USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Archie McKinnon
Former Kent resident Archie McKinnon, 76, of Ocean Springs, Miss., died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000.
Born in Cicero, Ill., he was the son of John and Stella McKinnon. He had lived in Kent for 10 years before moving to Mississippi in 1998.
Mr. McKinnon was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the American Legion in Kent and Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Miss.
Survivors include his wife, Lois (Schwartz); daughters, Carol Blair of Atlanta, Ga., and Eileen Derteen of Ocean Springs, Miss.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His brothers, Richard McKinnon and Walter Walder; and sister, Dorothy Brindis, died previously.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 675 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, Miss., 39533.
Phyllis Keller
Memorial services for Phyllis S. Keller, 86, of Ravenna, who died Friday, Jan. 28, 2000 while visiting her daughter in New Mexico, will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 26 at First United Methodist Church in Ravenna.
Mrs. Keller was born October 31, 1913 in Iowa, a daughter of Clarence and Martha (Weaver) Slingerland. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a teaching degree. She married Dr. John G. Keller in 1933 and they moved to Ravenna in 1946. She worked for many years as a receptionist and secretary for her husband, a dentist.
She was a good athlete, excelling in swimming, tennis, golf and bowling and was a tennis instructor at one time. She also enjoyed playing cards. She was active in the church, working in many capacities, and was a member and officer in the Ravenna Sorosis, serving as secretary at the time of her death.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Kipp of New Mexico and Gayle Sperry of Berlin Lake; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Her husband died previously.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Youth Program.
Roberta Porthouse
A memorial service will be held Feb. 12 in Kent for Roberta Porthouse who died February 2 at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo.
Mrs. Porthouse, 88, suffered a stroke on Jan. 22 that was followed by a heart attack. She was being treated at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo., where she had moved in late 1995 to be closer to her children.
The memorial service, with the Rev. Stephen Lashbrook officiating, has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Kent. The family will receive friends at the church immediately prior to the service begining at 2 p.m.
Mrs. Porthouse had lived in Kent most of her life. Her husband, the late Cyril R. Porthouse, president of Evenflo and part of a group that owned industries across the country and in Europe, was probably the leading industrial figure of his time in Portage County, but his prodigious abilities in industry might not have received their chance to flourish were it not for his wife, who played a deciding role in her husband raising the money to buy Pyramid Rubber in Ravenna, the company that started the path to his great success.
Given only days in the 1940s to raise the money to buy Pyramid, the Porthouses turned to a former boss of Mrs. Porthouse's who had achieved wealth in Texas. Within 24 hours, her appeal raised the $1 million Mr. Porthouse required to make an offer for the company he led to such great heights.
A consummate corporate executive's wife, Mrs. Porthouse, true to the code for women of her day, remained in the background, always helping, always proud of the success her husband achieved. She directed her energies to raising the couple's four children and to volunteerism and charity.
In Portage County, she helped found the Women's Association at Robinson Memorial Hospital which evolved into the Auxiliary and where she was a member for more than 50 years. Mrs. Porthouse helped the Auxiliary set up its coffee and gift shop whose profits are donated by the Auxiliary for Robinson's betterment.
When Robinson Memorial Hospital established its Foundation, Mrs. Porthouse in the early 1990s became its first President's Club donor with a gift of $25,000.
She and her husband gave the $60,000 challenge grant that led to the creation and maintenance of Porthouse Theater at Blossom Music Center. They also formed the Porthouse Foundation.
When the Kent State University Museum was established in the 1980s with the collection of Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman, Mrs. Porthouse became one of its charter volunteers. She loved fabrics and had a keen eye for color and as a volunteer delighted in taking on hands-on jobs at the museum.
Mrs. Porthouse was born July 12, 1911 in Lakewood. Her father became active in industry in Barberton and in the 1920s became head of Portage Tire Company in Kent. He moved his family to Kent, which remained Mrs. Porthouse's hometown for most of her life.
She attended the "old" Central School where one of her classmates was Evangeline Davey Smith, daughter of Martin L. Davey, who would become Ohio's governor. The two classmates became lifelong friends and the then Miss Davey served as maid of honor in Mrs. Porthouse's wedding.
