USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Gertrude Dezort, 85
SHALERSVILLE - Gertrude L. Dezort, 85, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born May 14, 1914, in Shalersville, she was the daughter of Rhinholt and Rose (Heritage) Berg. She had lived in Shalersville for most of her life.
Mrs. Dezort and her late husband, Charles, had owned and operated the De-Orr Farms, which, at one time, had been the exclusive potato providers for the Dan Dee chip company.
Survivors include her brother, John Berg of Mantua; sister, Eva Ban Drosky of Rootstown; nephew, Pete Ban Drosky of Rootstown; nieces, Debbie Ban Drosky of Seattle, Marilyn Baranyai of Ravenna and Janice Abram and Rose Henniger, both of Florida; and step-granddaughter, Charlene Lee of Florida. Her husband, Charles; and brother, Fred Berg, died previously.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Hillside Cemetery in Shalersville, with the Rev. Mark D. Lattimer officiating.
Arrangements are being handled by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.
Ira Peck, 90
LEAVITTSBURG - Ira J. Peck, 90, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at home.
Born July 22, 1909, in Summerset, Pa., he was the son of William Peck and Elizabeth Fergunson. He had lived in the Braceville area since 1942.
Mr. Peck retired in 1975 as a time keeper for Warren Tool after 38 years of service.
He was a member of Braceville United Methodist Church and enjoyed gardening and taking care of his yard.
Survivors include his son, Harlan E. of Lewisville, N.C.; daughters, Mardelle Games of Braceville and Juanita (Norman) Cassidy of Sycamore; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. His wife, Elizabeth Pritts, whom he married June 4, 1927, died Jan. 4, 1985.
Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at James Funeral Home, 8 E. Broad St., Newton Falls, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Champion Cemetery.
Charles Jones, 47
Charles E. "Charlie" Jones, 47, of Ravenna, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at home.
He is survived by many friends.
Services will be held at 7 p.m. today at Newcomer-Farley Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Road, Akron.
Memorials may be made to Ravenna Township paramedics or the Portage County Kidney Center.
Robert Eastep, 75
Robert L. Eastep, 75, of Akron, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at home.
Born in Springfield, he was a longtime resident of the Akron area.
Mr. Eastep retired from the Summit County Engineer Department.
He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, and he was a member of the American Legion, St. Martha Church and the Akron Arid Club.
Survivors include his wife, Madeline (Ferrante); son, Russ (Sandy) of Ravenna; step-children, Tony (Larry) Norton and Joseph (Beth) Ferrante, all of Florida, Madeline Ferrante of Niles, and Louis (Linda) Ferrante of Akron. His son, Ronald E. Eastep, died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at C.M. Rossi Funeral Home, 552 N. Main St., Akron. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Martha Church in Akron. Burial will be in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Canton.
Grace Bennett, 85
Grace M. Bennett, 85, of Ravenna, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at Maplewood Care Center following declining health.
Born Aug. 20, 1914 in Dott, W.Va., she was the daughter of Riley and Cozettie (Akers) Shrewsbury.
Mrs. Bennett was a homemaker.
She was a member of Ravenna Freewill Baptist Church and attended Family of Jesus Fellowship.
Survivors include her sons, Jack (Theresa) of Kent, Ronald (Patricia) of Columbus, Fallie (Donna), Bob (Carol) and Ricky (Denise), all of Ravenna and Henry (Joyce) of Georgia; daughters, Rita (Edward) Phillips of Alabama, Yvonne (Clayton) of Rennessee and Patricia Griffith of Paris Township; 26 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; brother Lynniel Shrewsbury of West Virginia; and sister Evelyn Thompson of West Virginia. Her husband George died in 1979. Several grandchildren, brothers and sisters also died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel where services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in the Charlestown Cemetery.
Kathryn Coit, 75
Kathryn S. "Kay" Coit, 75, of Kent, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at the Hospice Care Center following a six-month illness.
Born Feb. 19, 1924, in Kent, she was the daughter of Karl and LaRilla (Overholt) Suek. She was a lifetime Kent resident.
Mrs. Coit worked at the Ravenna Arsenal and for Twin Coach and TranSystems.
She was a member of the Kent American Legion Auxillary.
Survivors include her son, Thomas (Cynthia) of Shalersville; daughter, Lorraine (William) Schwartz of Kent; two grandsons; and brothers, William Suek of Silver Lake and Roy Suek of Florida. Her husband, Earl, whom she married March 25, 1948, died in 1993.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home where services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Mantua.
