Virginia Jo Kemp

Virginia Johanna Higginbotham Kemp, known as “Jo,” was born on October 25, 1935 and passed from this life to the next on September 16, 2023. She would have been 88 this fall.

Jo grew up in Saylor Park, Ohio on the west side of Cincinnati. Jo graduated from Western Hills High School and attended Ohio University and University of Cincinnati, completing a degree in journalism. She started her journalism career while at OU, joining the staff of the university newspaper, The Post. She worked as a reporter and eventually editor of The Milford Advertiser. In later years, Jo was a reporter for the Clermont Courier and other publications of the Community Press Newspapers. Her clarity and integrity served her well in all her professional endeavors.

Through it all, Jo’s strong faith in Jesus Christ and his word were the basis for that integrity. That faith led her to be an active servant of her church congregation. This included serving in the kitchen of an area church camp, as well as supporting the work of a local Christian ministry, the Midwestern Children’s Home. She and Jack also served the Milford community as part of the local Boy Scout and Cub Scout groups, Frontier Days, etc.

Jo Kemp loved all her children, grand-, and great-grandchildren, enjoying visits with them right up to the end of her life. She is loved and missed and will be remembered by her 4 children and their spouses: Debbie (Jim) Mickey, John (Sandi) Kemp, Andy (Rose) Kemp, and Rebecca (Denny) Arbaugh; her 11 grandchildren: Jamie (Breann) Mickey, Chris (Chantelle) Mickey, David Perkins, Erik Kemp, Claire (Jon) Crider, Emily (Patrick) Everett, Alicia (Dan) Strunk, Andrew (Devan) Kemp, Katie (Alex) Goodrich, Shelby Arbaugh, and Hailey Arbaugh; and her 11 great-grandchildren. She is also missed by many extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to either The Mid-Western Children’s home (www.mid-western.org) or The Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).

Visitation will be held at the Evans Funeral Home, 741 Center St., Milford, OH on Friday, October 13, 2023 from 6:00 PM until the Celebration of Life Service at 7:00 PM.