Mrs. Porthouse graduated from the Roosevelt High School, which is being converted into Davey Elementary School.
In 1932, she graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Fine Arts. It was the depths of the Depression. Businesses were suffering reverses and Mrs. Porthouse had to help finance her senior year by keeping the books at the Delta Delta Delta sorority house where she was a member.
She had become engaged to Cyril R. Porthouse of Ravenna, but with the Depression, their prospects were not bright. Mrs. Porthouse took a job in Polsky's basement in Akron while her husband-to-be, no job in sight, returned to OSU to study for his master's degree in chemical engineering.
When Mr. Porthouse got a job with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., the two were married Aug. 21, 1933 and made their home in North Hill in Akron.
Mr. Porthouse thought his chances of running his own business were better in a smaller company so he left Goodyear after a few years to work for the Pyramid Rubber Co. in Ravenna.
Offered the opportunity to buy Pyramid Rubber in the 1940s, Mrs. Porthouse raised much of the cash to help her husband make the purchase. She had kept up contact with one of her bosses at Polsky's who had gone out to Texas and made a fortune. At her urging, her former boss raised a $1 million within 24 hours to help Mr. Porthouse buy Pyramid.
With Mr. Porthouse at the helm of Pyramid, the investors went on to assemble a group of companies that included Evenflo Products and Harcourt Manufacturing in Ravenna; City Glass Co. in Oil City, Pa.; Platt and Munk, Inc., New York, N.Y.; Infanseat Co., Eldora, Iowa; Evenflo Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. The group was merged into a larger group, Dunhill, that included A.G. Spalding, the sporting goods company, over which Mr. Porthouse served for a time as president.
In the 1940s, the couple with the help of Mr. Porthouse's father, David, a skilled mason, built their first family home in University's Heights, at the time a new Kent neighborhood. It was there they raised their four children.
In the late 1950s, the Porthouses led the way in developing the village of Sugar Bush Knolls, north of Kent, much of which had once been an experimental tree farm operated by the Davey Tree Expert Co. They built a home on a large tract of land and resided there for 34 years. Mr. Porthouse also served as mayor of the village.
Besides her volunteer and charitable activities, Mrs. Porthouse enjoyed bridge and golf, both of which she played at Twin Lakes Country Club where she and her husband were longtime members.
She also liked to travel and did a lot of it with her husband because of his busy schedule. After his death in 1990, she continued to travel with her daughters, Roberta, Jean, grandaughter Diane, and daughter-in-law, Jacqueline.
A person who enjoyed sports, she and her husband as alumni remained ardent Ohio State Buckeye fans. They attended at least one football game every season from 1932 on. Mrs. Porthouse continued the practice until this year when her health prevented her from traveling to Columbus.
Having left Kent to be closer to her children in St. Louis, she adopted the Cardinals as her new hometown baseball team and with her family two years ago saw Mark McGwire hit homers 62, 67, and 68.
Mrs. Porthouse is survived by her son, David (Jacqueline), Chesterfield, Mo.; daughters, Dian of Reno, Nev., Roberta (Joseph) Benich of Mt. Pleasant, S. C., and Jean (James) Hunt of Incline Village, Nevada and New York City; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial gifts may be made to Porthouse Theater, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent 44242 or to charity.
Woodrow W. Frankhouser
Woodrow W. Frankhouser, 85, of Kent, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born Sept. 9, 1914 in Uniontown, Pa., he was the son of Robert W. and Salena (King) Frankhouser. He had lived in Kent since 1947.
Mr. Frankhouser began as a salesman and later became owner of Slates Auto Parts which had stores in Kent, Ravenna and Cuyahoga Falls.
He served with the U.S. Army from 1937 to 1979, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Kent.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel (Odele); son, Edward of Kent; and several brothers and sisters.
Private services were held for the family. Burial was in Standing Rock Cemetery of Kent. Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel handled arrangements.
Donna Walters Martin
Former Kent resident Donna Walters Martin, 50, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000 after a battle with ovarian cancer.
Born Dec. 2, 1949 in Akron, she was the daughter of Marilyn and Darl Walters. A 1968 graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent, she moved to Jacksonville, Fla. in 1972.