Memorials may be made to the Kent Fire Department or to the charity of one's choice.
Grace Berg, 86
Grace H. Berg, 86, of Stow, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital following a short illness.
Born July 4, 1913 in Rootstown, she was the daughter of John and Frances (Knapp) Guthier. She lived in Stow for five years, prior to which she lived in Kent.
Mrs. Berg retired from Huber-Wise Electric in Kent.
Survivors include her sons, James Maldinger of Florida, Wiliam of Stow and Robert of Arizona; daughter, Mary Ann Bland of Akron; step-sons, Richard of Deerfield and Kenneth of Lodi; step-daughter, Nancy Jackson of Warren; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sisters, Agnes Vogelsong of Arizona and Alice Cipriano of Florida. Her husband, William H. Berg Sr., died in 1993.
Graveside services will be held at noon Tuesday at Grandview Memorial Park chapel with Rev. Bob Brubaker officiating.
Arrangements are being handled by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.
Pearl Deuley, 91
DEERFIELD - Pearl Deuley, 91, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at Alliance Community Hospital following declining health.
Born Aug. 30, 1908 in West Virginia, she was the daughter of Waitman and Alice (Gibsons) Jones.
Mrs. Deuley was a homemaker.
She was a member of the Alliance Baptist Temple.
Survivors include her sons, Denzil (Effie) and Dave (Parthina), both of Deerfield; daughters, Virginia Hazel Kirkpatrick of Canton and Lynda (Lee) Hall of Alliance; 20 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and brotehr, Paul Jones of Craigsville, West Virginia. Her husband, Colonel, died in 1993, her son, Glen, died in 1992 and granddaughter, Tracy, died in 1994.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Atwater Chapel where services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park in Beloit.
Joseph Geiger Jr., 54
Joseph A. Geiger Jr., 54, died Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 at Southwest Medical Center in Middleberg Heights.
Born Aug. 28, 1945, he was the son of Joseph and Alice Geiger.
Mr. Geiger was a chief radiographer for more than 30 years. He also was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include sisters, Shirley Doll Minor and Sandra Manzell, both of Streetsboro, Jeannette (Robert) Maggard of Sheffield Lake and Jeanne (Ralph) Dilla of Oregon.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Busch Family Chapel, 7501 Ridge Road, Parma, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Streetsboro.
Dale Yonker, 68
Dale E. Yonker, 68, of Ravenna, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, at home.
Born March 3, 1931 in Shalersville, he was the son of Marcus E. Yonker and Martha L. Miller. He had been a Ravenna resident since 1956.
Mr. Yonker retired from the transportation department of Ravenna schools.
He was a member of the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his sons, Terry L. of Hudson, Kenny L. (Theresa) of Mogadore, and Dennis E. (Debbie) of Kent; daughter, Sherry McClements of Steward, Fla.; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Francis of Texas; sister, Betty Devine of Ravenna; and Margaret Dusek. Two brothers died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday will be held, with the Rev. David Bittinger officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery.
Rena Fouquet, 66
Rena I. Fouquet, 66, of Streetsboro, died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999 at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born Nov. 14, 1932 in Filbert Heights, Pa., she was the daughter of Albert and Rose (Schock) Bianchi. She had lived in Streetsboro for 37 years.
She retired in 1994 as a printer at Racin Leslie Graphics in Mantua. She was a member of St. Joan of Arc Church in Streetsboro.
Survivors include her husband, Raoul J., whom she married in 1952; sons, Edouard of Florida and Maurice of Streetsboro; daughters, Michelle Stowe of Salt Lake City, Utah and Yvette Schilling of Twinsburg; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Werner Bianchi of Michigan; and sisters, Alberta Elish of Garfield Heights; Roselyn Sanders of Wisconsin; Beatrice Petersdorff of Wisconsin; and Marcella Burns of Jefferson, Ohio. A sister died previously.
Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Shorts Funeral Home, Streetsboro Chapel. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joan of Arc Church with the Rev. Frederick Slaven officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Streetsboro.
Edna Robinson, 88
Former Ravenna resident Edna R. Robinson, 88, died Friday, Nov. 12, 1999.
Born in Marietta, she was formerly of Ravenna and lived in Cuyahoga Falls for 17 years.
Mrs. Robinson was employed for more than 25 years by the Oak Rubber Co. in Ravenna, where she made balloons and toys. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and belonged to the Church in the Falls - A Church of Christ in Cuyahoga Falls.
