USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Michael Smith
SUFFIELD - Michael H. Smith, 54, died Thursday after a short illness.
Mr. Smith was born in Akron, where he lived most of his life, the son of Charles and Fannie Smith. He had lived in Suffield the past 11 years.
He was employed with Millar Elevator Service Co. He was U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Survivors include his wife of 11 years, Betty; sons, Michael (Connie Fabian) Smith of Cuyahoga Falls, Deron (Josette) Simpson of Suffield, and Dustin Simpson of Morocco; daughters, Mrs. Steve (Lisa) Glintz of Dover, Mrs. Rusty (Terri) Mason of Cuyahoga Falls, and Dana Simpson of Suffield; four grandchildren; brother, Charles "Emmit" King of Sandusky; and sisters Rene Morris of Stow and Sandra McIntyre of Edinburg.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Hopkins-Lawver Funeral Home, Mogadore Chapel, where services will be at 11 a.m. Monday with the Rev. William D. Lee officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Memorial Park, where military rites will be conducted.
Carter Cort
Dr. Carter Frederick Cort, 77, the father of Gail Ambuske of Kent, died Tuesday in Vero Beach, Fla. after sustaining injuries in an automobile accident.
He was born Sept. 28, 1919 in Far Rockaway, N.Y.. He was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, class of 1941.
Dr. Cort also graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and lived in Fairmont, W.Va. from 1951 to 1984, where he was in private practice as an obstetrician/gynecologist and practiced at Fairmont General Hospital.
Dr. Cort served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in World War II, and was awarded a bronze star for his service in the Pacific. He had been past president of the Rotary Club in Fairmont. After moving to Vero Beach upon his retirement, he was a violinist and charter member and past president of the Treasure Coast Symphony. He was a member of the Moorings Club, a member of the Moorings Property Owners Association Board of Governors and a member of the Center for the Arts.
Survivors include his wife, Doreen (Greenfield); sons Clinton A. of Charlotte, N.C., Stephen C. of Madisonburg, Pa. and John C. of Santa Fe, N.M.; daughters, Charlene C. Kiefer of Vienna, Va., Gail C. Ambuske of Kent, and Wendy Recktenwald of Washington, Pa.; and 11 grandchildren. His first wife, Barbara Clinton Cort, died previously.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Fla., the Rev. Robert K. Smith officiating. Burial will be in Fairmont, W. Va. Arrangements were made by the Cox-Gifford Funeral Home in Vero Beach, Fla.
Memorials may be sent to the Treasure Coast Symphony, P.O. Box 4169, Fort Pierce, Fla, 34948, the Center for the Arts, 3001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, Fla., or the American Cancer Society, Portage County Unit, 1640 Franklin Ave., Kent.
Marie Hartzell
Calling hours for Marie S. Hartzell, 88, of Morris Road, Kent, will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Bissler and Sons Funeral Home in Kent where services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Steven Lashbrook officiating. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.
Survivors include her sons, R. Eugene (Tatiana) of Vienna, Austria, and Richard E. (Phyllis) of Goshen, N.Y.; daughters, Mrs. Robert (Shirley L.) Arndt of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Mrs. Roger (Joan H.) Pettibone of Newbury; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Ralph E. Hartzell, who was chairman of the Kent State University Department of Music, died in 1992. A brother, Arthur Schramm, also died previously.
Henry W. Heiser
Henry W. Heiser, 85, of Kent, died Wednesday at his daughter's home in Ravenna following a short illness.
Born May 22, 1912 in Ann Arbor, Mich., he was the son of Henry and Mae Heiser. He had lived in Kent since 1984.
He had retired from Morris Control in Hudson.
Survivors include a son, Richard of Streetsboro; daughter, Mrs. Robert (Mary) Riley of Ravenna; five grandchildren; brother, "Bud" of Brunswick; and sisters, Molly Marquist and Marie Forke, both of Arizona and Helen Heiser of Michigan. His wife, Jeanette died in 1992.
