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Date of these obituaries: 03-10-2001
George Miller owned City Hall Cafe
George A. "Whitey" Miller, who presided over the food and the opinions at the City Hall Cafe in Covington for 30 years, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood. He was 83.
Mr. Miller's home-cooking restaurant at 229 Court St. was the gathering place for the Covington courthouse crowd - lawyers, judges, secretaries and clients - from the 1950s through 1985, when Miller grilled his last hamburger and hung up his apron.
"In the 1970s, Whitey Miller and the City Hall Cafe were as much a part of the daily lives of the legal community as city hall itself, " said attorney William T. Robinson.
"Lawsuits were negotiated there. Corporate deals and initiatives were discussed there. The stories and history of the community was shared there."
One attorney met all of his police court clients there to plan case strategy, Robinson said.
Judges stoked up on Whitey's famous goetta and eggs before heading to morning court.
Mr. Miller and his wife, Esther, had worked at the Midtown Grill at 11th Street and Madison Avenue before buying the City Hall Cafe, said their daughter, Carol Schaefer of Edgewood. They would arrive at 5 a.m. and make everything from scratch - pies, chili, salmon croquettes with creamed pea sauce, fish sandwiches, burgers and Salisbury steak.
Esther died in 1979. Mr. Miller married
Margie Miller in 1980.
"He was a wonderful man, " Mrs. Miller said. "His customers were like family."
After he retired, he maintained contact with several customers, preparing special meals for them. Robinson and Mr. Miller exchanged Christmas gifts each year. Mr. Miller's gift was always the same - his personal recipe for goetta.
The Millers lived in Fort Mitchell, and he enjoyed golfing when he wasn't cooking, his daughter said.
He had been a cook in the Navy and also worked as a bartender.
"He was a character. I think people came in as much to argue with him as to eat, " she said. "He always had an opinion."
Robinson said customers could not walk in without hearing a comment from the back of the restaurant.
"He had a way of being funny without being hurtful, " Robinson said. "Since the close of the City Hall Cafe, there hasn't been a single place where the legal community comes together on a daily basis. At the City Hall, you got caught up on trials, who got arrested, who was sued. It was the unofficial town hall."
Mr. Miller's son, George Miller, preceded him in death.
Besides his wife and daughter, other survivors include daughters, Shirley Hartfiel of Crescent Springs and Donna Bruener of Foster; sons, Gerald Miller of Corinth and Jacob Miller of Covington; brother, Edward Miller of California; 19 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the church. Burial will be in St. Mary Mausoleum in Fort Mitchell.
Catchen Funeral Home, Covington, is in charge of arrangements.
Edward Aker, 76, of Ludlow, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood. He was a technician with Butternut Bakery. He was a member of the Baker Confectionary Union and Industry.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret "Ruth" Aker of Ludlow; son, Edward Aker of Wallins stepson, William Michael Fain of Independence; daughter, Beverly Ann Ball of Wallins; sisters, Anna Blanton of Harlan Nan Aker of Michigan; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Graveside services will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to Covington First Church of the Nazarene, 1550 Dixie Highway, Park Hills, Ky. 41011.
Leslie L. Baker, 89, of Fort Wright, died at 3:35 a.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington. He was a tool and die maker for General Electric, Cincinnati. He was a member and elder emeritus of Bromley Christian Church, Unity Lodge No. 478 F&AM and the Covington Scottish Rite.
Survivors include his wife, May Martin Baker of Fort Wright; son, Robert Baker of Ludlow; daughter, Betty Jo Santos of Tulsa, Okla.; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bromley Christian Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Ludlow, and from 10 a.m. Tuesday until the time of services at the church. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge. Memorials are suggested to Bromley Christian Church, 216 Kenton St., Bromley, Ky. 41016.
Earl L. Barnes, 36, of Cincinnati, died Thursday, at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati.
Survivors include a daughter, Ashley Barnes of Amelia, Ohio; brothers, Neal "Pip" Barnes of Ludlow and Johnny Hurley of Reading, Ohio; sisters, Judy Hurley of Kentucky and Connie Reed of Reading.
Services will be at noon Monday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio. Memorials are suggested to the Earl Barnes Memorial Fund in care of Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, 316 Elm St. Ludlow, Ky. 41016.
James Robert Donaworth, 64, of Dry Ridge, died Thursday at his home. He worked for Allis-Chalmers Machine Tool Factory and Ralph Fulton Lodge, Elsmere, and was a member of the American Legion Post in Dry Ridge.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine Kay Donaworth of Dry Ridge; daughters, Deborah Lynn Teegarden of Dry Ridge and Catherine Marie Sebree of Erlanger; sons, Victor Lee Donaworth of Corinth, Robert James Donaworth of Union and Allen Paul Donaworth of Florence; brother, Victor Donaworth of Florida; sisters, Margie Birkett of Idaho, Betty Henry of Florida, Lorna Kathmann of Edgewood and Peggy Wissmann of Ludlow.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Henry Church, Covington. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2, Florence, Ky. 41042; or Kidney Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, 2200 Victory Parkway, Suite 510, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206.
