinking Spring was without a funeral home. While Jeff was in the service, his former employer Ott Tener had died. In 1946, Jeff and his wife Leona purchased the property and started the Wylie Funeral Home.
Jeff and Leona operated the business until Jeff's death in 1971. Leona continued the operation of the business with the assistance of her brother-in-law and nephew, Burris and Randy Botkins of Waverly, Ohio, until 1985.
In January 1986, the present day owner, Steve W. Thompson, purchased the business from Leona, who continued living at the funeral home until 1999, when Leona decided to move to Waverly. At that time, Steve bought the funeral home building and the 50 acres upon which it is located.
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Steven Thompson Funeral Director/Owner
Born June 25, 1953 in West Union, Ohio, the son of Ronald A. Thompson of Grove City and Maxine (Wallace) Kratzer of Hillsboro. Steve was raised on a farm at Locust Grove and attended Franklin High School in Locust Grove thru the 9th grade when Locust Grove, Sinking Spring and Peebles Schools consolidated. He graduated from Peebles High School in 1971. While in High School, Steve worked for Charlie Thompson who owned the Trefz Funeral Home In Peebles. After graduation, he attended the Tri County Academic Center in Macon, OH. and received his Associate Degree. While attending College, Steve worked for the Ellis Funeral Home in West Union, Ohio. Upon graduation from Tri County, he attended Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science where he graduated in 1974. Steve returned to West Union where he served his apprenticeship under the guidance of Edmund Ellis. In 1977 he moved to Columbus, Oh and worked for the Schoedinger Funeral Homes for 2 years. Being raised in the country, country life was calling him home. He returned to Locust Grove and a short time later went to work for good friend Don Edgington who owned and operated the Rhoads-Edgington Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Winchester and Mowrystown. While working for Don, Steve met Susan L. Davis on a blind date, election day in November, 1980. Steve and Susan were united in marriage on July 11, 1981. Susan is the daughter of Judge Richard L. and Kathryn (Tolle) Davis of Hillsboro. Steve and Susan have two daughters, Allison L. Thompson and Andrea L. Thompson. Steve owns and operates Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Hillsboro and Sinking Spring, and is a partner in the Wallace-Thompson Funeral Homes in Peebles, Seaman and Winchester, and the Thompson-Meeker Funeral in West Union. He also has served as a director of the First Star National Bank fka Farmers and Traders National Bank nka US Bank in Hillsboro. Steve and Susan own and operate the Masterpiece Farms where they breed and raise quarter horses. He is a member and the Past President of the National Snaffle Bit Association, member of American Quarter Horse Association and the Ohio Quarter Horse Association. Member and Past Master Highland Lodge #38 F.&A.M., Hillsboro Chapter #40 R.A.M., Hillsboro Council #16 R.S.M., Highland Commandery #31 Knights Templar, Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Cincinnati, Aladdin Shriners, Columbus, OH., F.O.E. Aerie 1161, Hillsboro. Steve is the Past Chair of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce.
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Meghan Wagoner Funeral Director
Meghan N. Wagoner, Cremation Specialists Funeral Director/Embalmer Meghan was a graduate from West Union High School and continued her education at Shawnee State University and received her Bachelor’s degree from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. She is licensed by the State of Ohio as a Funeral Director and Embalmer; she also has successfully completed training as a Certified Cremation Arranger through the ICCFA and joined the Thompson Funeral Home staff in the fall of 2012. She is also a Liberty Lions member, a member of the Hillsboro Bible Baptist Church and helps with The Highland County Chamber of Commerce. Meghan enjoys reading a good book, spending time with her husband, family and friends and enjoying the outdoors.
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David Hare Pre-Need/Pre-Arrangement Specialist
David Hare joined Thompson Funeral Home, as our Family Service Professional in 2013, after working for three years in a similar position in the Cincinnati area. As a Family Service Professional, David assists community members in preplanning their funeral arrangements. Preplanning allows individuals to be certain their final wishes are met, and helps to remove the financial burden on surviving family members.
David is no stranger to the funeral profession, since he grew up working in his family’s business, and spent his early career as a funeral director in his family’s firm in Northwest Ohio. David graduated from Cincinnati Mortuary College in a 1987, and later completed his Marketing degree at the University of Findlay. In 1995, he left his career as funeral director to pursue a career in financial services and moved to Cincinnati. He spent the next 14 years, working for Northwestern Mutual Life, 5/3 Bank and Ameriprise Financial in a corporate role, before the company down sized. David is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and prides himself in staying current on the changes affecting the finance industry.
Today, David is able to use his funeral directing and financial planning experience, as he works to develop the best preplanning experience for individuals and families in our community. Advanced planning is a large part of funeral services today, as more people wish to reduce the decisions and financial burdens placed on their surviving family members.
David and his wife, Linda, have two college aged children and are active members of their church.
