William "Bill" Ohse

William Isaiah “Bill” Ohse, 84, of Ripley passed away Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Mountain View Care Center in Ripley.

Bill was born August 16, 1938 in Ravenswood to the late William James and Austa Heater Ohse. Bill was an entrepreneur who owned and operated several businesses including a heating, cooling and plumbing business, the Downtowner Restaurant, and B&K Music and Video for over 40 years. Bill’s passion was clogging and square dancing. He is credited with introducing line dancing to Jackson County and taught hundreds of people how to clog. Bill was a master square dance caller and a sought-after caller for festivals all over West Virginia including the Vandalia Gathering, the Appalachian String Band Music Festival, Dare to Be Square, and the West Virginia State Folk Festival. He was featured in Goldenseal magazine and the documentary on traditional West Virginia dance, Reel ‘Em Boys, Reel ‘Em.

Bill is survived by his companion of 17 years Letha Thorn and his children James Kevin Ohse I (Carol), Renee Lynn Johnson (Mark) and Dawn Maxine Ohse (Michael); grandchildren Jessica Spears, Megan Sharp, Mallory Ohse, Eric Johnson, Kayla Lewis, James Kevin Ohse II, Madison Ohse and Liberty Ohse-Colborn; great-grandchildren Hunter Spears, Cara Spears, Lexi Spears, Finley Sharp, Ford Sharp, Colt Sharp and James Kevin Ohse III.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by former wife, Dorothy Ohse-Pyles, and sisters Myrtle Lemley and Mary Alice Wolfe.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Friday, August 18th at Waybight Funeral Home, Ripley with Pastor Matt Waskey officiating. Visitation will be Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Ravenswood Cemetery. Online memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.waybrightfuneralhome.com.