Services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.
Ruth B. Cummings
Former Atwater resident Ruth B. Cummings, 93, of Mentor, died Tuesday at Lake East Hospital in Painesville following a period of declining health.
Born March 20, 1904 in Pittsburgh, Pa., she was the daughter of Will A. and Ruth (Gray) Breedon. She had lived in Atwater in her youth before moving to Brook Park. She eventually retired to Haines City, Fla.
Mrs. Cummings was a homemaker.
She was a member of the O.E.S. Alliance chapter and had recently received her 70-year pin. She was active on the Junior Board of Huron Road Hospital.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Alton G. Cummings of Painesville; daughter, Barbara C. Leuenberger of Parma Heights; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brother, Will A. of Haines City. Her husband, Dr. Alton G. Sr., died in 1990.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Atwater Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Lehto officiating. Arrangements are being handled by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home.
Richard Richards
Richard H. "Dick" Richards represented the second generation of four generations of the Richards family associated with the 76-year-old Richards Flower Shop at 1312 N. Mantua St. in Kent.
Mr. Richards died Monday at Community Memorial Hospital in Cheboyan, Mich. He and his wife Mary had been spending the summer at the family's vacation home at Mullett Lake, Indian River, Mich., when he suffered a massive heart attack. He was 69.
Dick Richards was born in Kent in 1928 and he spent his entire life in the city, where he started to work for his father in the family business
when he was only 15. His was a lifetime characterized by active family, business and community participation . He was student at Theodore High School when, in 1943, he started to work full-time for his father in the floral business.
The founding of the Richards business is a fascinating story. Father Richard M. Richards was born in Cornwall, England in 1888. He was deciding whether to go with a friend to Australia or to the United States to seek their fortunes when they flipped a coin and the United States won out. The senior Mr. Richards left his native Penzance, England in 1910 for the United States. He had intended to come to the United States on the Titanic but left earlier. The younger Dick Richards said many times, "It's a good thing. If he had been on the Titanic I wouldn't be here."
For a time the elder Richards lived in Akron, where he worked on a private estate. It was in Akron that he met and married his future wife, Anna M. Tschantz, his helpmate for many years in the floral business. He then came to Brimfield, where he grew wholesale flowers, and in 1921 he purchased the Standing Rock greenhouse property from Mr. and Mrs. George Braybon .
For many years after the father's death the flower shop was operated by the second Dick Richards and his brother, Jim. In the 1980s, Dick bought out his brother's interest. In the 1950s, a gift shop was added to the floral business. In addition, Dick for the past 27 years owned and operated Futura Enterprises, which manufactures pressure-sensitive labels.
Now Dick and Mary's son, Richard (Dick) P. Richards and his wife, Kim, are owners of the business. And the fourth generation of the Richards family, Anna M. and Lena N. Richards, work part-time. Despite their retirement, Dick and Mary continued to take an active interest in the business.
Despite his busy business life , Dick Richards found time to contribute to community affairs. He was president of the Men's Garden Club of Kent in 1956; he served as district representative of FTO in 1971-72 and he was active during his younger years in the Kent Jaycees. He was a member of the Kent Lions Club for 40 years and he served the organization as King Lion and was particularly active in the club's annual Carnation Day. Twice he was honored by the Kent Jaycees as the "Boss of the Year." He was a member of the St. Patrick Church in Kent and Twin Lakes Country Club.
Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Mary M. (Bissler) Richards; son, Richard (Kim) Richards of Kent; daughter, Mary Ann (John) Brown of Twin Lakes; grandchildren, Anna M. and Lena N. Richards; John R., Paul C. and Kathleen L. Brown; brother, James A. of Indian River, Mich.; sister, Gladys Durlin of Petoskey, Mich.;
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Church in Kent. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.
Marie S. Hartzell
Marie S. Hartzell, 88, of Morris Road, Kent, died Wednesday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born April 1, 1909 in Cincinatti, she was a longtime resident of Kent.