Mrs. Martin worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber while residing in Kent. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Kent.
She is survived by her husband, Tom; son, Tom; parents Marilyn and Darl Walters of Starke, Fla.; sisters, Darlene Flynt of Kent and Deb Pistek and Deanne Walters of Orange Park, Fla.; and brother, David Walters of Jacksonville.
A memorial service will be held Saturday in Orange Park, Fla.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Clay County Unit, Ovarian Cancer Research, P.O. Box 282, Orange Park, Fla. 32067.
Elmer F. Leggett
PALMYRA - Elmer F. Leggett, 85, died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000, at his home.
Born May 4, 1914 in Malvern, Ohio, he was the son of Leroy and Mary (Shawver) Leggett. He had lived in Palmyra for 58 years.
Mr. Leggett was a retired civil service worker who was employed at Lordstown Space Center.
A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a member of Deerfield American Legion Post No. 713. He was a member of Palmyra United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Helen (Watt), to whom he was married 60 years; sons, Avery of Alliance and Ralph of Rootstown; daughters, Penny Erwin of Brimfield, Karen Peden of Gumbranch, Ga. and Sally Valot of Palmyra; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Five brothers and six sisters died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Palmyra United Methodist Church, with Dr. David Clarke and the Rev. Robert James officiating. Burial will be in West Cemetery in Palmyra.
Memorials may be made to Palmyra United Methodist Church.
Myron Eugene Halterman
Myron Eugene Halterman, 71, of Ravenna, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000, in Akron.
Born June 30, 1928, in Uniontown, Pa., he was the son of Nettie (Weese) and Ferguson Maslin Halterman. He spent most of his life in Warren and Ravenna and was a graduate of Warren Harding HIgh School and Hiram College.
Mr. Halterman worked in the advertising department of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and later retired as a weigh master with Republic Steel Corporation. He had a third career as an employee of the Key Bank of Ravenna.
He was a World War II veteran, serving as a Red Cross ambulance driver in Italy. He received the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal.
Survivors include his sister, Edith Halterman Geary of Albuquerque, N.M.; nephew, David L. Geary of Albuquerque; and sister-in-law, Betty Halterman of Ocala, Fla. A brother, Woodrow, died in 1983.
Private burial will be in Crown Hill Memorial Park in Vienna, Ohio. A private memorial service for the family will be held Feb. 6 at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint John in Albuquerque.
John Klepo
John Klepo, 76, of Ravenna died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000, at home.
Born July 28, 1923, in Export, Pa., he was the son of Alexo and Anna (Yzr) Klepo.
Survivors include his daughter, Trudy (Mike) Gaynor of Serena, Ill.; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His wife, Mareta Alma Klepo, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000.
Services for Mr. and Mrs. Klepo were held today at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, with the Rev. Phillip Miller officiating. Burial was in Edinburg Cemetery.
Verlie M. Ziegler
Verlie M. Ziegler, 90, of Hudson, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, at The Crown Center at Laurel Lake.
Born July 7, 1909 in Dalton, Ohio, she was the daughter of George Ivan and Grace May (Harshey) Ziegler.
Miss Ziegler retired as assistant professor of nursing at Kent State University.
She was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Kent.
Survivors include her brothers, Ivan H. (Isabel) of Allen Park, Mich. and C. William (Doris) of Duluth, Minn.; and sister, G. Josephine of Santa Monica, Calif. Her brother, John H., and sister, Eleanor Massaro, died previously.
Memorial services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Presbyterian Church of Kent, with the Rev. Dale Chapin officiating. Burial will be in Cadillac Memorial Gardens West in Westland, Mich. Bissler and Sons Funeral Home of Kent is handling arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Presbyterian Church of Kent, 1456 E. Summit Street, Kent, 44240.
Donald P. Drake
Donald P. Drake, 50, of Franklin Township, died Feb. 2, 2000.
Born May 11, 1949 in Salem, he was the son of Donald and Martha (Cox) Drake.
Mr. Drake worked for the Stanley Miller Construction Co. as a job superintendent.
A U.S. Army veteran, he was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Firestone Post No. 3383. He was a member of Carpenters Union Local No. 69.
