Our Staff

Tommy was born and raised above the Oakwood Chapel, in Dayton, Ohio. He became an active member of the Routsong team by the age of nine. He received his Bachelors Degree from Albion College in 1979 and graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1981. 

In July of 2002, Tommy purchased the business from his father, Thomas H. Routsong, who remains active in the community and assists his friends when called upon. Tommy is the third generation of Routsongs to take over the helm of this family owned business. 

He is a member of David's United Church of Christ, Oakwood Rotary Club, Far Hills Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton, Antioch Shrine, Dayton Art Institute and Dayton Country Club. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Community Blood and Tissue Center of Dayton and the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) and is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Mortuary Response Team. 

Tommy is a Certified Celebrant, Certified Funeral Planning Consultant and a Certified Pre- Planning Consultant.  

Sam is part of the fourth generation of Routsongs to work at the funeral home. He has been a full-time team member since June of 2016, but previously had worked in many of the positions around the funeral home. In June of 2019 Sam completed all the state of Ohio requirements and tests to become a fully licensed Funeral Director. He has since completed his Funeral Celebrant  and Certified Funeral Service Provider training.

To date he has made arrangements with over 500 families while learning every aspect of the business from his father and grandfather. 

Sam is especially proud to be carrying on his family's tradition of helping others in their time of need.  

Max is a fourth generation Routsong in the family business. Since graduating from Ohio University he has decided to pursue the career path of a funeral director and  became licensed in October of 2023. Max is primarily known for taking care of Boat and Scooter. 

Erika L. Warsitz-Knox joined our team of caring professionals in October of 2021. Erika graduated from Beavercreek High School in 2016 and continued her education at Sinclair Community College earning an Associate’s Degree, and finally earning her Bachelor of Mortuary Science from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2019. After graduating, Erika earned her licenses as a Funeral Director, Embalmer, Crematory Operator, Pre-arrangement Counselor, Certified Life Celebrant, and Notary. 

On April 28, 2019, Erika married Cory Knox, also a Funeral Director/Embalmer, and together, they enjoy biking area trails, antique shopping, and spending time with their loving families including their twin boys, Vincent and Arthur, who were born in May of 2024. 

Jennifer began working for Routsong Funeral Home in July of 2019 as a front office assistant. She quickly found her passion in caring for every family that comes in. Jennifer started her training as a funeral director apprentice in 2021, and became a licensed funeral director in 2023. Jennifer is also a licensed funeral celebrant, and holds a notary license.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys reading, shopping, and spending time with her husband Cory, and their son, Elliot. 

A Kettering native, Kelly graduated with honors from Kettering Fairmont High School in 2001. She is a devoted wife and mother, now residing in Springboro. While raising her three children, Kelly found time to follow her passion for the visual arts, freelancing in portraiture and taking on many professional commissions. She has exhibited her work and won multiple awards over the years in Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton.

In 2022, Kelly committed to continuing her education and re-enrolled at Wright State University, later transferring to the prestigious Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2024, having earned her Bachelor of Mortuary Science. While at CCMS, Kelly was honored with the James C. Lyerly Management Award, along with the Dr. A.J. Nunnamaker Award for student citizenship and highest scholastic standing. 

She earned her certification as a funeral celebrant through the InSight Institute in 2024, and is also a licensed crematory operator in the state of Ohio.

Above all else, Kelly is most proud to be a mother who brings her spirit of kindness and genuine care for others to every family she serves

Tyler has been with the Routsong team since 2015 through Tastefully Roasted Coffee, where he worked as a Business Manager. In June of 2019, Tyler transitioned to the role of Financial Controller for the funeral home, where he gets to utilize his passion for analyzing data and numbers. In his free time, Tyler enjoys watching any sport (but especially the Bengals and the Reds), and spending time with his wife Sarah and their puppy Kona. 

Margie is a native Daytonian graduating from Alter High School and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from the University of Dayton in 1979. As a licensed Funeral Director and Insurance Agent, she brings 25 years experience to Routsong Funeral Home primarily assisting families in making advance arrangements. One of the first lessons Margie learned from the Routsong family was there are no funeral "dress rehearsals". Pre-planning one's funeral goes a long way to ensure that one's "final celebration" is carried out according to their wishes. Ensuring a seamless transition from "pre-need" to "at-need" is a top priority for Margie.

In addition to her dedication to funeral service, Margie's priorities center around her faith as a lifelong member of St. Charles Parish; her support of many first responder and veterans organizations particularly through the Tunnels to Towers Foundation and her passion for sports including the University of Dayton Flyers, Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns. But her greatest blessings remain her two sons and daughters-in-law, being "Nana" to her four Granddaughters Grace, Ella, Paige and Alex and one Grandson Anthony, and sharing her love of "country living" with a large yellow Labrador named "Custer" and her favorite "Farmer" John Ward.

Annabelle was born in Panama City, Florida but moved to the Dayton area when she was twelve.

 She graduated from Stivers School for the Arts in 2020 with an emphasis in photography. She joined the Routsong staff in January of 2022 as an Administrator and Pet Cremation Specialist in the front office. The families appreciate her creative style and compassionate attitude.

In her free time, Annabelle enjoys photography, cooking, and spending time with her two cats, Kevin and Wilson the Tripod. 

Ellis was born in Bloomington, Indiana but moved to the Dayton area at the age of twelve. He is a graduate of Sinclair Community College, with a degree in Quality Engineering, and Wright State University, with a degree in Psychology. He served in the US Air Force for four years and worked in the medical equipment manufacturing industry as a Quality and Regulatory Manager until retirement. 

Ellis and his wife Cora have resided in Kettering for 41 years. They have a daughter, Laura, who lives in Hillsboro, Ohio and a son, David, who lives in Bexley, Ohio. They are blessed to have four granddaughters and two grandsons. 

Ellis and Cora are active members of Faith Baptist Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. Ellis joined the Routsong staff in August 2006.

Bob has lived in the Dayton area all but four years of his life. He was a 1972 graduate of West Carrollton High School.  After high school, he began a career in Restaurant Management, with McDonalds, then with Walt Disney World. After splitting seventeen years between both of these companies, he transitioned into a career of serving the community by becoming a firefighter/paramedic. 

In 2002 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Fire and Safety Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He spent 28 years in Fire Service, retiring at the level of Fire Marshal.  In 2014 he proudly joined the Routsong team. His deep understanding of people, in their time of need has proven to be an asset to our team. Bob married his wife, Gale in 1976 and they have two loving sons.  They are very proud of their two grandchildren with whom they spend as much time with as possible. 

In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, camping, and golf.

Boat is a pure-bred Australian Shepard who can be found around the funeral home. He loves to greet people by the front door with toys and a wagging tail. He is very friendly, but timid at first, if you see him please feel free to play fetch or pat his head. 

Scooter is also a pure-bred Australian Shepard who is a half brother to Boat. He can be found wandering around playing with his brother. He is a bit shy, but has a great heart once he gets to know you.