Our Staff

Jason H. Wilson, Sr.

Managing Funeral Director

Jason, who also represents the fifth generation, returned to the family business to run the family furniture store in 1992. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from the Ohio State University and earned his M. B. A. in business from Wheeling Jesuit University. He became a licensed funeral director in 2000, serving his apprenticeship under longtime employee, Allan Ketzell. 

Following in his father's legacy of public service, Jason currently serves as the Director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia for the State of Ohio. Previously, he served for several years in the Ohio Senate representing Belmont, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas Counties. 

Jason and his wife, Leah reside in North-Eastern Ohio, with their children, Jason, Jr., Ava and Maria

Jarrett Wilson

Funeral Director - Vice President

Following the death of Charlie Wilson in 2013, Jarrett, joins his brother, Jason, in representing the 5th generation of ownership of Wilson Funeral Home. He earned his B.A. in Communications from The Ohio State University and is a licensed funeral director.

For over 20 years, Jarrett worked outside of the family business in the Communications, Software and Technology Industries, most notably with Verizon Communications as a Director. He is honored to join his brother in continuing the important work of providing support and guidance for the families at a most difficult time in losing a loved one. 

Jarrett and his wife, Jill reside in Central Ohio with their two daughters Abigail and Katherine.

Jerry Fiutem

Embalmer - Funeral Director - General Manager

Scott J. Kaminski

Embalmer - Funeral Director

Scott was born and raised in Adena, Ohio,  a son of the late Edmund and Dorothy Kaminski. He is a member of St Casimir’s Catholic Church and attended grade school at St Casimir’s grade school. In 1983 Scott graduated from St Johns Central High School and in 1988 graduated from The Ohio State University.  After graduation, Scott was thinking about the influence of one of his parent’s good friends, Mr. Charles Wilson Sr. of Dillonvale, where as a young boy Mr. Wilson would talk with him on the front porch of his funeral home about what it was like to be a funeral director.  In 1995,  Scott went to the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Sciences and after graduating in 1996 began working as a funeral director in the Columbus area. Because of his mother’s failing health,  he returned to the valley and found he was happy to be back home.  Wilson's is pleased to have Scott on staff serving the families of the Ohio Valley.

Kathy Gazzola

Funeral Director

Kathy has worked in the funeral profession for the past 12 years as a funeral assistant while working full time as a teacher. The decision to work in the funeral business became more prevalent as she wanted to help families and serve her community as a Funeral Director. In 2023, Kathy completed her apprenticeship to become a licensed funeral director for the Wilson Funeral Home.

Kathy is a graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in Child Development/Early Childhood Education. She also graduated Cum Laude from Ohio University with her degree in Social Welfare Policies. Kathy is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Martins Ferry.  She resides in Martins Ferry, Ohio with her husband Craig who also works in the funeral home profession, along with their fur baby Molly. They have one daughter Olivia and son in law Seth who live in the Bridgeport area. I am honored to be working with the Wilson Funeral Home staff serving the communities and families when compassion is needed the most.

Jo Nelson

Embalmer and Funeral Director Apprentice

Jo was born and raised in Bellaire, Ohio.  She graduated high school in 1994.  She then attended Columbus State Community College and graduated with an Associate of Science in Veterinary Technology.  After working as a veterinary technician for several years, she then pursued a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Franklin University.  Afterwards, she worked for the Columbus Dispatch.

Motherhood arrived and she took a career break.  She is the proud mother to two teenage boys, Dane and Walker.

Currently, Jo is finishing up the mortuary science program at PIMS, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.  Upon completion, she will be a licensed embalmer\ funeral director.  Jo has been working for Wilson Funeral Homes for several years and mainly focuses on Western Belmont County families.  She looks forward to continuing to provide exceptional service to the people and the community.

Sage Dombroski

Embalmer and Funeral Director Apprentice

Missy Chieffalo

Administration Supervisor

Missy Chieffalo , our newest employee in office administration. She brings nearly 20 years of funeral home/cemetery experience with her from Holly Memorial Gardens. 

She graduated in 1991 from Martins Ferry High School and from Belmont College in 1996 with a degree in mental health. She is currently back in school to finish her bachelor's degree from Ohio University.  Missy lives in Pleasant Grove with her husband Shawn. She has one daughter, Tara, who resides in Mesa, Arizona with her husband Judd. 

Missy has a love for life, family, and cannot forget her animals who mean the world to her.

Kathy Fiutem

Funeral Attendant

Kathy has been with Wilson Funeral Home for 29 years as a hair dresser and a lady attendant. She and her husband Jerry reside in Colerain. They are the parents of a son Damon and a grandson Gavyn. Kathy remained in the area after graduating from Bridgeport High School. Formerly she was a department manager with JC Penny Co. and assisted with the opening of the St. Clairsville Mall Store.

