USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Otis D. Upchurch
Otis D. Upchurch, 91, of Cincinnati, formerly of West Alexandria, died Sunday, Dec. 20, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati.
Born Oct. 23, 1907, in Monticello, Ky., he was the son of the late Cullen Bratchard and Josephine (Sumpter) Upchurch. He was a pastor in the United Methodist Church denomination, serving at the Ellers Chapel Methodist Church in Wayne County, Ky. He retired from the pastoral ministry in 1951, and later retired in 1970 from the Marshmallow Products Co. in Cincinnati.
He was preceded n death by his wife, Antha Mae Upchurch, on June 8, 1993; a son, Cullen D. Upchurch, in December 1991; and brothers, Leard, Leonard and Hubert Upchurch.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Melva Upchurch of New Richmond, Ohio; a daughter, Betty Burgess of Cincinnati; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Velma Carrender of Spiceland, Ind., and Clodie Morris of Galveston, Ind.; and a daughter-in-law, Isabel Upchurch of West Alexandria.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Barnes Funeral Home-Preble Memory Gardens Chapel, West Alexandria, with Pastor Randy Smith officiating. Burial was in Preble Memory Gardens, West Alexandria.
Jonathon D. Pierce
Jonathon D. Pierce, 17, of 211 Deem St., Eaton, died Sunday evening, Dec. 20, in Eaton.
He was born Aug. 28, 1981, in Dayton and was a sophomore at Eaton High School.
Survivors include his mother, Doris Pierce of Eaton; his father, Thomas Butler of Dayton; maternal grandparents, Judith Tompkins and Arthur Pierce, both of Dayton; maternal great-grandmother, Doris Klavuhm of Mission, Texas; paternal grandparents, Nina Butler and Richard Thomas, both of Dayton; a brother, Joseph Butler of Lewisburg; and two sisters, Jessica Pierce and Kay Butler, both of Eaton.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, 220 E. Main St., Eaton, with the Rev. Wayne D. Morrison officiating. The family will receive friends from noon-2 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Letha M. Duke
Letha M. Duke, 78, formerly of Euphemia-Castine Road, West Manchester, died Sunday, Dec. 20, at Heartland of Eaton.
Born Feb. 16, 1920, in Ironton, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late William Clyde and Minnie Belle Lucas, and had lived in Preble County most of her life.
Survivors include her husband, Leonard A. Duke; a son and daughter-in-law, Lynn and Lesla Duke of West Manchester; three grandchildren, Melissa Lynn Duke Jones, Lyle Allen Duke and Lynsey Ann Duke; a great-grandson, Bryten Jones; three brothers; two sisters; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sisters.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Michael Chapel, West Manchester, with the Rev. Lowell T. Spencer officiating. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Wares Chapel Cemetery, West Manchester.
Raymond H. Poos
Raymond H. Poos, 90, of Eaton, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, at his home after an extended illness.
A native and lifelong resident of Eaton, he was born April 4, 1908, the son of the late Henry and Eliza (Cottingham) Poos. He was a retired farmer. Mr. Poos was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Preble County Senior Citizens, Preble County Farm Bureau, Ohio State Plowman Association, and was a former committee member of the ASCS, Eaton.
His first wife, Naomi (Unger) Poos, died in 1950. He then married Edna (Brower) Poos and she died in 1983. A brother, Everett Poos; and a sister, Gertrude Sauer, are also deceased.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol Ward of Richmond, Ind., and Wilma Summers of New Haven, Conn.; two sons, Laurence Poos of Washington, D.C., and Dale Poos of Eaton; two stepdaughters, JoAnn MacKenzie of Surrey, British Columbia, and Melinda Fay of Albuquerque, N.M.; a granddaughter, Emily Summers; three step-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Saturday, Oct. 24, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, with the Rev. Brian Dillahunt officiating. Burial was in Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice, c/o Reid Hospital & Health Care Services, Richmond, Ind.; to the Preble County Cancer Society; or to Grace Lutheran Church.