Mrs. Hartzell was an active member of the United Church of Christ in Kent. She also was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority, Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the American Revolution and P.E.O. She was an avid golfer and bridge player.
She served on Kent City Council in 1960-61.
Survivors include her sons, R. Eugene (Tatiana) of Vienna, Austria; Richard F. (Phyllis) of Goshen, N.Y.; daughters, Bob (Shirley L.) Arndt of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; and Mrs. Roger (Joan H.) Pettibone of Newbury; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Ralph E., who was chairman of the Kent State University Department of Music, died in 1992. A brother, Arthur Schramm, also died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent, where services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Steven Lashbrook officiating. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.
Memorials may be made to the United Church of Christ in Kent.
Dr. Theodore Kaminski
AURORA - Dr. Theodore J. Kaminski, 67, who had a dental practice in Kent for 35 years and also was a former Aurora councilman, died Tuesday at his home.
An Aurora resident for 38 years, he served as an Aurora City Council member from 1990 through 1993. He was the Portage County health commissioner in 1977-78.
He was a member of the Aurora Kiwanis Club and the Aurora Historical Society.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include his sons, Thomas J. of Olmsetad Township and Scott . of Aurora; daughter, Katherine K. (David L.) Tiemann of Pa.; and four grandchildren.
There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at The Church in Aurora, 146 Chillicothe Road, with the Rev. William Schnell officiating. Arrangements were made by Tabone Funeral Home of Solon.
Memorials may be made to The Church in Aurora.
Joseph Namesnik
Joseph F. Namesnik, 69, of 69 Mayflower Drive in Boardman, died Tuesday at his home after a long illness.
Born April 20, 1928 in Newton Falls, he was the son of Stephen Namesnik Sr. and Magdalene (Bahat) Namesnik. He was a 1946 graduate of Newton Falls High School.
Mr. Namesnik was owner and operator of Peaceful Acres Nursing Home in North Lima.
He was a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Survivors include his sons, David J. of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Joseph G. of Phoenix; daughters, Patricia L. Elston of Mesa, Ariz. and Mary H. Housley of Brisbane, Calif.; four grandchildren; three brothers; and one sister.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Borowski Funeral Home in Newton Falls,where the Knights of Columbus will recite the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Services will be held at 10 a.m Saturday in St. Joseph Church in Newton Falls. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Youngstown.
John Hurst
WINDHAM - John C. "Jack" Hurst, 37, died Tuesday at Delray Community Hospital in Delray Beach, Fla., following an accident.
Born Aug. 26, 1960 in Ravenna, he was the son of Darrell and Carroll (Flitcraft) Hurst. He had been a lifetime Windham resident.
Mr. Hurst formerly was a tow motor operator at Amwell in Garrettsville.
Survivors include his son, Jon of Warren; parents, Darrell and Carroll Hurst of Windham; and sisters, Mrs. Jim (Sherly) Holnstein of Bonita Springs, Fla. and Mrs. Terry (Tracy) Wilder of Newton Falls.
Calling hours will be held from 12:30 p.m. until services at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Green's Funeral Home in Mantua, with the Rev. Derek Williams officiating. A private burial will be held.
Dorothy Patch
Former Ravenna resident Dorothy M. Patch, 89, of Florida, died Thursday.
Born Aug. 16, 1908 in Ravenna, she was the daughter of Calvin P. and Lena M. (Ely) Likens. She had lived in Florida since 1965.
Mrs. Patch owned and operated a beauty shop on East Main Street in Ravenna.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Ravenna, Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America Kheedawee Court No. 6 in Cleveland, and the National Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association.
Survivors include her cousin, Mary Ann Peck of Ravenna. A sister, Pearl (Likens) Luikart, died previously.
There will be no calling hours. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna, with the Rev. Susan Tipton officiating. Arrangements were made by Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.
