11/05/2021

Obituary for Brian Reese Gillespie

Advance Planning Coordinator at Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Homes

Brian Reese Gillespie, 65, of Bellefontaine, Ohio passed away Sunday, October 31, 2021 at Campbell Place in Bellefontaine.

Brian was born in Bellefontaine August 6, 1956 (“A.D.”), a 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 in Oxford, Ohio 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 in 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, Michigan 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 the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, November 13, 2021, at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Bellefontaine. 

Visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral service at the funeral home. 

Burial will be in the Bellefontaine Cemetery

The staff of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Bellefontaine is honored to serve the Gillespie family.