USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Leona Bratton
Leona Bratton, 93, formerly of Gratis, died Friday, July 3, 1998, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind.
Born July 20, 1904, she was the daughter of John and Margaret (Tiller) Houser. She had been the postmistress at the Gratis Post Office for many years and had also served as Village of Gratis treasurer.
Survivors include three great-nieces, Janet Metcalf of Hamilton, Joan Horn of Eaton and Vernitta Blevins of Middletown; and a great-nephew, Jack Samuels of South Bend, Ind.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; two half brothers, Albert Houser in 1956 and Stanley Dwyer; and a half sister, Nellie Dwyer Fouts.
Funeral services were Tuesday, July 7, at Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home, Gratis, followed by burial in Fairview Cemetery, Gratis.
Orville Casteel
Orville Casteel, 63, of Oxford-Gettysburg Road, Eaton, died unexpectedly Friday, July 3, 1998, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind.
Born Jan. 20, 1935, in Jasper, Tenn., he was the son of the late Ernest and Mary (Rector) Casteel. He retired from the Johns Manville Plant in Richmond, Ind. Mr. Casteel was a member of several horseshoe clubs in the Miami Valley area.
Survivors include his wife of 16 years, Marilyn A. (Moore) Casteel; sons and daughters-in-law, Ronnie and Jo Ann Casteel of Eldorado, Chad and Emma Casteel of New Paris and Travis A. Casteel of Eaton; a daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Steve Mays of Sally, S.C.
Also surviving are stepchildren and spouses, Diana and Brian Dillow of Eaton, Lee Cravens of New Paris, Margurite and Rob Pritchett of New Castle, Ind.; sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Bill Moree of Jasper, Tenn.; brothers and sister-in-law, Ted Casteel, Sam and Francise Casteel of Jasper, Tenn., and Johnny Casteel of New Paris; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
A memorial service was held Monday, July 6, at Barnes Funeral Home-New Paris Chapel, with the Rev. John H. Hollis officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Northwest Emergency Squad.
Gary A. Hale
Gary Alan Hale, 49, of 40 NW 15th St., Richmond, Ind., died Saturday, July 4, 1998, at Reid Hospital.
He was born May 12, 1949, in Camden. Mr. Hale was previously employed at Cinram. He served in the U.S. Army for 20 years, serving in Korea and three hitches in Vietnam. Throughout his service, he was a radio and Morse code operator, a tactical communications chief, did unit organizational supply and was a recruiting officer.
In honor of his service to his country, he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, an Overseas Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Bars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Good Conduct Medal. He retired from active military service May 31, 1988, in Germany.
He was a member of the Camden Church of Good, Camden Masonic Lodge, was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the VFW and Moose Lodge.
Survivors include his father, Elbert Hale of Richmond, Ind.; a daughter, Shonta T.N. Hale of Germany; a son, David E.A. Hale of Germany; a sister, Melanie Jean Koohns of Connersville, Ind.; two brothers, Merril L. Creech and James E. Hale, both of Connersville, Ind.; stepmother, Louetta Hale of Richmond, Ind.
Also surviving are several aunts and uncles, including Janet McBee of Phillipsburg and Basil McBee of Phillipsburg; a special friend, Darlene Eaton of Richmond, Ind.; nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Thelma (Richardson) Hale.
Funeral services were Tuesday, July 7, at Jones-Klute-Lamb Funeral Home, Richmond, Ind., with the Rev. Raymond Young officiating. Burial with, full military honors, was in Fairhaven Cemetery.
Eugene Grimes
Eugene Grimes, 61, of U.S. 40 East, Lewisburg, died unexpectedly Saturday evening, July 4, 1998, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind.
He was born June 27, 1937, in Manchester, Ky. He retired from Empire Brass in Richmond and was caretaker of the Sandman Apartments on U.S. 40, south of West Manchester.
Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Lillie F. (Jump) Grimes; his mother, Rebecca (Howard) Grimes of Cincinnati; a son, Troy E. Grimes of Greencastle, Ind.; a daughter, Tammy L. Jenkins of Eldorado; two sisters, Stella J. Grimes and Cora M. Dulaney, both of Cincinnati; three grandchildren, Tabatha K. Jenkins, Dustin J. Grimes and Natasha Nicole Evans; nieces and nephews; one uncle and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Grimes Sr., two brothers, Glenn Grimes and Jack Grimes Jr.; and one sister, Laura Tompkins.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, with the Rev. Sam Shilot officiating. Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery near West Alexandria. The family will receive friends from noon-2 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Hubert E. Ott
Hubert E. Ott, 76, of 107 Elaine Ave., Eaton, died Sunday, July 5, 1998, in Dayton.
A native and lifelong resident of Preble County, he was born Aug. 12, 1921, the son of the late Stanley E. and Marie (Goldsmith) Ott.
Mr. Ott was a heavy duty equipment operator for Kramer Bros. Excavating, and retired after 20 years as a truck driver for Beoddy Oil Company. He was retired from the Eaton Fire Department after 30 years of service, and was a member of the Eaton United Church of Christ.
His first wife, Zelma June (Guiller) Ott, died in 1967.
