Friday, September 10, 1999

Family faces death of teen, grandfather

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BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Missy Boling kept trying until she made the Ross cheerleading squad this year. She was killed with her grandfather Tuesday in a head-on crash on U.S.27. | ZOOM |

        HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Missy Boling's family was struggling Thursday to cope with the shock of Tuesday's tragic wreck on U.S. 27 that killed the Ross High School cheerleader and her 70-year-old grandfather, Robert Sandlin.

        “It's a bad situation,” Missy's father, Ray Boling, said sadly while sitting on the front porch of their red-brick ranch-style house in Hanover Township. “She was the best daughter a person could ask for. After my father died in 1980, (Mr. Sandlin) became like a father to me.”

        Mr. Boling, 41, a machine helper at Champion Interna tional in Hamilton, declined to comment on the charges filed against Joseph Hoops, 36, who was driving the van that struck Mr. Sandlin's car head-on. Mr. Hoops faces DUI, aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges.

        Mr. Boling said he preferred to talk about his daughter and his father-in-law.

        He said Missy and her grandfather were two of a kind: considerate, outgoing and completely unselfish.

        “She was like an angel,” he said. “She brought light to everyone she came in contact with. She never had a bad word to say about anybody. Her grandfather was the same way. He would have given me his last dime if I asked for it.”

        Missy, a Ross High School junior, was a good student who tried unsuccessfully for four consecutive years to make her school cheerleading squad before making the varsity high school squad this year.

        She hadn't planned on try ing out for the cheerleading squad this year because of the past disappointments, but a friend talked her into doing it.

        She was thrilled when she made it.

        “I'm just glad she got to cheerlead for the first two football games this year because it was her dream,” Mr. Boling said.

        Mr. Boling and his wife, Darlene, received word of the accident in Columbus, where they were helping their son, Rob, get settled for the new school year at Ohio State. Mr. Sandlin was staying at the Bolings' house with Missy while her parents were gone.

        Mr. Sandlin lived in Hamilton with his wife, Della. A retired electrician foreman at the former Champion Paper Co. in Hamilton, Mr. Sandlin doted on his four grandchildren, Mr. Boling said.

        “They were his life,” he said.

        Mr. Sandlin was looking forward to seeing Rob play baseball this year for OSU's varsity.

        “It meant so much for him to see Rob play at Ohio State, and now he's not going to,” Mr. Boling said. “But I know every time Rob comes up to bat, he'll be there for him.”

        The Bolings have been deluged with condolences from family, friends, neighbors and Ross High School students and staff.

        On Wednesday, the entire Ross football team and their coaches and the cheerleading squad stopped by the Boling house.

        “You couldn't find a parking spot on this street,” Mr. Boling said.

        He said the concern and warmth expressed by the community and the high school have helped him and his family as they try to endure the loss of two loved ones.

        There will be joint visitation and funeral services for Missy and Mr. Sandlin.

        Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, at the Hamilton Christian Center, 1940 Millville Ave., Hanover Township. Services will be at 1 p.m. at the same location. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park in Trenton.

        The family requests memorial donations be sent to the Ross High School Athletic Department, 3425 Hamilton- Cleves Road, Ross, 45213.

       

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