Darrell James Coots, 83, of Millersburg dies; 36-year Wooster Brush worker

Darrell James Coots, 83, of Millersburg, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster, according to obituary notices. Coots’ years of work in local manufacturing and his ties to the Millersburg and Wooster communities mark him as a familiar figure to neighbors and former co-workers.

Coots was born Dec. 23, 1942, in Cromwill, KY, the obituary records show. He worked at Wooster Brush Company for 36 years and also held employment with Wm. Annett Company. Those long spans of employment place Coots among a generation of Holmes County residents whose livelihoods were tied to nearby factories and shops, and whose steady presence helped shape workplace culture in the region.

Survivors listed in the available obituary material include his wife, Mary Rutt Coots, and a daughter, Cynthia Barstow. The published notice is truncated after the word "two," leaving additional survivors unspecified in the versions available online and in the local listings. The omission has not been filled in public notices as of publication.

Visitation is listed for Saturday, Feb. 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Parkview Christian Church on Burbank Road in Wooster, with a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. the same day. A local obituary page includes photographs and shows Fickes Funeral Home in association with Coots’ listing. The online obituary page offers options for family and friends to add memories, send flowers, make donations, sign a guest book and plant trees in his memory.

Coots’ passing at LifeCare Hospice highlights the role of hospice care in Wayne and Holmes counties, particularly as the region’s population ages. Access to end-of-life services, caregiver support and clear communication from providers matter to families facing similar situations. Local health providers and community organizations are part of the safety net that families rely on when medical needs become complex.

For Millersburg neighbors and former colleagues at Wooster Brush Company and Wm. Annett Company, the loss is personal. Long tenures like Coots’ reflect multi-decade relationships at the workplace and in town, and they often mean a web of coworkers, friends and extended family who now must coordinate memorials and practical support.

Readers who wish to pay respects can attend the visitation and funeral at Parkview Christian Church on Feb. 13 or use the online obituary listing’s guest-book and memorial options to share memories. Local listings and the funeral-home notice provide the most current details for arrangements and any updates.