Vera Hoffman, 94, of Coldwater, Ohio, formerly of Latonia, died Thursday at Briarwood Manor Nursing Home in Coldwater. She was a member of Holy Cross Church and church choir. She was a former member of the St. Helen Ladies Society. Her husband, Harry Hoffman, preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Jerome Hoffman of Fort Wright, Donald Hoffman of Orlando, Fla., and Thomas Hoffman of Louisville; daughter, Sister Jane Francis Hoffman of Coldwater, Ohio; sister, Inez Hamm of Cincinnati; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Cross Church, Covington. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Covington.
Memorials are suggested to Holy Cross Church, 3612 Church St. Covington, Ky. 41015 or Sisters of the Precious Blood, 4960 Salem Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45416.
Alberta Miller Lanham, 72, of Lexington, formerly of Covington, died Friday. She was a former home economics teacher and Kenton County schools food service director. She was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. Her husband, Elmer Bruce Lanham, and a son, Wade Lanham, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Vicki Lanham of Lexington; and a sister, Edna Gregory of Bradenton, Fla.
Services will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Luke United Methodist Church, Lexington. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Lexington. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 2312 Alexandria Drive, Lexington, Ky. 40504; St. Luke United Methodist Church, 2351 Alumni Drive, Lexington, Ky. 40502; or Order of Eastern Star, Rosebud Chapter in Covington.
Albert W. Lindsay, 83, of Crescent Springs died Thursday at his home. He was a retired assistant Covington police chief. He was a World War II Army veteran and a member of the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame as a baseball player.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Lindsay of Crescent Springs; daughters, Angeline Willoughby of Latonia, Bonnie Byrene of London and Rose Ann Lindsay of Tampa, Fla.; sons, Eugene Lindsay of Orlando, Fla., Michael Lindsay of Merritt Island, Fla., John Lindsay of Latonia and Jeff Lindsay of Covington; sister, Eugenia Schmidt of Villa Hills; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Church in Crescent Springs. There will not be a visitation. Burial will be in Hillside Chapel in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Catchen Funeral Home, Elsmere, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles E. Newton, 67, of Newport, died Thursday at his home. He was a truck driver for Ideal Supplies.
Survivors include his wife, Delora Newton of Pineville; daughters, Beverly Rogg of Newport, Mary Hacker of Newport, Helen Hollon of St. Augustine, Fla., and Lynn Newton of St. Augustine, Fla.; stepdaughter, Mary Johnson of Pineville; brothers, Harvey Newton of Newport, Johnny Newton of Newport and Bill Newton of Falmouth; sister, Callie Newton of Newport; 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Robert Loyd Oaks, 79, of Taylor Mill, died Friday at St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas. He was a retired elevator operator for Baldwin Piano Co. in Cincinnati. He was also an coal miner in Eastern Kentucky and member of Philpot Baptist Church, Philpot. A son, Cleatus Oaks, preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline Oaks of Taylor Mill; daughter, Elma Faye Perry of Morning View; sons, Robert Oaks of Mt. Carmel, Ohio, and Donald Oaks of Batavia, Ohio; sister, Pearl McQueen of London; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Linden Grove Cemetery, Covington.
Lillian E. Martineau Rapp, 96, of Villa Hills, died Thursday at Madonna Manor in Villa Hills. She was a secretary for Braniff Airlines.
Survivors include sisters, Mansueta Martineau and Josephine Mary Martineau, both of Melbourne, and several nieces and nephews.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Madonna Manor Chapel, Villa Hills. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Madonna Manor. Burial will be in St. Anne Convent Cemetery, Melbourne. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Home in Melbourne.
Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is in charge of arrangements.
Audrey Fay Hall Turner, 88, of Falmouth, died Friday at Lakeside Healthcare Center in Highland Heights. Her husband, Harry M. Turner, preceded her in death. She served as deputy county clerk of Gallatin County and owned a beverage distributorship with her husband. She was a member of Mt. Gilead Christian Church in Harrison County. She was also a member of AARP and a former member and past president of Warsaw Homemakers.
Survivors include brothers, Ayrus C. "Acie" Hall of Falmouth, Dale Yantis Hall Sr. of Cynthiana and Melvin Lee Hall of Ridge Manor, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Woodhead Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Turner Mausoleum in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, Route 2 Box 139C, Butler, Ky. 41006; Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Ft. Thomas, Ky. 41075; or Falmouth Christian Church, 303 W. Shelby St., Falmouth, Ky. 41040.
Roger Dale Watts, 56, of Florence died Friday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence.
Arrangements are pending at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington.
Lucille A. Whitaker, 77, of Covington, died Thursday, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North in Covington. She was a member of VFW No. 7099 Women's Auxiliary. Her husband, Walter Whitaker, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a brother, Paul Grosjean of Delhi, Ohio; and sisters, Peggie Schadle of Covington and Betty Warken of Ft. Wright.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Catchen Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice, 201 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Woodrow Wiglesworth, 84, of Falmouth, died Thursday at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana. He was a farmer, a member of Falmouth Christian Church and former employee of Fuller Manufacturing in Falmouth.
His wife, Naomi King Wiglesworth, preceded him in death.
Survivors include a brother, James Wiglesworth of Falmouth.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Woodhead Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, Route 2 Box 139C, Butler, Ky. 41006 or Hospice of Hope, 909 Kenton Station Drive, Maysville, Ky. 41056.
