Search Archived Marriage Records
Date of these obituaries: 04-10-2000
Rita Haley, 'world's greatest mother,' dies in car accident
For 32-year-old Rita Haley, everything in life revolved around family. Her electrician husband, two young sons and one stepson, were the focus of every minute she had away from her third shift responsibilities at a nearby foundry.
Friday she was on her way to buy groceries for a big Saturday morning family breakfast when she was killed in an auto accident on U.S. 36 west of Cynthiana near her Harrison County home.
Rita Ewalt Brinkmeyer Haley of Berry, was, according to her husband, Michael C. Haley, "the world's greatest mother." He said one of her favorite hobbies focused on the center of her affections - her family.
"She was a camera nut," said Mr. Haley. "She loved to take pictures and anywhere she went she had to take pictures because she didn't want to miss anything. In fact, I got her a camcorder for Christmas. She loved it."
Ms. Haley had just started working again 10 months ago, shortly after the birth of her youngest son. She chose to work the third shift at Grede Perm Cast Inc., in Harrison County, so that her children could be with at least one of their parents during most of the day. Her husband said she handled the hard hours and hard work at the foundry without complaint.
"She came in every morning off that third shift like somebody who had walked out of a coal mine," he said. "But she went there and she didn't complain about it."
Other survivors include sons, Jason Scott Brinkmeyer and Austin Dale Haley, both of Harrison County; a stepson, Matthew Cody Haley of Harrison County; brothers, Ricky R. Ewalt and Randy W. Ewalt, both of Harrison County.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Ware Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana.
Virgil D. Ashcraft, 56, of Independence, died at 10:07 p.m. Friday at Middletown, Ohio, Regional Hospital.
Arrangements are pending at Catchen Funeral Home, Elsmere.
Ruth May Berkshire, 79, of Warsaw, died Friday at Gallatin County Health Center, Warsaw. She was a homemaker and a member of Seventh Day Adventist Church, Covington. Her husband, Fred Berkshire, died in 1966.
Survivors include a son, Fred Berkshire of Sanders; a daughter, Susan Sweigert of Hendersonville, N.C.; sisters, Betty Duncan of Covington and Margie Hamilton of Hamilton, Ohio; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw. Burial will be in Warsaw Cemetery.
Mary M. Busse, 78, of Taylor Mill, died at 8:20 a.m. Saturday at Christ Hospital, Cincinnati. She was a member of St. Anthony Church, Taylor Mill, and Kenton County Republican Women's Club. Her husband, Clifford E. Busse, died in 1997.
Survivors include a daughter, Ruthann Sammarco of Cincinnati; sons, Clifford E. Busse II of Chicago and Mark A. Busse of Taylor Mill; sisters, Ethel Clemons of Williamstown, Adalaide Webster of Taylor Mill and Kathleen Montouri of Corpus Christi, Texas; and five grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial was this morning at St. Anthony Church. Burial was in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright.
Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia, handled arrangements.
Narcissus "Norris" Dickman, 91, of Lakeside Park, died 9:10 a.m. Friday at St. Charles Care Center, Fort Wright.
She was a retired registered nurse with William Booth Hospital in Covington, with doctor's offices in Northern Kentucky and a private nurse.
She was active in the American Red Cross early in her career. Her husband, Maurice Otto Dickman, preceded her in death.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Private services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Memorials are suggested to American Red Cross, 59 Carothers Road, Newport, Ky. 41071; or St. Charles Care Center, 500 Farrell Drive, Fort Wright, Ky. 41011.
Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill, is handling arrangements.
William Dickman, 79, of Latonia, died at 5:55 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence.
Arrangements are pending at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia.
Harold E. Dunbar, 78, of Cold Spring, died at 10:10 a.m. Saturday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington.
He was a retired truck driver with Roadway Express, Cincinnati, and a member of Colonel Clay Masonic Lodge No. 159, Covington.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Huck Dunbar; a daughter, Sandra Kay Ellison of Cold Spring; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Lowell L. Gifford, 56, of Brooksville, died at 4:09 p.m. Friday at Licking Valley Estates, Brooksville.
He was a sprinkler-head fitter with Alpine Fire Protection Service, Stockton, Calif., and a member of Sprinkler Head Fitters Local No. 699 in Stockton.
His wife, Francine Gifford, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sons, Daniel Lowell Gifford of Miami, Fla., Scott Gifford of Denver, Heath Gifford of Florence and Claude Gifford of Burlington; daughters, Vonda Hodge of Manchester, Ohio, and Christy LeAnn Carr of Cincinnati; stepsons, Alfred DaDda of Burlington, Texas, and Gregory DaDda of Winlock, Wash.; a stepdaughter, Gabriel Gifford of Winlock; a brother, Larry Gifford of Sardis; a sister, Connie Farrell of Hamersville, Ohio; 13 grandchildren and two grat-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Shannon Cemetery, Mays Lick. Visitation will be after noon Wednesday at Brell and Son Funeral Home, Maysville.