Survivors include his wife, Terri, to whom he was married 25 years; mother, Martha; brothers, Samuel Drake and Larry (Darlene) Drake; and sisters, Penny (Phil) Pickrell, Linda Baxter and Sandra Jenior. His father died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bacher Funeral Home, 3326 Manchester Road, Akron, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, with the Rev. Michael Hone officiating. Military services will be conducted by VFW Firestone Post No. 3383. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Akron.
Memorials may be made to the Hartville Church of God.
J. Dwight Quesenberry, 76
J. Dwight Quesenberry, 76, formerly of Ravenna, died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Born Jan. 2, 1924, in Indian Valley, Va., he was the son of Andrew and Roweena Quesenberry.
Mr. Quesenberry spent many years as a union labor worker in the Ravenna area. He made his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, for the past 30 years.
Mr. Quesenberry was a direct descendant of Capt. J.P. Quesenberry, who led many battles in the Civil War around the Richmond, Va., area. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
Survivors include daughters, Shirley (Donald) Basham of Ravenna, and Sherri Wachi of West Covina, Calif.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; and sister, Pearl Morton of Colorado.
Burial will be in the J.P. Quesenberry Cemetery in Indian Valley, Va.
Mazel Simpkins, 75
Mazel M. Simpkins, 75, of Tallmadge, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at Essex Healthcare of Tallmadge following a brief illness.
Born March 25, 1924 in Beckley, W.Va., she was the daughter of Hagen and Lona (Gibson) Smith. She was formerly of the Stow and Cambridge areas and had lived in the Portage County area for one year. She had attended Stow High School.
Mrs. Simpkins worked at Hamilton Beach in Byesville, Ohio, for 22 until she retired.
She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2901. She enjoyed stockcar racing.
Survivors include her daughters, Sharon (Charles) Chidester of Windham and Harlene Wagner of Tallmadge; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; brothers, Kenneth (Cynthia) Smith of Stow and Eugene (Rita) Smith of Mogadore and sister, Earles Toth of Stow. Her husband, Leon, two sons, two daughters, brothers, Gifford and Glen Smith and sister, Hazel Knox, died previously.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. Monday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home in Ravenna. The Rev. Carl Honeycutt will officiate. Burial will be in Stow Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the family.
William Phipps Jr., 48
William "Bill" Wallace Phipps Jr., 48, of Conneaut, a former Windham resident, died with his traveling companion, Janet Edel-Buczyk, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000, in a tractor-trailer accident in Fayette County, Texas.
Born May 19, 1951 in Windham, he was the son of William Wallace Sr. and Shirley (Lewis) Phipps. He also had been a resident of Beaufort, N.C. He was a graduate of Windham High Schoo.
Mr. Phipps was employed by Elite Express of Columbus as a semi-truck driver.
He was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his mother, Shirley Jean (Lewis) Phipps Dias of Deerfield Beach, Fla. and brothers, Michael of Midway Park, N.C., Daniel of Jacksonville, N.C. and Joel of Conneaut. His son, William Wallace III, and his father died previously.
A private service will be held later. Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory, 4524 Elm Ave., Ashtabula, is handling arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the family in care of Joel Phipps, 524 JoAnn Drive, Conneaut, 44030.
Chandas "Chuck" Taylor, 65
Chandas "Chuck"Taylor, 65, a former Ravenna resident who was the father of several area residents, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000, at St. Louis Medical Hospital in Missouri after a long illness.
Born Sept. 20, 1934 in Kentucky, he was the son of Sherman and Nora Taylor of Ravenna. He lived in Ravenna most of his life before moving to Missouri.
Mr. Taylor was retired from General Motors Co. in Wentzville, Mo.
Survivors include his wife, Joann of Missouri; sons, George of Missouri, Donald and Gary, both of Texas, Charles and Terry, both of Atwater and Charles Jr. of Michigan; daughters, Joanie of Missouri, Betty and Nora, both of Ohio and Tonia of Michigan; 18 grandchildren; brother, John of Ravenna; sisters, Minnie Woods and Ruth Wall of Texas and Dorsie Dent of Ravenna; and mother-in-law, Ruth Vogt of Missouri.
Cremation has taken place. Burial will take place at a later date.
