United States High School Yearbooks by County
R. Thomas Mumma, 36, son of Warren woman
R. Thomas Mumma, 36, of Revere Road, Danbury, died June 8 at Danbury Hospital following a brief illness.
Mr. Mumma was born Dec. 26, 1965, in Danbury, son of Russell Mumma of Danbury and Jean (Markewicz) Doto of Warren.
He grew up in Danbury and was a graduate of Danbury High School. He had been employed at Wentworth Laboratories, Inc. of Brookfield.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his fiancee, Carolyn Conner of Danbury; his step-father, Frank Doto of Warren; a sister, Leslie Legan of Danbury; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Denise Raymond; and a brother, Russell.
The Green Funeral Home of Danbury was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
John Benis, 82, father of New Milford woman
John J. Benis, 82, of New Milford, formerly of Northampton and Holyoke, Mass., died June 7 in New Milford. He was the widower of Helen E. (Krainski) Benis.
Mr. Benis was born in Northampton.
He graduated from the former St. Michael’s High School and lived in Holyoke for many years. He was a retired 40-year electrician for various companies in the Greater Holyoke area.
He was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and a member of I.B.E.W. Local for over 40 years.
Mr. Benis is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Camillone of New Milford and Sally Rae of Easthampton, Mass.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by a sister, Albina Petrouski.
The Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home of Holyoke was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.
Paul Krikhan, 91, former New Milford resident
Paul Friedrich Krikhan, 91, of Charlottesville, Va., formerly of New Milford, died June 1. He was the husband of Maria Krikhan.
Mr. Krikhan was born Dec. 19, 1910, in Bochum, Germany, son of Friedrich and Marie Krikhan.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a sister, Friedi Pelz of Bochum; two daughters, Rita Merk of Charlottesville and Marie Schreib of Salt Lake City, Utah; four grandsons, Raymond Merk and his wife Adriana of Tokyo, Gregory Merk of Brazil, Fred Schreib of Lodi, N.J., and Arthur Schreib Jr. of Salt Lake City; a granddaughter, Sandra Lounsbury; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Richard and his wife Margot; two sisters and three brothers.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in New Milford.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice of the Piedmont, 1490 Pantops Mt. Place, Suite 200, Charlottesville, VA 22911.
Caroline Gellella, 88, was mother of local dentist
Caroline (Galgano) Gellella, 88, of Second Hill Road, New Milford, died June 21 at Candlewood Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was the widow of Leonard J. Gellella Sr.
Mrs. Gellella was born April 25, 1914, in New York City, daughter of the late Dominick and Josephine Galgano.
She was a communicant of St. Francis Xavier Church of New Milford and a member of the New Milford Senior Center.
She is survived by two sons, Dr. Leonard Gellella Jr. of New Milford and Michael Gellella of Newtown; two brothers, Anthony Galgano of Seattle, Wash., and Alfred Galgano of Bethpage, N.Y.; four grandchildren, Nicole Birkett and Danielle, Kirsten and Erik Gellella.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to New Milford Hospital Columbia Presbyterian Regional Cancer Center, 21 Elm St., New Milford, CT 06776.
David Baldwin, 53, longtime Washington resident
David Dale Baldwin, 53, died June 18 in Washington.
Mr. Baldwin was born Nov. 20, 1948, in New Haven.
He lived most of his life in Washington. He attended Rumsey Hall School and Forman School, and graduated from Post Junior College of Waterbury. He also attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida and Fowler Aeronautical Service in California, where he qualified as an airline transport pilot and turbo-jet flight engineer.
He was a pilot for Pilgrim Airlines of New London, ground school instructor at Danbury Airways, chief pilot at Montauk Caribbean Airlines of New York and Florida, and director of Jet Express International, Las Vegas. He also worked at Washington Supply for several years.
Mr. Baldwin was an emergency medical technician, a member of the Washington Volunteer Fire Department, past vice president and secretary of Washington Volunteer Ambulance Association, and a former member of the Lions Club.
He is survived by three sisters, Docey, Hope and Dale.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow (Saturday) at 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 78 Green Hill Road, Washington. The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford is in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Washington Ambulance Association, 109 Bee Brook Road, P.O. Box 294, Washington Depot, CT 06794.
Irma V. Kelvie, 77, was a native of Warren
Irma (Voisard) Kelvie, 77, of Binghamton, N.Y., died June 21 after a brief illness. She was the widow of John R. Kelvie.
Mrs. Kelvie was born Dec. 26, 1924, in Warren, daughter of the late Julian and Lorretta Voisard.
She is survived by two sons, Robert of Littleton, Colo., and William of Rochester, N.Y.; a sister, Eunice Turrell of Warren; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today (Friday) at 10 a.m. at the Lillis Funeral Home, 58 Bridge St., New Milford. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Torrington.