In lieu of flowers, please contact Larry Gifford at (606) 763-6349 for memorial suggestions.
Josephine Baldwin Guifoyle, 89, of Newport, died Friday at Queen City Nursing Home in Cincinnati. She was a homemaker and a member of Holy Spirit Church, Newport.
Survivors include daughters, Dorothy Pulliam of Melbourne and Mae Highhouse of Covington; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Cooper Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery, Mentor.
Pat Anderson Hillenbrand, 60, of Dry Ridge, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center Grant County, Williamstown.
She was a homemaker and a member of Burlington Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Eddie Hillenbrand; sons, Keith Hillenbrand of Dry Ridge and Kevin Hillenbrand of Warsaw; a daughter, Kim Hillenbrand Rempel of Dry Ridge; brothers, David Anderson of Petersburg, Donald Anderson of Walton, Gary Anderson of Burlington and Atlee Anderson Jr. of Jonesville; sisters, Florine Bethel of Erlanger, Bonnie Centers of Burlington, Mary Louise Kahmann of Petersburg, Betty Moore of Crittenden and Brenda Shears of Union; and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Hamilton-Stanley Funeral Home, Verona.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219; or American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2, Florence, Ky. 41042.
James Madison Hubbard, 75, of Demossville, died Saturday at Grant Manor Nursing Home, Williamstown.
He was a metal finisher with General Motors and a World War II veteran. A stepson, Donnie Willoughby, died in 1996.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Hubbard; sons, Phil Hubbard of Independence, Keith Hubbard of Williamstown, James Hubbard of Alexandria and Darryl Hubbard of Latonia; a daughter, Darlene White of Latonia; a stepson, Alvin Willoughby of Felicity, Ohio; stepdaughters, Barbara Jacobs of Florence, Patty Goldizen of Verona, Linda Hartke of Latonia, Jeannie Parker of Butler and Donna May Kuceva of Chicago; brothers, Lawrence Hubbard of Florence, Johnny Hubbard of Independence, Sam Hubbard of Okeechobee, Fla., and Charles Hubbard of Florence; sisters, Irene Tanner of Morning View, Alice Smith of Manchester and Doris Gersper of Independence; 37 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence.
Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery.
Eugene Thomas Litzinger, 58, of Augusta, died at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at his home. He was a farmer and a member of St. James Church, Minerva.
His wife, Ruth Elizabeth Litzinger, died in 1999. A daughter, Kathy Mack, also preceded him in death.
Survivors include daughters, Jennie Litzinger Nickerson and Michelle Litzinger Woodruff, both of Augusta, and Peggy Litzinger Nickerson and Ruthann Nickerson, both of Brooksville; sons, Mike Litzinger and Ricky Litzinger, both of Augusta, Fred Barrons of Sevierville, Tenn., David Allen Earls of Cincinnati and Johnny Barrons of Brooksville; brothers, James Litzinger of Maysville, Frank Litzinger of Germantown, John Litzinger of Georgetown and Paul Litzinger of Maysville; sisters, Betty Carpenter of Dover and Marguerett Jackson of Newport; 30 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. James Church.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, Brooksville. Burial will be in Charleston Bottoms Cemetery, Dover.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hope, 1 W. McDonald Parkway, Maysville, Ky. 41056; or St. Augustine Church, Augusta, Ky. 41002.
Harold McFarland, 69, of Cincinnati, formerly of Corinth, died Friday in Bordhead. He was a self-employed carpenter and a member of New Columbus Methodist Church, Corinth. He was a Korean War veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Katherine Lucille Simpson McFarland; sons, Harold McFarland Jr. and Daryl McFarland, both of Cincinnati, Greg McFarland and Anthony McFarland, both of Lake Lune, N.C.; sisters, Evelyn Brown, Edythe Burns and Irene Campbell, all of Cincinnati; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Rogers Funeral Home, Corinth. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in New Columbus Cemetery, Corinth.
Donald E. McGinnis, 81, of Owenton, died Friday at Frankfort Regional Medical Center.
He was a retired machinist with Ford Motor Co., Cincinnati, and a member of St. Edward Church, Owenton.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 128, American Legion Post No. 137 and the Shriners.
He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Daughters, Debbie Hensley and Sue Mitchell, both preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Violet Hicks McGinnis; a stepson, Glenn J. Strunk of Wisconsin; stepdaughters, Linda Wolff of Cincinnati and Sharon Williams of Lighthouse Point, Fla.; a brother, Charles McGinnis of Wabbash, Ind.; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Victory Church, Cincinnati. Visitation will be from 4 to 8:30 tonight at McDonald Funeral Home, Seminary Street, Owenton, with Masonic services at 7 p.m.
Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Cincinnati.
Memorials are suggested to Relay for Life, or the charity of the donor's choice.
Gayle Donald Moore, 75, of Cynthiana, died Saturday at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana.
He was a retired employee of Bundy Corp., Harrison County, and a member of Church of the Advent Episcopal. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
His wife, Helen Riley Moore, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sons, Ken Moore of Lexington and Carl Thomas Moore of Flatrock, N.C.; a daughter, Patricia Parmer of Santee, Calif.; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ware Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana.
Walter Otto, 73, of Covington, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North in Covington.
Arrangements are pending at Catchen Funeral Home, Covington.
Dorothy Pomfrey, 88, of Florence, died Saturday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence. She was a retired cashier with the McAlpin's department store in downtown Cincinnati. Her husband, Robert B. Pomfrey, died in 1987.
Survivors include a daughter, Marianne Fleckinger of Independence; three grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mary Queen of Heaven Church, Erlanger. Visitation will begin there at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Gate Heaven Cemetery, Cincinnati.
Memorials are suggested to Mary Queen of Heaven Church, 1150 Donaldson Highway, Erlanger, Ky. 41018. Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Charles Raisbeck, 78, of Fort Thomas, died Saturday in Bradenton, Fla.
Arrangements are pending at Dobblng Funeral Home, Fort Thomas.
Diannia Speagle, 57, of Walton, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was an office manager with H&R; Block and a member of Covington Moose Lodge No. 1469.
She was a bartender with the Moose lodge, and was a member of Women of Moose Chapter No. 985.
Survivors include her husband, Russell Speagle; a daughter, Teresa L. Whitaker of Florence; a son, Jeffrey Snydor of Covington; her mother, Elizabeth Brunner Arthur of Dry Ridge; stepdaughters, Pam Dimmerman of Independence and Phyllis Mains of Florence; a stepson, Rusty Speagle of Burlington; sisters, Joyce Scroggins of Falmouth and Debbie Brown of Corinth; brothers, Eddie Brown of LaGrange and Steve Brown of Corinth; six grandchildren, four step- grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Walton. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Women of the Moose services at 8 p.m.
Burial will be in Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Women of the Moose Chapter No. 895, 5247 Taylor Mill Road, Covington, Ky. 41015.
Dixie Lee Spegal, 57, of Alexandria, died Friday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was a retired operator's assistant with Cincinnati Bell Telephone, and a member Communications Workers of America.
Survivors include her husband, Richard C. Spegal; a daughter, Julie Maegley of Independence; a son, Rick Spegal of Alexandria; her mother, Louise S. Connett of Southgate; and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Therese Church, Southgate.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas.
Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Memorials are suggested to New Perceptions, 1 Sperti Drive, Edgewood, Ky. 41017; or Madonna Manor, 2344 Amsterdam Road, Villa Hills, Ky. 41017.
Dorothy Tungate Spegal, 85, of Gardnersville, died Friday at Grant Manor Nursing Home, Williamstown. She was a homemaker and a member of Carters Chapel Methodist Church, Pendleton County.
Her husband, Sherman Spegal, and a son, Bernie Eugene Spegal, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Lloyd Spegal of Independence, Richard Spegal of Falmouth, Ronald Spegal of Demossville and William Spegal of Walton; 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will begin there at noon. Burial will be in Gardnersville Cemetery, Pendleton County.
Frank C. Wolnitzek, 69, of Florence, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence.
Arrangements are pending at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas.
William Edward Wood, 41, of Union, died Saturday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence. He was a brick mason for Castner Construction, Milford, Ohio.
Survivors include his wife, Candice Wood; daughters, Jessica Wood and Ricki Wood, both at home; a son, Billy Wood at home; and brothers, Rick Wood of Union and Dave Wood of Cincinnati.
Services will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Cooper Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Graceland Memorial Gardens, Milford, Ohio.
Maudie Mae Rogers Wright, 90, of Taylor Mill, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
She was a homemaker and a member of Taylor Mill Pentecostal Church. Her husband, Alva F. Wright, died in 1982. A daughter, Irene Wright Roark, died in 1979.
Survivors include a daughter, Hazel Wright Heller of Pleasant Plain, Ohio; sons, Wilbur C. Wright of Bradenton, Fla., Carl R. Wright of Cincinnati, Clinton Wright of Crittenden, Eddie W. Wright of Somerset and Paul A. Wright of Taylor Mill; sisters, Mary Bolton of Bradenton, Lillie Bolton and Nellie Ping, both of Greenfield, Ind., and Marie Stoudt of Galveston, Texas; 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
