Todd L. Compston

Todd Lee Compston of 7 Dixon Street, Coalton, Ohio went home to be with the Lord at the Dayton VA Medical Center - Victory Ridge Hospice on 11 Nov 2026 (Veterans Day) after fighting a third long bout with cancer. This Disabled Veteran fought the good fight to the very end. Todd was a member of the Baptist Faith in his Christian journey, growing up at the First Baptist Church in Wellston. He committed his life to Christ years ago as a small child never losing sight of that conversion and his baptismal covenant with God. Todd was born at the Chillicothe City Hospital in Chillicothe, Ohio on 13 Feb 1962 to Clara Louise Jarvis (Compston) and John Frederick Compston Sr. Todd was a 1980 graduate of Wellston High School. He marched with the distinguished Wellston Golden Rockets Marching band all four years in high school while playing the Cornett. He also played in the Wellston Concert band all four years at Wellston. Todd ran the 880 yard run on the 1980 Wellston Track and Field SEOAL Championship Team. Todd ran on the newly created Wellston Cross Country Team his senior year. After graduation, Todd attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. In September 1981 Todd joined the United States Air Force serving from 1981 - 1989 obtaining the rank of Sergeant E-4. Upon graduation from Lackland AFB Basic Training, he attended USAF schooling at Keesler AFB, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Todd began his Air Force tour serving with the infamous U.S. Air Force Tops and Blues Band. He performed with the band traveling to several bases across the U.S. and Canada playing trumpet for the Airmen, NCOs, and Officers. His next assignment saw him being assigned to Scott Air Force Base at Belleville, Illinois serving with U.S. Air Force Communications Command. In 1985 he re-enlisted and was assigned to AF Communications Command at Area 51. His awards include: the AF Commendation Medal, AF Good Conduct Medal with 1OLC, AF Longevity Service Ribbon and the AF Training Ribbon. Todd was a member of Jefferson Howe American Legion Post 81 in Jackson, OH. After completing his tour of duty in the USAF and receiving his honorable discharge, Todd came home to Wellston and began working for Mike Alexander at D & M Mine supply in Wilkesville. He was an avid bowler in his early years, bowling in a league at Trio Lanes in Wellston. He also coached little league baseball in Wellston. His second job would begin his sports writing career starting in 1992 with the former Wellston Sentry Newspaper. The next paper Todd would write sports for was with the former Jackson Times Journal alongside his trusted cohorts Pete Wilson and Red Thompson creating a bond of friendship and comradery that would span over 30 years. Together, this trio covered Wellston, Jackson, Oak Hill, and Vinton County Sports Teams. His final paper he wrote sports for was with the Jackson County Telegram under the Total Media Group working for Alan Stockmeister who he really enjoyed working for and respected. He also enjoyed working alongside Cora Willett, Jeremiah Shaver, Amanda Molihan, and the rest of the Telegram staff. He loved sports. Todd was a huge OSU Buckeyes fan. He cared immensely about all our local high school teams. Especially, those teams making it to next level in the playoffs. Todd’s friends and relationships throughout the years covering sports were way too many to list. There were two though that he always talked about. They were, Retired Coach Rick Perdue from Wellston and Coach Andy Hall from Jackson. On his last Saturday at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center before transferring to the Dayton VA Hospice on 10 Nov 2026, Todd and his brother Kevin were watching Army and Air Force play football on T.V. in his hospital room. Todd looked at Kevin with his great big Compston competitive smile and said brother, “not this year.” His Falcons defeated Kevin’s Cadets at West Point. Veterans Hospice was a special blessing for Todd in his last days and likewise are for so many other Veteran(s) in this nation, giving them the opportunity to pass away with love, dignity, and respect. If you would like to support the Veteran’s Hospice in Dayton you can contribute in Todd’s Memory. Forward to the Dayton VA Medical Center, Victory Ridge Hospice. 4100 West 3rd Street, Building 350, Dayton, Ohio 45428.

Arrangements are under the direction of RM Williams Funeral Home. In accordance with Todd’s wishes private graveside services for family will be Tuesday November 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Coalton Cemetery on the Hill. There will be a celebration of his life in the coming weeks to give the community a chance to say goodbye to Todd Compston and recognize his place in the Sports Community.