License suspensions issued for funeral home and former director

SPRINGFIELD — Porter-Qualls Funeral Home and a former funeral director for the business have had their licenses suspended by the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for what the board has deemed “immoral or unprofessional conduct...knowingly permitt(ing) an unlicensed person, other than a person serving an apprenticeship, to engage in the profession or business of embalming or funeral directing under the applicant’s or licensee’s supervision.”

In a release issued Thursday, August 26, the OBEFD voted to approve the recommendation and voted to suspend the funeral home license of Porter-Qualls, 823 S. Yellow Springs St., for a period of 30 days beginning September 3 and ending October 2.

The vote was taken at the OBEFD meeting held Monday, Aug. 16.

Woody A. Wilson, who served as funeral home manager and director at Porter-Qualls from July 2009 to January 2010, has had his embalmer and funeral director license suspended for a period of 45 days beginning September 3 and ending October 17.

Wilson was cited “specifically for failing to serve in a full-time capacity as funeral home manager and a funeral director master as required and attested to with signatures,” the release stated.

Both actions came from evidence presented to the board at a Dec. 22 board meeting showing Wilson allowed James E. Qualls, unlicensed staff member, to act as a funeral director without a license. It was determined Qualls performed duties including, but not limited to, arranging funeral services.

Both parties have 15 days to appeal the board’s rulings.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or elroberts@coxohio.com.

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