USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Ronald L. Phillips
Ronald L. Phillips, 66, of Lewisburg Road, Lewisburg, died Tuesday evening, Jan. 25, at his home after an extended illness.
Born June 2, 1933, in Dayton, he was the son of John E and Bertha M. (Brose) Phillips. He served with the U.S. Army, and retired in 1995 from General Motors after 34 years of service. He had been a Western-Southern Life Insurance agent for 10 years.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Wesley B. Phillips.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Barbara Ann (Keller) Phillips; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary K. and Terrie Phillips of Dayton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly K. and John Dutro of Dayton, Tammy L. and Jim Broughton of Lewisburg.
Also surviving are one sister, Winifred Phillips of Arcadia, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Alex Savage, Gabriel Savage, Kristen Dutro, Matthew Dutro, Cody Broughton, Whitney Phillips, Emily Broughton and Grant Phillips; two nieces and one nephew.
Funeral services were Friday, Jan. 28, at Barnes Funeral Home-Lewisburg Chapel, with the Rev. Jon Thomas officiating. Burial was in Arlington Cemetery, Brookville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, or to the Lewisburg Emergency Unit.
Noel D. Bryant
Noel D. Bryant, 67, of East Lexington Road, Eaton, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton.
Born July 10, 1932, in West Alexandria, he was the son of the late Ralph Sydney and Zelma Marie (Swihart) Bryant. He was a 1950 graduate of Lewisburg High School, and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Bryant retired in 1988 after 35 years at Parker Hannifin in Eaton. He was a member of St. Clair Gun Club, was an avid fisherman and enjoyed restoring antique tractors.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Myrna L. (Wissler) Bryant; sons, Darrell Bryant of Eaton and Donald Burgess of West Manchester; daughters, Mary J. Crank of Auburn Hills, Mich., and Marcia J. Brown of Eaton; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 29, at Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, with the Rev. Fred Hill and the Rev. Harold Horton officiating. Burial was in Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Nazarene, 400 Lexington Ave., Eaton, OH 45320, or to the Eaton Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 33, Eaton, OH 45320.
W. Hope Small
W. Hope (Patterson) Small, 82, of Austin, Texas, died Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Born March 16, 1917, in Chicago, Ill., she received an associate of arts degree from North Park College. In addition to employment as a secretary, she was an active participant in community service, serving as a Cub Scout and Brownie leader and Sunday school teacher.
During their 57 years of marriage, her husband's work as a contract administrator entailed periods of residence in Illinois, Oklahoma, Ohio and Texas. The Smalls retired to Ojo Caliente, N.M., where she served for a time as a volunteer kindergarten aide.
She and her husband returned to Texas in 1996 to be near their daughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, William R. Small.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Greg Wallace of Austin, Texas; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Kay Small; grandchildren, Amy, Cara and Josh of St. George, Utah; and son, David Small of Las Vegas, Nev.
Funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 29, at Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel, Austin, Texas.
Marie M. Hendrickson
Marie M. Hendrickson, 93, of Richmond, Ind., formerly of Preble County, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Reid Hospital in Richmond.
Born Nov. 20, 1906, in Preble County, she was the daughter of the late George and Emma (Shafer) Fitzer.
Survivors include a daughter, Alberta Ballenger of Richmond, Ind.; a daughter-in-law, Emogene Hensley of Eldorado; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Hendrickson, on Oct. 23, 1984; sons, Harold Hensley and Arthur Clifton Hensley; grandson, Kevin Ballenger; brother, Perry Fitzer; and sisters, Mabel Winland, Sarah Fitzer and Hattie Fitzer.
Funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 29, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, with the Rev. Jeffery W. Blair officiating. Burial was in Zion Cemetery, Eaton.
Luther F. Brown
Luther F. Brown, 83, of Eaton, died Thursday, Jan. 27, at his home.