Harold Weaver
Harold "Sonny" L. Weaver, 66, of Elmore, Ohio, formerly of Ravenna, died Tuesday at St. Charles Hospital in Oregon, Ohio, after a brief illness.
Born April 29, 1931 in New Washington, he was the son of L. Guy and Doris E. (Hall) Weaver.
He was a service station manager for Texaco, Inc., starting on the Ohio Turnpike in the 1950s. He later transferred to Florida, where he retired in 1987 from Carrol City.
A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of American Legion Post No. 279 in Elmore, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2947 and Moose Lodge No.1286 in Fremont and Genoa Masonic Lodge No. 433.
Survivors include his wife, Marion M. (McKenzie) Canan, whom he married May 5, 1973 in Garrettsville; stepsons, Kenneth E. Canan of Windham; Robert D. Canan of Terra Alta, W.Va., six grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; brothers, Robert (Sally) Weaver of Genoa and Jim (Frannie) Weaver of Toledo; and sisters Sandy (Tom) Schemmer of Fremont, and Fay (Ray) Huggins of Sedro Wooley, Wash. A son, Jeffery G. Weaver, brothers, Merle, William and Herschel Weaver, and sister, Levis Jean Wolcott, died previously.
There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Robinson-Henn-Brossia Funeral Home in Genoa, Ohio. Burial will be in the Clay Township Cemetery in Genoa.
Memorials may be made to the Clay-Genoa Volunteer Fire Department.
Richard H. Richards
Richard H. Richards, 69, the owner of Richards Flower Shop in Kent, died Monday at Community Memorial Hospital in Cheboygan, Mich.
Services are being arranged by Bissler and Sons Funeral Home in Kent.
Richard Cheatwood
Richard B. Cheatwood, 61, of Akron, died Monday at Hospice Care Center of Fairlawn in Copley Township.
Born Aug. 18, 1936 in Akron, he was the son of Grady and Nila (Roberts) Cheatwood.
Mr. Cheatwood worked as a salesman for True Green Chem Lawn of Canton.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret (Taylor); son, Richard Jr. of Kent; daughters, Ruth Thompson of Ravenna, Chris Hendricks of Atwater, Michelle Maggio of Rochester, N.Y., Lisa Schroyer of Cuyahoga Falls, and Candi Hopkins of Akron; 10 grandchildren; and brothers, James and Donald of Kent, and Bill of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Bissler and Sons Funeral Home in Kent, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Thomas McCann officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Akron.
John Hurst
WINDHAM - John C. Hurst, 37, died Tuesday at Delray Community Hospital in Delray Beach, Fla., following an accident.
Services will be announced by Green's Funeral Home in Mantua.
Floyd Feller
MOGADORE - Floyd W. "Bill" Feller, 89, died Sunday at the Hospice Health Care Center in Fairlawn.
Born Feb. 8, 1908 in Suffield, he was the son of Samuel and Dora (Kunkle) Feller. He was a life resident of Suffield and Mogadore.
Mr. Feller was a construction equipment operator with Harry Miller Excavating Co.
Survivors include his brother, Bertram; and sister-in-law, Judy Feller.
Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 tonight at Hecker Funeral Home in Uniontown, where services will be held at noon Wednesday with the Rev. Curt Hecker officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Memorial Park in Akron.
Richard Pfeil
Richard E. "Ty" Pfeil, 72, of Ravenna, died Monday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna following a declining period of health.
Born April 23, 1925 in Ravenna, he was the son of Forrest and Gladys (Lindsey) Pfeil.
Mr. Pfeil retired from Trexler Rubber Co. in Ravenna.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his brothers, Wayne of Newton Falls and Arthur of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and sisters, Arlene Duvall of Forth Worth, Texas, Maxine Pfeil, Letha Loudenberg, and Imma Jean "Impie" Croop, all of Ravenna. His brother, Edwin, and sister, Edith Fertig,died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna.
Memorials may be made to charity.