Larry F. Horn
Larry F. Horn, 63, of Eaton, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, at his home after a one-year illness.
Born Jan. 8, 1935, in Richmond, Ind., he was the son of the late George W. and Fern M. (Shafer) Horn, and had lived in Eaton all his life. He was a graduate of Eaton High School, and was a retired self-employed painter and paper hanger. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include four sisters, Virginia Koontz, Vera Conrad and Flora Burrows, all of Eaton; and Lorene Henderson of New Lebanon; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Glenna Moistner; and two brothers, Harry Horn and Charles Horn.
Funeral services were Friday, Oct. 23, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, with the Rev. Lowell T. Spencer officiating. Burial was in Zion Cemetery near Eaton, where military graveside services were conducted.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Preble County Cancer Society.
Sharon K. George
Sharon K. George, 55, of Bridgeport, W. Va., formerly of West Alexandria, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 20, in West Virginia.
Born April 5, 1943, in West Alexandria, she was a 1961 graduate of Lanier High School. She had worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., for 22 years, and had worked in Clarksburg for the past five years.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harold "Jim" George, in 1974.
Survivors include her mother, Zella (Burnett) George of West Alexandria, a sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and John Neuner of Kettering; three brothers and sister-in-law, Roger and Evelyn George of Richmond, Ind., Gary George of Gratis and Jerry George of Brookville; an aunt, Theresa Stocker of Eaton; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Saturday, Oct. 24, at Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home, West Alexandria, with the Rev. David Oligee officiating. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery, West Alexandria.
Memorial contributions may be made to the West Alexandria Emergency Squad.
Veda H. Hollis
Veda Helen Hollis, 91, of 105 Meadow Lane, Hartford City, Ind., died Tuesday morning, Oct. 20, at Regency Place, Fort Wayne, Ind., after an extended illness.
A native and lifelong resident of Hartford City, she was born Nov. 30, 1906, the daughter of Leander J. and Stella G. (Shellenbarger) Nelson. She graduated from Hartford City High School and in 1926 graduated from Madame Blakers School in Indianapolis (now Butler University).
She began her teaching career in 1927 at William Reed Elementary School in Hartford City, and also taught a year at Roll School and four years at Montpelier Elementary School.
She married Samuel A. Hollis on Nov. 22, 1931, in Niles, Mich., and operated the family business, the Hollis Grocery, in Hartford City. She resumed her teaching career in 1967 at the William Reed Elementary School, retiring in 1972.
Mrs. Hollis was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church, Hartford City, and was a member of the Mary-Martha Circle of the church. She was active in the Blackford County Hospital Auxiliary and in 1993 had volunteered over 1,500 hours of service, becoming a patron of the auxiliary that year. She was also a member of the Dolly Cronin Circle of the church, a member and past president of Research Club, and a member of Purity Chapter #126 of the Order of Eastern Star.
Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Valorie Ann and Warren Colglazier, Helen Kay and Keith Marlatt, all of Fort Wayne, Ind., Carol Lee and Robert Armacost of Eaton; a sister, Esther Reasoner of Fort Myers, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel; her parents, two brothers; James R. and Lawrence E. Nelson; and a sister, Madeline Atkinson.
Funeral services were Saturday, Oct. 24, at Grace United Methodist Church, Hartford City, Ind., with Dr. Norman Glassburn officiating. Burial was in Hartford City Cemetery. Waters Funeral Home, Hartford City, Ind., was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 312 W. Washington St., Hartford City, Ind.
Robert C. Brush
Robert C. Brush, 68, of 7854 Ohio 726, Eldorado, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the VA Medical Center in Dayton after an extended illness.
Born June 12, 1930, in West Alexandria, he was the son of Thomas and Virginia (Rader) Brush. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War and had been a truck driver for Market Sales and Rose City Transportation, both of New Paris. He had been a member of the Eagles Lodge #2202 in Eaton.