Survivors include her son, Donald (Juanita) of Rootstown; daughters-in-law, Lucille of Kent and Ruth of Richfield; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Forrest Sr.; sons, Forrest (Woody) Jr. and Robert; and grandchildren, Tom and John Robinson, all died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, at the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Church In the Falls - A Church of Christ, 837 Chestnut Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 44221, with Mark Brazle and Rod Sheldon officiating. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Frieda Forte, 97
Frieda L. Forte, 97, of Akron, died Friday, Nov. 12, 1999.
Born Aug. 23, 1902 in Akron, she was the daughter of Herman and Anna (Burger) Fritsch.
Mrs. Forte was a homemaker most of her life and had worked for First National Bank and Consolidated Freightways.
She was a member of the First Grace United Church of Christ and the Ladies Aid Society.
Survivors include her son, Jerry (Judy) Forte of Ravenna; daughters, Eleanor (Jim) Bartoo of Akron and Louise Peterson of Ann Arbor, Mich.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Her husband, Jerry, died in 1942. Her grandson, Tom Turner; brother, Robert; and sisters, Emma, Clara and Amelia also died previously.
Calling hours will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at First Grace United Church of Christ, 350 S. Portage Path, Akron, Ohio, 44320, where services will follow at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Dale A. Young officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Peace Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Rhonda Calhoun
Rhonda Lea Calhoun, 34, of Ravenna, died Monday, Oct. 25, 1999 at Robinson Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in an auto accident.
Born July 5, 1965 in Ravenna, she was the daughter of Willard L. and Dolores I. (Peppeard) Brannen. Formerly of Pennsylvania, she had lived in Ravenna for three years.
Mrs. Calhoun was a computer operator at Farmex in Aurora.
Survivors include her husband, William "Billy" Calhoun; son, William Dwayne, at home; parents, Lee and Dee Brannen of Ravenna; brother, Michael of Rootstown; half-sister, Dawn Finch of Edinburg; and grandmother, Elva Brannen of Rootstown. Her brother, Willard Jr., died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Todd Tackett officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1900 W. Market St., Akron, Ohio, 44313-6927.
Archibald Kramer
STOW - Archibald C. Kramer, 82, died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1999.
Born Sept. 20, 1910 in Cleveland, he was the son of William and Anna (Prohn) Strandt.
Mr. Kramerretired from General Motors in 1979 with 30 years of service.
He was a member of Ricksecker Masonic Lodge No. 606, James A. Garfield Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Aurora and Stow Sunshiners.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Katherine, to whom he was married 51 years; sons, Edward (Roberta) of Cleveland and Ken of Cuyahoga Falls; daughter, Kathy (David) Trubisky of Canton; and two grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, where services will be held at 8:30 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Alvin Boehlke officiating. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted.
Memorial donations may be made to the Stow Sunshiners, 3760 Darrow Road, Stow, 44224.
Sister Pauline Nixon
Sister Pauline Nixon, 66, the sister of Mary Jane Shoemaker of Ravenna, died Monday, Oct. 25, 1999 at Villa Maria Community Center in Villa Maria, Pa.
Born Sept. 28, 1933 in Youngstown, she was the daughter of Paul and Mary (Kirby) Nixon.
She professed first vows in the Humilty of Mary order in 1958 and final vows in 1963. She formerly was known as Sister dePaul.
Sister Pauline ministered full-time as a registered nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain and at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown. She later shifted her focus to the care of the Humility of Mary sisters in the congregation's infirmary, where she served as a registered nurse on a part-time basis for nine years. She continued her service at Villa Maria Community Center, performing secretarial tasks in several offices until 1991, when she left her active ministry to participate in the Ministry of Prayer during her extended illness.
In addition to Mrs. Shoemaker, survivors include a sister, Virginia Menster of Youngstown.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. today at Villa Maria Chapel in Villa Maria, Pa.
Agnes V. Fields
ROOTSTOWN - Agnes V. Fields, 92, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 1999 at Altercare of Ravenna after a long illness.
Born July 28, 1907 in Vaughn Nicholas, W.Va., she was the daughter of Willie and Lydia (Jeffers) Jones.
Mrs. Fields was a member of the Akron Baptist Temple.
Survivors include her daughters, Orva Lee (Raymond) Isom of Akron, Marilyn (Carl) Molnar of Rootstown; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Clarence Combs, Brooks Combs and Paul Combs; and sisters, Hester Valentine, Emogene Hall and Betty Starcher. Her brothers, Cecil Jones, Fred Jones and Dana Jones; and sister, Ruth Full, died previously.
Private services have been held. Burial was in Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown. Arrangements were made by Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.