Survivors include his wife, Madonna A. (Ashinger) Ott, whom he married July 3, 1969; a daughter, Romona Myers of Brookville; sons and daughter-in-law, Michael and Nancy Ott of Lewisburg and Wendell Ott of Bellbrook; four grandchildren, Melissa Myers, Randy and Amanda Myers, Kerry Ott and Valerie Ott ; a sister, Margaret Blankenship of West Alexandria; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 9, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, with the Rev. James W. Whitley officiating. Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery near West Alexandria. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton United Church of Christ, or to the American Diabetes Association.
Gradie Boyd
Gradie Boyd, 80, of Camden died Tuesday, July 7, 1998, at his home.
Born May 31, 1918, in Whitwell, Tenn., he was the son of the late John and Mary Boyd. He came to Camden in 1957 as meat cutter for John Porter, and became a resident of Camden in 1959. Mr. Boyd continued as meat cutter after the business was purchased by Howard White and remained there until retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Camden Church of God, where he played electric guitar in the church band for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Lorene, whom he married Nov. 17, 1944; three sons, James Gradie and wife Donna Boyd of Greensburg, Ind., Michael John Boyd of Cleveland, and Thomas Glenn and wife Lisa Boyd of Eaton; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Irene McGown and Betty Hidgon, both of Chattanooga, Tenn., Estella Lockwood of Dayton and Elizabeth Fitzgerald of Avon Park, Fla.; and one brother, Bennett Boyd of Tampa, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Funeral services were Friday, July 10, at the Camden Church of God, with the Rev. Marvin Hocker officiating. Burial was in Fairmount Cemetery, Camden. R.C. Nein & Sons-Limber Funeral Home, Camden, was in charge of arrangements.
Florence G. Cullers
Florence Geraldine Cullers, 77, of Fort Jefferson Road, Greenville, died Tuesday, July 7, 1998, at Gade Rest Home in Greenville.
Born July 17, 1920, in Verona, she was the daughter of C. Wilbur and Esta L. (Smith) Rice. She had lived in the Lewisburg and Brookville area prior to moving to Greenville. Mrs. Cullers was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Lewisburg.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Robert L. Cullers; a son, R. Douglas Cullers of Greenville; brothers, Kenneth L. Rice of Phillipsburg, William Russell and Gaylen E. Rice, both of Lewisburg; a sister, Eileen Ostaszewski of Phillipsburg; nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Keith Rice; and a sister, Corrine Hall.
Funeral services were Friday, July 10, at Barnes Funeral Home-Lewisburg Chapel. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery, Lewisburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Mildred E. Welch
Mildred E. Welch, 70, of Dayton, died Tuesday morning, July 7, 1998, at Mary Scott Nursing Home in Dayton.
Born Aug. 27, 1927, in Dayton, she was the daughter of the late Edward Joseph and Bernice (Heitzman) Lucas.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Bonnie Welch of Dayton; daughters, Jacqueline Lamb and friend, Robert Hall of Dayton, and Terri Welch of Florida; five grandsons; four granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Heitzman of Tipp City; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Willie and Margaret Hudson of Dayton; four nieces and one nephew.
Funeral services were Saturday, July 11, at Barnes Funeral Home-Preble Memory Gardens Chapel, West Alexandria. Burial was in Preble Memory Gardens.
Nola M. Beane
Nola M. Beane, 74, of Evergreen Drive, Eaton, died Tuesday, July 7, 1998, at Grandview Hospital in Dayton.
Born Oct. 8, 1923, in Monroe Township (Preble County), she was the daughter of Oscar M. and Etta M. (Petry) Nienke. She retired in 1979 from Governor Harris Homestead in Eaton, and attended the Church of Christ in Eaton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold E. Beane, in 1997; and a stillborn child, in 1951.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Lynn E. and LuJean Beane of Eaton; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Richard Waymire of Eaton; a sister, Emma Catherine Brown of Brookville; grandchildren, Lynn E. Beane II, Randy W. and wife Lynn Waymire; Cheryl L. and Angela K. Waymire; a great-granddaughter, Sunny Lynn Waymire; and a great-great-grandson, Christian M. Waymire.
Funeral services were Friday, July 10, at Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, with the Rev. Richard Boroff officiating. Burial was in Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Emergency Squad or to the Preble County Heart Fund.
Harry S. Chambers
Harry S. Chambers, 87, formerly of Preble and Darke counties, died Wednesday, July 8, 1998, at Heritage House of Richmond.
Born Jan. 23, 1911, in West Manchester, he was the son of Henry Edgar and Mary Gennettia (Weaver) Chambers. He was a 1929 graduate of Monroe Central High School, and was owner/operator of a filling station in Pitsburg, Ohio, from 1960-1973. Mr. Chambers was a member of Friendship Community Church, New Paris.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bertha Mae (Shaffer) Chambers, in 1981; daughter, Susan Jay, in 1998; and brothers, Byron, Elmer and Virgil Chambers.
Survivors include sons and daughter-in-law, Vernon E. and Evelyn Chambers, and Richard Chambers, all of New Madison; daughters and sons-in-law, Mabel I. and Harry Schweizer of Richmond, Ind., Wanda D. and Jerry Butt of Sebring, Fla., Nina L. and Dale Royer of Eaton, and Dorothy M. and Robert Murphy of Fishers, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services and burial were at the convenience of the family in Wares Chapel Cemetery, West Manchester, with the Rev. Howard Addison officiating. Bussard-Barnes-Vaniman Funeral Home, Eldorado, was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
