Finding out a neighbor or an old high school friend has passed away usually happens in a blur. One minute you're scrolling through your feed, and the next, you see a name that stops you cold. If you live around Canal Winchester or Pickerington, Ohio, that name is almost always linked to one place. Dwayne Spence funeral home obituaries aren't just lists of dates and survivors; for folks in Fairfield and Franklin counties, they are the digital front porch where the community gathers to say one last goodbye.
Honestly, trying to track down a specific obituary can feel like a scavenger hunt if you don't know where to look. You’ve probably tried a generic Google search and ended up on a third-party site buried in pop-up ads for flowers. It’s frustrating. When you're grieving, or even just trying to find service times so you can pay your respects, you want the facts—fast.
Where the Real Information Lives
Most people head straight to the big national obituary hubs. While those are okay, the most accurate and "fresh" details always live on the funeral home's own server. Dwayne and Patty Spence started this business back in 1969. They’ve been at it for over 50 years. Because they are so deeply rooted in the local area, their own website is usually updated hours before the news hits the local papers or the big national sites.
The funeral home operates two main chapels. One is the original spot at 650 West Waterloo Street in Canal Winchester. The other is a larger, more modern facility at 550 Hill Road North in Pickerington.
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If you're looking for someone, check their official "Tributes" page. It’s cleaner than the big sites. You won't get hit with as many "Buy Flowers" buttons before you even see the person’s photo.
Why the Local Touch Still Matters
In a world of corporate-owned funeral conglomerates, the Spence family has kept things remarkably personal. Dwayne Spence actually served as the President of the National Funeral Directors Association. That’s a big deal. It means the way they handle Dwayne Spence funeral home obituaries follows a certain gold standard of ethics and detail.
When you read a life story on their site, it’s usually written with a bit more "soul" than the template-style write-ups you see elsewhere. You’ll find stories about Alex Warner, a custom home builder who passed in early 2026, or Sharon Thompson, who wanted things kept simple and private. These aren't just names; they are the people who built these towns.
Navigating the Tribute Wall
One of the best things about modern Dwayne Spence funeral home obituaries is the "Tribute Wall." It’s basically a digital guestbook. Back in the day, you’d stand in a long line at the funeral home, wait your turn, and scribble your name in a leather-bound book. Now, you can do it from your couch at 11:00 PM when you're finally processing the news.
Here is the thing about the Tribute Wall: it’s permanent.
Families often print these out later. If you’re going to leave a message, make it count. Don't just say "Sorry for your loss." Tell a story. Mention the time they helped you fix a flat tire or how they always had the best Christmas lights on the block. Those small details are what families cling to when the initial shock wears off.
Using the Search Filters
Sometimes the list of names gets long, especially during a rough winter. The website has a search bar that's actually pretty responsive. You don't need a middle name or a maiden name usually—just the last name and the approximate year.
If you're looking for older records, say from the 1990s or early 2000s, you might have to dig a bit deeper. While the digital archive is great for recent years, some of those older legacies are archived in a way that requires a bit more clicking.
Beyond the Text: Services and Flowers
When you find the right obituary, you're usually looking for two things: when is the service, and what can I do?
The Spence staff is pretty meticulous about listing "Celebration of Life" details. Since they handle everything from traditional burials to pet cremations (yes, they have a dedicated service for that too), the events can vary wildly.
- Traditional Services: Usually held at the Waterloo St. or Hill Rd. North locations.
- Off-site Memorials: Sometimes held at local churches like Lithopolis United Methodist.
- Private Remembrances: Some families, like Sharon Thompson’s, choose no public service. Respect that. If the obituary says "at the convenience of the family," it's a polite way of saying they need space.
If you want to send something, the website usually links directly to a local florist. It’s better to go through that link than a random 1-800 number. Why? Because the local florist actually knows the delivery schedule of the funeral home. They won’t try to deliver a spray of lilies at 4:00 PM if the service ended at 2:00 PM.
Dealing With the "Post-Service" Reality
A lot of funeral homes disappear once the check clears and the flowers wilt. One thing that sets the Dwayne Spence funeral home obituaries apart is their focus on what happens next. They have a full-time Post-Service Coordinator.
That might sound like a corporate title, but in reality, it means they help families navigate the mountain of paperwork that follows a death. Social Security, veteran benefits, insurance—it’s a nightmare to handle when you’re exhausted.
They also run a "Holiday Help" program. The first Christmas or Hanukkah without a loved one is brutal. Having a community-focused funeral home that acknowledges that through their public postings and local outreach actually makes a difference.
Actionable Steps for Finding a Record
If you are currently searching for a specific notice, don't waste time on generic search engines. Follow this path:
- Go Direct: Visit the official Spence Funeral Home website first. It is the only "source of truth" for service times and locations.
- Check Legacy.com: If for some reason the main site is down (rare, but it happens), they syndicate their records to Legacy, which often includes a "Sign up for alerts" feature.
- Use the Map: If the obituary lists a service, double-check which location. The Pickerington and Canal Winchester chapels are only about 15 minutes apart, but in traffic, that's the difference between making the eulogy and walking in late.
- Verify the Dates: Always look for the "Last Updated" timestamp if you are traveling from out of town. Weather in Ohio can be unpredictable in January, and service times sometimes shift.
Managing a loss is never easy, but having a reliable place to find information shouldn't be the hard part. The Spence family has built their reputation on being that reliable place for over half a century. Whether you’re looking for a long-lost relative's history or a neighbor's funeral time, the records are there, kept with the kind of dignity you’d expect from a family-run pillar of the community.