Born Aug. 30, 1916, in Albany, Ky., he was the son of the late Thomas and Serena (Winningham) Brown, and had lived most of his life in Preble County. He had worked at Kimmel's Feed Store for many years and retired from Parker Hannifin Corp., Eaton. Mr. Brown was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Madagline (Jacobs) Brown; daughters, Patricia Ann Roberts of Morning Sun and Peggy M. Wiegand of Eaton; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Crabtree of Indiana; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Randall Brown, Glen Brown and J.T. Brown; and a sister, Madge Mitchell.
Funeral services were Sunday, Jan. 30, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, with the Rev. Molly W. Douthett officiating. Burial was in Fairmount Cemetery, Camden.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Emergency Squad, 328 N. Maple St., Eaton, OH 45320, or to Morning Sun Presbyterian Church, 11510 Ohio 177, Morning Sun, OH 45311.
Vesta F. Cox
Vesta F. (Reynolds) Cox, 91, of Wayne Township, died Thursday, Jan. 27, at Mercy Hospital in Hamilton.
Born Nov. 19, 1908, in Booneville, Ky., she was the daughter of the late Leonard and Martha (McIntosh) Reynolds. She attended Milford Township High School, and was employed as a lab technician at Pillsbury Mills for 26 years.
She married Victor S. Cox on Nov. 20, 1930, in Liberty, Ind., and he preceded her in death in 1988. Three brothers, Earl, Ralph and Mark Reynolds; a sister, Ruth Wise; and two sons-in-law, Chester Moore and David Bush, are also deceased.
Survivors include four children, Shirley Moore of Hamilton, Donald (Regina) Cox of Corpus Christi, Texas, Ted (Alice) Cox of Camden, and Linda Bush of Fairfield; one brother, Leonard Reynolds of Florida; one sister, Elizabeth Wirtley of Seven Mile; 13 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 29, at R.C. Nein & Sons-Thompson Funeral Home, Camden, with the Rev. Ruben Cabanillas officiating. Burial was in Somerville Cemetery, Somerville.
Leatha F. Padgitt
Leatha F. Padgitt, 87, of West Manchester, died Friday, Jan. 28, at Greenbriar Nursing Center in Eaton.
Born April 2, 1912, in Riley, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Riley and Opal (Davis) Anthony, and had lived in Preble County since 1953. She was a member of Wares Chapel United Methodist Church, West Manchester.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George E. Padgitt, on Nov. 26, 1997; and a son, Paul Atkinson.
Survivors include daughters, Cynthia Givens of Bellefontaine, Darlene Koontz of Naples, Fla., and Joanne Barker of Grand Rapids, Mich.; sons, John H. Bredwell of Eaton, Thomas D. Bredwell of Brookville, Ind., Russell A. Atkinson of Eaton and Eldon Atkinson of Tipp City; a stepson, Donald Padgitt of South Carolina; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Monday, Jan. 31, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, with the Rev. Jim Condrey officiating. Burial was in Wares Chapel Cemetery, West Manchester.
Dennis Mullins
Dennis Mullins, 85, of West Alexandria, died unexpectedly Friday, Jan. 28, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
Born Sept. 7, 1914, in Rock Castle, Ky., he was the son of Ben and Mary (Parks) Mullins. He had retired from Lau Industries in Dayton.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Dollie Mullins; four sons, Jack (Helen) Mullins of Springfield, Larry (Carolyn) Mullins of Springboro, Marvin (Vickie) Mullins of St. Cloud, Fla., and Charles Mullins of Portland, Texas; a daughter, Judy (Jim) Fox of Mesa, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ercell Leigh of Cincinnati.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jack Mullins; and a sister, Christine Bailey.
Funeral services were Monday, Jan. 31, at Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home, West Alexandria, with Pastor Curtis Johnson and Pastor Patrick Spurlock officiating. Burial was in Sugar Grove Cemetery, West Alexandria.
Frances Reynolds
Frances Reynolds, 83, of West Alexandria, died Friday, Jan. 28, at Hospice of Dayton.
Born June 14, 1916, in Felicity, Ohio, she was the daughter of Samuel and Nellie F. (Mefford) White. She was a retired school teacher, having taught for 34 years in the West Alexandria school district. Mrs. Reynolds was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, West Alexandria; a member of Gleaners Chapter #183, OES; a member of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association and the Preble County Retired Teachers Association.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James, in 1992; and a brother, Robert R. White.
