Finding information about gehlbach and royse obituaries is usually something people do during their absolute worst weeks. When you're looking for a service time or trying to figure out where to send flowers for a friend in Corydon or Georgetown, the last thing you want is a clunky website or confusing directions. Honestly, most folks just want to know when the visitation starts and where the heck the funeral home is located.
Gehlbach & Royse is a staple in Southern Indiana. They've been around since 1916. That is a massive amount of history. Think about that for a second. They started back when funeral visitations were often held in the actual living room of the person who passed away. Clarence E. Gehlbach and his wife Mabel basically built the foundation of what would become a five-generation family business.
Because they’ve been around so long, searching for gehlbach and royse obituaries can sometimes feel like digging through a digital time capsule. You’ve got records from decades ago mixed with high-tech "Forever Photos" and digital tributes from 2026.
Why Gehlbach and Royse Obituaries Look Different Lately
If you haven't looked at an obituary in a few years, you might be surprised. It isn't just a block of gray text in the newspaper anymore. They’ve moved toward something much more interactive.
Basically, the funeral home uses specific software now that allows families to build out these digital memorial pages. Take the recent passing of David Alan Hunter in January 2026, for example. His obituary isn't just a list of survivors like his wife Edie or his kids Whitney and Lacey. It’s a place where people are uploading photos and sharing specific stories about his time as a plant manager or his years as a school bus driver.
This shift is huge for genealogy. If you’re a local history buff or just trying to trace your family tree in Harrison County, these digital archives are gold. You’re finding "honorary grandchildren" and details about a person’s career at local spots like Roman Marblene that you’d never find in a standard government record.
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Where to actually find the latest notices
Don't just rely on a random Google search. It can be hit or miss.
- The Official Website: This is your best bet. They have separate sections for their Corydon and Georgetown locations.
- Tribute Archive: This is a secondary site that often mirrors their listings. It's handy if the main site is running slow.
- Local Newspaper Sites: Places like the Corydon Democrat often pick these up, but they might be behind a paywall.
Kinda frustratingly, some third-party sites like Legacy or Nola might show up in your search results but have zero actual stories listed. It’s a common quirk of how obituary data gets scraped. Stick to the source if you want the real details.
The Two Locations: Don't Show Up at the Wrong One
This happens way more than it should. Since there are two facilities, people often confuse them.
Corydon Facility
Located downtown, just a block from the "historic square" at 318 East Chestnut Street. It’s the bigger of the two, with two chapels that seat about 200 people each. If the obituary mentions a service near the courthouse, this is the one.
Georgetown Facility
This one is at 7420 Highway 64. It’s super close to I-64—only about five minutes away. It has a single, larger chapel that can hold around 250 people. If you're coming in from Louisville or Floyds Knobs, this is usually the more convenient stop.
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Both spots have the same amenities: Wi-Fi, lounges with refrigerators, and handicap accessibility. But seriously, double-check the address on the gehlbach and royse obituaries page before you put it into GPS.
The Families Behind the Name
It’s rare to see a business stay in the same family for over 100 years. We’re talking five generations here. Currently, you’ll see names like Laura "Dookie" Royse (who is a retired past president) and Fred Royse. Fred is third-generation and though he’s retired, he’s still a huge part of the community fabric in Corydon along with his wife Beulah.
Then you have the newer faces and long-time staff like Gerald Saulman, who has been a licensed funeral director since 1962. That’s over 60 years of helping people through their darkest days. When you read an obituary from this home, you’re usually reading something written with the help of someone who likely knew the family personally.
Surprising Details in Recent Tributes
Looking at recent records from early 2026, like the obituary for David Schmelz, you see how much weight the community puts on service. David was a lifelong dairy farmer and an Air Force veteran. But what stands out in his tribute isn't just the military honors—it’s the comments from kids who rode his school bus for 23 years.
That’s the "value" of a well-written obituary. It’s not just a death notice; it’s a record of a person's "legend" status in a small town like Lanesville or Georgetown.
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Practical Steps for Finding or Placing a Notice
If you are looking for a specific person, use the "Advanced Search" on their site. You can filter by first name, last name, or even the distance from your current location if you're using a mobile device.
If you're the one tasked with writing one, here's the reality:
- Keep the maiden names: It helps long-lost friends find the notice.
- Include the hobbies: Mentioning that someone loved "Workers for Mexico Mission" or the "Masons" (like in Roy McClain’s 2024 tribute) helps people know where to send memorial donations.
- Check the visitation hours: Gehlbach & Royse often have split visitation times (like 4-8 PM one day and then a morning session before the service). Don't assume it's just an hour before the funeral.
When searching for gehlbach and royse obituaries, make sure you are looking at the most recent year. With names that repeat in families—lots of Kenneths and Lees over the years—it is easy to accidentally click on a record from 2016 or 2020.
To stay updated without constantly searching, you can actually sign up for obituary alerts directly on their website. It sends an email whenever a new service is posted. This is a solid move if you’ve moved away from the Harrison County area but still want to keep tabs on old neighbors and friends.
For those looking to honor a loved one right now, your best next step is to visit the Gehlbach & Royse "Obituaries" tab and look for the "Upload Photos" button on the specific memorial page. It's the most direct way to contribute to the digital "Remember Book" that the family gets to keep forever.