05/27/2025

Obituary for Carolyn Jill (Bussard) White Vaniman

Retired Funeral Director of Barnes Funeral Home and Former Owner of Bussard-Barnes-Vaniman Funeral Home

Carolyn Jill (Bussard) White Vaniman, 82 of Eldorado, Ohio, died peacefully Monday, May 26, 2025, at Vancrest Health in Eaton, Ohio.  She was born on June 20, 1942, in Richmond, Indiana, daughter of the late Harry Leander and Wanda Mae (Fulkerson) Bussard. Jill was a 1960 graduate of Monroe High School in West Manchester, Ohio and a 1964 graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She taught elementary school in the Meadowdale School District in Dayton and the Monroe Township School District in West Manchester for many years. In 1983, she became a 3rd generation licensed funeral director following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Harry E. Fulkerson and her father, Harry L. Bussard. In 1981 upon the death of her father, she became the owner/operator of the Bussard-Barnes-Vaniman Funeral Home in Eldorado until it closed in 2019 after 81 years of serving the Eldorado area.  Jill was an Executive Director for the American Cancer Society for Preble, Darke, Greene and Montgomery Counties and was the Bureau Supervisor for the Combined Health District of Montgomery County.

Jill loved her community and served in any capacity she could. She was an active member of the First Universalist Church of Eldorado, where she served on the Board of Trustees, Women’s Association. She was also an active member of the Preble County Girl Scouts, the Eldorado Zucchini Festival Committee, former member of the Board of Directors of the Preble County Department of Human Services, member of the Advisory Board of Reid Hospital Home Care Services, member of the Breast Cancer Task Force of the Greater Miami Valley, member of the Board of Trustees for the Preble County District Library, Life member of the Amvets Post 726 Auxiliary, member of the “Rowdy Girls”, founding member  of the Eldorado Activities Committee, member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and husband of 16 years, Floyd R. White in 1978 and her second husband of 32 years, Nicholas R. Vaniman in 2012; brother, Ronald M. Bussard in 2023; sister-in-law, Carolyn D. Bussard in 2012, and nephew, Ronald “Kim” Bussard in 1997.

She is survived by her daughter, Tiana R. White; son and daughter-in-law, David A. (Christa M. Novicki) White; daughter and son-in-law, Robin L. (Robert) Brunk; niece, Jeanine K. Bussard; grandchildren, Samuel Ryder Nicholas Roberts and Sean Michael Van Roberts.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at The First Universalist Church of Eldorado, 160 Monroe St. Eldorado, OH 45321 with Rev. Derek Parker officiating. Interment will be held in Greenmound Cemetery in New Madison, Ohio. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the church and one hour prior to service at the church on Saturday. Arrangements Entrusted to Barnes Funeral Home, Eaton, Ohio.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Universalist Church of Eldorado, P.O. Box 146, Eldorado, Ohio 45321 or the North Central Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 271, Eldorado, Ohio, 45321. Condolences may be sent to the family via the website at www.barnesfuneralhome.com