Survivors include a son, Sam (Lynne) Reynolds of Mason; a daughter, Nancy Reynolds of Mt. Healthy; three grandchildren, Rick Reynolds of Montgomery, Ala., Jim Reynolds of Hebron, Ky., and Rob Reynolds of Greenhills, Ohio; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 1, at St. John United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Ron Dafler officiating. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery, West Alexandria. Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home, West Alexandria, was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John United Church of Christ, or to L.A.M., 10105 Beacon Hills Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45241.
Margaret M. Held
Margaret M. Held, 83, of Eaton, died Saturday, Jan. 29, at Oakridge Nursing and Rehab Center in Richmond, Ind.
Born Dec. 5, 1916, in Castalia, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late William and Minnie (Geason) Gast. She had lived in the Eaton area since 1962. Mrs. Held was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Eaton, and a former member and Sunday school teacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Sandusky.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. Held, in 1998; brothers, Lester, Leroy and Elmer Gast; and a sister, Wilma Beatty.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Charles W. and Jan Held of Vandalia; daughters, Sondra S. Hotchkiss of Sandusky and Debra A. Moore of Eaton; grandchildren, Charles B. Held, Jeffrey P. Held, Jason D. Moore and Nikki Hotchkiss; great-grandchildren, Scott and Amanda Hotchkiss; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Grace Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Brian Dillahunt officiating. Burial was in Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton. Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 111 Lutheran Drive, Eaton, OH 45320.
Harold W. Parsons
Harold W. Parsons, 89, of Greenville, died Saturday morning, Jan. 29, at the Brethren's Home in Greenville where he resided. He was a former Richmond, Ind., resident.
Born April 17, 1910, in Eldorado, he was the son of Jessie and Hattie (Shock) Parsons, and had lived in the area all his life. He retired from Ahaus Tool, was employed by AVCO for 31 years, and had worked part-time for Clearview Cable for eight years.
Mr. Parsons was a member of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, where he had been a member of several boards and a Sunday school teacher, and was a former officer for the Management Advisory Council of the Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce.
Survivors include his wife, Edna Marie Parsons, whom he married June 29, 1935; a son, Joseph Parsons of Hudson, Fla.; a half brother, Leonard Parsons of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; two half sisters, Bonita Shellabarger of Greenville and Kathleen Deaton of Decatur, Ill.; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, Richmond, Ind., with the Rev. James Spon officiating. Burial was in Wares Chapel Cemetery, West Manchester.
Lowell E. Young
Lowell E. Young, 92, of 592 Virginia Ave., Marion, Ohio, formerly of Youngstown, died of congestive heart failure Saturday night, Jan. 29, at Marion Manor.
Born July 5, 1907, in Gratis, he was the son of Joel E. and Grace (Hetzler) Young. He was a 1925 graduate of Eaton High School, and a1933 graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor of science in business administration. He attended graduate school at the Army Air Force Statistical School at Harvard University.
He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Mr. Young was employed by Republic Rubber Division of Lee Rubber & Tire in Youngstown for 33 years. In 1966, he was appointed director of transportation and personnel relations for the Youngstown Public Schools in labor management until his retirement in 1969.
He was a member of Richard Brown Memorial United Methodist Church; Ohio Gamma Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon; American Institute of Industrial Engineers; and Sulgrave Lodge #696, Scottish Rite.
He married Anne Opritza in 1943, and she preceded him in death in 1986. A brother, Francis Young; and a sister, Helen Young, are also deceased.
Survivors include a son, Jerome D. Young of San Francisco, Calif.; a daughter, Judith VanGilder of Marion; three grandchildren; and two brothers, Fred Young of Austin, Texas, and Marion Young of Beeville, Texas.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Shriver-Allison-Courtley-Weller-King Funeral Home, 292 Madison Ave., Youngstown. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Columbus Children's Hospital, c/o Premature Infant Unit, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205.