He was preceded in death by sons, Thomas M. Brush in 1986, Mike and John Brush; a daughter, Sheila Brush; and a brother, Dallas Brush.
Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Barbara (Bradshaw) Brush; three sons, Roderick Brush of Eldorado, Ray E. Harris of Jamestown, Ohio, and Joseph A. Harris of Huber Heights; daughters, Christina Smith of Armagosa Valley, Nev., Joanne McClure and Donna Deel, both of Dayton; Linda M. Simms of Sugar Land, Texas, and Judith Shaffer of Aurora, Colo.; a brother, Freddie Brush of Richmond, Ind.; 19 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Friday, Oct. 23, at Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, with the Rev. Raymond Rothwell and the Rev. Don Dohm officiating. Burial was in Monroe Cemetery, Eldorado, with Preble County Veterans Honor Guard services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VA Hospice Fund, VA Medical Center, 4100 W. Third St., Dayton, Ohio 45428-9907.
Wilma Slough
Wilma Slough, 86, of Gratis, died Thursday, Oct. 22, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind.
Born Sept. 11, 1912, in Middletown, she was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Barnhart) Clevenger. She was a homemaker, and was an avid bowler.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert Slough; a brother, Lewis Clevenger; and a grandchild.
Survivors include two sons, James Slough of Germantown and Charles Slough of Gratis; two daughters, Shirley Johnson of Centerville, Ohio, and Marian Knight of Dayton; two sisters, Barbra Crist of Middletown and Wyona Sillett of Cincinnati; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were Monday, Oct. 26, at Fairview Cemetery, Gratis, with the Rev. Harlan Sorenson officiating. Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home, Gratis, was in charge of arrangements.
Thelma A. Brewer
Thelma A. Brewer, 83, of Camden, died Thursday, Oct. 22, at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital in Oxford.
Born March 5, 1915, in Harriman, Tenn., she was the daughter of Walter and Bertha May (Spencer) Ashley.
She married Jacob L. Brewer on Dec. 6, 1928, in Stanton, Ky., and he preceded her in death on Jan. 16, 1974.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Sheila and James Raney of Somerville; a son, Augustus E. Brewer of San Diego, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Saturday, Oct. 24, at R.C. Nein & Sons-Thompson Funeral Home, Camden, followed by burial in Fairmount Cemetery, Camden.
Lloyd U. Hemmelgarn
Lloyd U. Hemmelgarn, 67, of New Paris, died Thursday, Oct. 22, at Greenbriar Nursing Center in Eaton.
He was born May 4, 1931, in St. Henry, Ohio, the son of Urban T. "Butch" and Dorothy M. (Piekenbrock) Hemmelgarn. He retired in 1975 after serving 24 years with the U.S. Army. He was a member of Clarence Teaford Post #360 American Legion and St. John's Catholic Church, both in New Paris.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Nancy J. (Mueller) Hemmelgarn; his mother, Dorothy Dean of Richmond, Ind.; daughters and sons-in-law, Tina Marie and Kris Cook, Nancy Lee and Frank Henemyre, all of New Paris, Carol Ann and Wes Marshall, Mary E. Hemmelgarn and friend, Joey Wickett, all of Richmond, Ind.; a sister-in-law, Joan Hemmelgarn of Eaton; a sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and Norbert Schutte of Eaton; a brother and sister-in-law, Alan and Dee Hemmelgarn of Richmond, Ind.; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Marie Ann Hemmelgarn, in 1958; a son, Lloyd U. Hemmelgarn Jr., in 1965; his father, in 1973; and a brother, Dale F. Hemmelgarn, in 1985.
A prayer service preceded Funeral Mass on Monday, Oct. 26, at St. John's Catholic Church in New Paris, with the Rev. Thomas Fitzsimmons officiating. Burial, with military services, was in Springlawn Cemetery, New Paris. Barnes Funeral Home-New Paris Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ohio Parkinson Foundation of Southwest Ohio, 325 N. Third St., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.