Jim Hoff

Funeral Attendant

Pastor Jim Hoff is a graduate of Ravenna High School, Ravenna, Ohio. He attended Ohio University Eastern for two years and became an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church in 1995. 

Jim worked throughout the Ohio Valley in full time ministry for 28 ½ years, before retiring in December of 2008. He is currently ministering at the Hopewell United Methodist Church on a part time basis and resides in Bridgeport with his wife Metta.

Paul West

Funeral Attendant

Paul West was born in Wheeling, W.Va. He was a 1966 graduate of Wheeling Central Catholic High School and a 1972 graduate of West Liberty State College. Paul was a teacher and a coach for 14 years. He also worked Retail Sales and Management for 30 years. Paul is retired and lives with his wife Cora in Brookside, Ohio. He enjoys golf and spending time with his 2 grandsons Chad and Garrett.

Jake Kafana

Funeral Attendant

Jake (Jack) grew up in Connerville, Ohio. He graduated from Warren Consolidated High School in 1960. In 1963, he married his wife Linda Veres and have four children: Jacquie who lives in Maynard, Ohio, Scott who lives in Washington, Pa., Tami who lives in Kentucky and Jay from Pleasant Grove. Jake has eleven grandchildren two great-grandchildren. 

Jake attends Colerain Presbyterian Church where he is also a member of the choir. He enjoys golfing, fishing and has played Santa Claus since 1966. He was employed by Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, Martins Ferry Plant, where he retired from after 34 years of service as a truck driver. Jake joined the Wilson staff in 2010.

Karen Rinkes

Funeral Attendant

Karen is a 1964 graduate of Bridgeport High School and a 1967 graduate of the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing. She currently works part time as an R.N. at OVMC in the Social Services – Discharge Planning Department. She serves as an Elder for Grace Presbyterian Church, in Martins Ferry and lives in Floral Valley.

Karen has two children; Chuck (Kelly) Rinkes of Coshocton and Shelley (Dr. Robert) Crake of Wheeling. Two grandchildren complete her family, Jaxon and Sydney. She’s an avid sports fan, especially for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Rob Zitzelsberger

Funeral Attendant

Rob is a lifelong resident of Yorkville and a graduate of Yorkville High School.  He earned his Bachelors Degree in Education from Ohio University, and his Master Degree in Educational Administration from Franciscan University.  Rob is a Past Master of Bridgeport Lodge #181 F&AM and a retired Principal and Varsity girls basketball coach from the Bridgeport School District where he spent the last 14 years of his career.

Rob married his wife Mary Kay (Heil) in 1980 and they have two children, Ashley (Klete) Kutrovac who reside in Canonsburg, PA and RJ (Caroline) who reside in Wheeling, WV.  Rob enjoys athletic competition, and you can find him and his wife at many sporting events across the Ohio Valley. Rob also loves golfing and spending time with his five grandchildren. Rob attends the Experience Church in Lansing.

Cora West

Funeral Attendant

Cora graduated from Bridgeport High School and retired after 27 years of service from Eastern Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority in 2014.  She joined the Wilson family in 2019.

Cora lives in Brookside, Ohio with her husband Paul.

Cora has two daughters, Melissa Frazier of Brookside, Ohio & Stephanie Pettit of Weirton, West Virginia.  She has two grandsons, Chad Frazier and Garrett Pettit. She loves spending  time with family and going to the boys sporting and school events.

She enjoys crafting, sewing and serving as treasurer for Brookside Park District #9.

Taylor Murphy

Administration

Biography coming soon

Penny Humphrey

Funeral Attendant

Biography coming soon

Connie Crecion

Funeral Attendant

Biography coming soon

Craig Gazzola

Lead Transfer Specialist/Funeral Director Assistant

Craig has worked in the funeral profession for the past 15 years. He graduated from Buckeye South High School in Tiltonsville, Ohio and attended Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Craig is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Martins Ferry. Craig enjoys Nascar Racing and goes to Dirt Car Racing when he is not at the funeral home. He is married to his wife Kathy for the past 35 years; they have one daughter Olivia and son in law Seth who reside in Bridgeport. They have one fur baby, Molly. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve my friends, neighbors, and community through the Wilson Funeral Home

David Carter

Funeral Attendant

Biography coming soon

James Arritt

Funeral Attendant

Biography coming soon

Michael Crecion

Funeral Attendant

Biography coming soon

Sharon McCutcheon

Funeral Attendant

Sharon is a graduate from St. John Central.  A life long resident of Belmont County, Sharon retired from Platic Surgery, Inc. after 21 years.  After retirement, Sharon worked in marketing for a local home health agency and as an elder caregiver.

Sharon resides in Belmont County and has three children, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.  In her spare time, Sharon loves spending time with her family, listening to music, playing sports, especially as an avid pickleball player.

Terri Barath

Funeral Attendant