Geraldine V. Collingsworth
Geraldine V. Collingsworth, 89, of Eaton, formerly of Troy, died early Sunday morning, Jan. 30, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind.
Born March 28, 1910, in Miami County, she was the daughter of Frank and Nora Otta (Covault) Ferman. She retired in 1967 from Delco Moraine after 25 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Thomas R. Collingsworth, in 1972; four brothers; and six sisters.
Survivors include a brother, Paul Richard Drake of Eaton; and a sister, Ellen Hoffman of New Carlisle.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, at Glen Haven Memorial Park, New Carlisle. Baird Funeral Home, Troy, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Martha E. Suman
Martha E. Suman, 73, of West Main Street, Eaton, died Sunday morning, Jan. 30, at her home after an extended illness.
Born Nov. 23, 1926, in Eaton, she was the daughter of Chester and Erma (Marker) Fudge.
She was preceded in death by a son, M. Jogues Suman.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Robert L. Suman Sr.; a son and daughter-in-law, Robert L. Jr. and Irene E. Suman of Eaton; a daughter and son-in-law, Chester I. and James Karns of Eaton; grandchildren, Michael B. Bergen, Robert L. Bergen, Brian A. and Tequila Smith, Joseph W. Suman, A. David Smith, Dustin R. Bresher, Julia A. Baker and Krystal R. Suman; great-grandchildren, Kourtney C. Smith, Dalton T. Smith, Tiphani C. Bergen and Zachary T. Bergen.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, 220 E. Main St., with Lynn Schlobig officiating. Burial will be in Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton.
James W. Davidson
James Walker Davidson, 75, of Route 1, Eaton, died Sunday, Jan. 30, at his home after an extended illness.
Born May 4, 1924, in Eaton, he was the son of Leo H. and Minnie E. (Studt) Davidson. He was a second lieutenant and bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II; was a member of the Swiss Internee Organization, whose membership consists of air crews that were shot down in action over Germany but landed in Switzerland.
Mr. Davidson worked for Natco in Richmond, Ind., for 18 years, and had been the owner/operator of Davco Machine Shop in New Paris. He was a member of the West Manchester American Legion Post; past member of the New Paris American Legion Post; was affiliated with the Eldorado Unitarian Universalist Church; and was an avid sports fan of all Ohio teams.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Willard Davidson; and a sister, Barbara Davidson.
Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Roberta "Bobby" (Stayton) Davidson; sister and brother-in-law, Rosamond and Robert Fienning of Sherman, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, Paul "Jack" and Carolyn Davidson of Richmond, Ind.; in-laws, Barbara Grant and Charles K. Stayton; many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, at Bussard-Barnes-Vaniman Funeral Home, 311 N. Main St., Eldorado, with the Rev. Raymond A. Michel officiating. Burial will be in Monroe Cemetery, Eldorado. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the West Manchester American Legion Post, North Main Street, West Manchester, OH 45382; or to Eldorado Unitarian Universalist Church, P.O. Box 239, Eldorado, OH 45321.
Lawrence R. Rinck
Lawrence R. Rinck, 100, of Manning Road, Germantown, died Monday, Jan. 31, at Hospice of Dayton.
Born Aug. 24, 1899, in West Alexandria, he was the son of Joseph and Adeline (Klusman) Rinck. He was a 1919 graduate of West Alexandria High School, and studied agriculture for two years at Ohio State University.
Mr. Rinck was a member of Salem Lutheran Church and the Preble County Farm Bureau. He had served on the West Alexandria School Board, was a former Twin Township trustee, and was on the board of directors of Twin Valley Bank from 1960-1990.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel, in 1987; his parents; a daughter, Arlene Eibling; and a son, Paul Rinck.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Lucy Rinck of Miamisburg; a daughter, Dorothy Rinck of Dayton; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a sister, Ruth Vance of Wilmington.
Funeral services were Thursday, Feb. 3, at Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home, West Alexandria, with the Rev. Daniel Snider officiating. Burial was in Sugar Grove Cemetery, West Alexandria.