Friends may call at the Lillis Funeral Home today from 9 to 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Warren Congregational Church, Book of Remembrance, 8 Kent Road, P.O. Box 1150, Warren, CT 06754.
Joseph Wodjenski, 73, lifelong New Milford resident
Joseph John Wodjenski, 73, of Merryall Road, New Milford died June 24 at Candlewood Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Mr. Wodjenski was born Jan. 7, 1929, in New Milford, son of the late Frank and Louise (Zalinska) Wodjenski.
He was a graduate of New Milford High School and was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Navy as a jet pilot.
He was the owner and operator of New Milford Floor Covering for 25 years. He was also a self-employed carpenter.
Mr. Wodjenski was known as Joey Autumn on WINE radio with Dick Alexander, reading his poetry and essays, many of which were published in local papers. He was also the founder of New Milford Water Ski Club.
He is survived by a daughter, Donna Craig of Lafayette, Calif.; a brother, John of New Milford; three sisters, Elizabeth Orciuch of Shelton, Mary Ploch of New Milford and Gertrude Fritz of Newtown; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Frank.
A private service will be held at the convenience of the family.
The Lillis Funeral Home of New Milford was in charge of arrangements.
Jerry G. Kidd, 72, father of New Milford man
Jerry Green Kidd, 72, of Cleburne, Texas, died June 25 at his home. He was the husband of Ida (Hopkins) Kidd and widower of Patricia Rogers.
Mr. Kidd was born Aug. 30, 1929, in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., son of the late David and Nancy (Carawan) Kidd.
He was a member of the Roanoke Rapids First Baptist Church, youth leader and director of the choir. He was a member of his school band and local high school graduate.
He joined the United States Air Force in 1948 and served for 22 years. In 1970 CMSgt. Kidd was awarded The Meritorious Service Medal.
Mr. Kidd worked for the postal service for 15 years and then moved to Cleburne to work in his son’s business.
He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and formed the organization CHAP (Children Have A Potential). He was a 32nd degree Mason and member of the American Legion Post 0278 in Florida.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Samuel and his wife Nancy of Fort Worth, Texas, Thomas and his wife Andrea of New Milford and W. David of Cleburne; a daughter, Karen of Tampa, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Jackie of Cleburne; six grandchildren; four step-children; two brothers; and several nieces, nephews and friends.
He was predeceased by a brother, Samuel; and five sisters, Beulah Butts, Jane Brown, Alice Hudson, Katherine Giles and Peggy Cummings.
Contributions in his memory may be made to MacDonald Training Center, Inc., 5420 W. Cypress St., Tampa, FL 33607.
Mary Isola, 86, was a resident of New Milford
Mary Isola, 86, of New Milford died June 23. She was a former resident of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., Chester Heights, N.Y., and New Rochelle, N.Y. She was the widow of Albert Isola.
Mrs. Isola was born Jan. 30, 1916.
She is survived by a daughter, Virginia DiDonato Wilcox and her husband Thomas; a son Albert and his wife Valerie; five grandchildren, Melissa Schwanbeck, Christopher DiDonato, Toney and Gina Isola, and Kristin Loventhaul; and two great-grandchildren, Gianna and Anthony Isola. She was predeceased by 11 brothers.
The Westchester Funeral Home of Eastchester, N.Y. was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605.
Joseph Castle, 86, was former conservation officer
Joseph E. Castle of 754 State Highway 7, Unadilla, N.Y., died June 28 at The Hospital in Sidney, N.Y. He was the widower of Lillian Castle.
Mr. Castle was born May 4, 1916, in Sidney, the son of Roger Thomas and Myrtle (Hotaling) Castle.
He graduated from Margaretville High School, Class of 1935.
In 1940, he entered the U.S. Army and became an Army artillery sergeant. He served in the Pacific theater, where he saw combat in the Philippines, the Palau Island Group and Guadalcanal. He was with the first troops to land on Japan. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 11, 1945.
Mr. Castle moved to the Torrington and New Milford areas, where he worked for several years as a carpenter, foreman and a contractor in the building trades.
During this time, he was also appointed and later elected as a conservation and police officer in New Milford. He held this position for 33 years.
In 1997, the Connecticut Conservation Officers Association of Haddam awarded Mr. Castle with an honorary membership for his years of dedicated service to conservation law enforcement.
He was a member of the American Legion No. 183 in Sidney, the Advent Christian Church in Torrington, and an associate member of the Gaylordsville Methodist Church.
Mr. Castle is survived by a daughter Joyce and her husband Gregg Patterson of New Milford; two sons, Joseph and his wife Barbara of Baltimore, and Edward and his wife Karen of New Milford; a sister Anna Rieman of Starlight, Pa.; a brother, Louis of Afton, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; a good friend, Rose, and special friends Diana, Tom, Amy, Vern, Pat, Andy and Paul.
The Joyce Funeral Home, Inc. of Unadilla was in charge of arrangements.
