Search Archived Marriage Records
Date of these obituaries: 02-29-2000
Martha Roberts, beauty queen, loved her family, genealogy
Martha Roberts, a former beauty queen and beloved mother, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North in Covington. She was 91.
Ms. Roberts won her first beauty pageant at the Nicholas County Fair in 1908. She was 6 months old and at the fair with her father, a tobacco farmer, when judges of the Prettiest Baby contest awarded her the blue ribbon and a $10 gold piece.
Her family still has the ribbon, said her son, Terry Roberts. They also have a certificate from the governor of Kentucky, appointing Ms. Roberts the state representative at the 1929 Rhododendron Festival in Asheville, N.C.
Ms. Roberts was chosen for the festival after being named May Queen at the University of Kentucky, where she was a student. The honor also got her a movie audition, but she turned it down and instead married
her college sweetheart a week after returning from the Rhododendron Festival.
Ms. Roberts, originally from Carlisle, moved with her husband to his hometown of Dayton, Ky. It was during the Depression and jobs were hard to find, said Terry Roberts, of of Blue Ash, Ohio. But Ms. Roberts found a job as a teller with State Bank of Dayton. They later moved to Florida and then to Fort Thomas before retiring in Florida. Ms. Roberts later moved back to Northern Kentucky.
Ms. Roberts made a hobby of tracing her family history and found a line as far back as Alfred the Great, the last Saxon king of England. She was a past regent with the Rebecca Bryan Boone Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and a past state chairwoman of
Americanism of Kentucky. She was a member of First Families of Virginia, Order of the Crown in America and Colonial Dames of America.
Ms. Roberts' daughter, Marcia Humes of Wyoming, Ohio, said her mother's passion for genealogy was probably what kept her mind so sharp.
"Boy, she was sharp as a tack up until the end," Ms. Humes said.
She valued her children more than anything, her daughter said. "She was probably the best mom you could ever have," Ms. Humes said.
Other survivors include son Glenn Roberts Jr. of Fort Thomas; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will begin there at 5 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Carlisle Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Jean A. Vasche Adair, 85, of Florence, died Monday at Woodspoint Nursing Home, Florence. She was a cafeteria worker with Highlands High School, Fort Thomas, and a member of the Fort Thomas Women's Club and Highland United Methodist Church in Fort Thomas. Her husband, Asa H. Adair, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Robert Adair of Burlington; a brother, James Vasche of Hollywood, Fla.; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Anna Bush, 74, of Latonia, died Monday at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Catchen Funeral Home, Covington.
Richard Ficke, 73, of Independence, died at 1:05 p.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. He owned Ficke Appliance Service, and was a former employee of Kelly Koett X-Ray and GE Appliance Service companies. He was a member of St. Cecilia Church in Independence, where he was a former CCD teacher and a member of the Holy Name Society. He was a member of the Seniors Golf and the St. Cecilia Church golf leagues, and was an Army veteran. A son, Mark Ficke, died in 1984.
Survivors include his wife, Charlene Mills Ficke; sons, Danny Ficke of Elsmere and Michael Ficke of Independence; daughters, Tina Ferguson of Ludlow and Francie Meyers of Swarthmore, Pa.; brothers, Tom Ficke of Covington, Hank Ficke of Burna Park, Calif., and Jim Ficke of Tavares, Fla.; sisters, Grace Young and Veronica Judy, both of Frankfort; and five grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Cecilia Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in St. Cecilia Cemetery, Independence. Memorials are suggested to St. Cecilia Church Building Fund, 5313 Madison Pike, Independence, Ky. 41051; or American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042. Swinder and Currin Funeral Home, Independence, is handling arrangements.
Wayne Foster, 57, of Alexandria, died at 7:37 a.m. Friday at his home. He was a self-employed roofer and a former owner of Four Seasons Roofing and Chimney Service in Alexandria. He was a member of New Thought Unity Church, Cincinnati.
Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Marianne Smith; sons, Steve Foster, Mark Foster and James Foster, all of Dayton, and Art Foster of Alexandria; stepsons, Carl Staubach and Zane Staubach, both of Alexandria; a daughter, Tanya Foster of Folsom; brothers, Arthur Foster Jr. of Bellevue and Henry "Bud" Foster of Walton; a sister, Deloris Simms of Dayton; and five grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at New Thought Unity Center, Cincinnati. Cremation will be at Hillside Chapel, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014. Alexandria Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Harold Graves, 73, of Fort Thomas, died at 9:20 p.m. Friday at St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas. He was a retired letter carrier with the Fort Thomas Post Office and a volunteer with Mildred Dean Elementary School, Newport. He was a member of Fort Thomas Retired Men's Club. His wife, Betty Bickers Graves, died in 1999.
Survivors include daughters, Janet Graves of Fort Thomas, Shirley Collins of Brooksville and Sharon Bintz of Alexandria; a brother, James Graves of Fort Thomas; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were this morning at Christ Church United Church of Christ, Fort Thomas. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Southgate, handled arrangements.
Robert L. Hamilton, 67, of Covington, died Monday at Deaconess Hospital, Cincinnati.
Arrangements are pending at Catchen Funeral Home, Covington.
Irma Turner Hearld, 61, of Newport, died Sunday at Bethesda North Hospital, Montgomery, Ohio. She was a retired teacher from Covington Independent Schools.
Survivors include her husband, Albert Hearld; her mother, Jennie Turner of Newport; brothers, Grand Turner of Crestview, Carson Turner, Larry Turner and Gary Turner, all of Newport, Paul Turner-Talbert; and sisters, Judy Johnson, Rosemary Turner, Charity Turner and Ida Ann Hall of Newport.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Radel Funeral Home, Highland Heights. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Buck Hearld Cemetery, Breathitt County.
Emma Kinman, 90, of Williamstown, died Monday at Gallatin Health Care Center, Warsaw.
Arrangements are pending at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown.
Joseph H. Klare, 81, of Bellevue, died Sunday at Baptist Convalescent Center, Newport. He was a retired machinist with Cratz-Wilde Co., and a member of Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue, Bellevue Vets and Order of the Foresters. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. His wife, Thelma Klare, died in 1998.
Survivors include a son, Bill Klare of Independence; daughters, Rose Gross of Highland Heights, Shirley Schmitz of Villa Hills, Peggy Schultz of Independence and Betty Wietholter of Cold Spring; a brother, Harry Klare of Camp Springs; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Sisters of St. Francis, P. O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Ind. 47036.
Danny Thomas Livengood, 41, of Williamstown, drowned Saturday at Corinth Lake. He was a school bus driver with Grant County Board of Education, and a farmer. He was a water hauler with his father.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa Lynn Fugate Livengood; a son, Kyle Tris tan Livengood, at home; daughters, Kandice Daniella Livengood and Katelynn Richelle Livengood, both at home; his parents, Tommy and Lula Grace Redmon Livengood of Williamstown; and a brother, Randy Livengood of Williamstown.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Corinth. Memorials are suggested to Danny Livengood Memorial Fund, in care of Community First Bank, Dry Ridge, Ky. 41035.
Martin Ray Loomis, 43, of Berry, drowned Saturday at Corinth Lake. He was a truckdriver with his wife with Transfreight Co., Georgetown.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Wirth Loomis; a son, Jerry Davis of Webbers Falls, Okla.; stepdaughters, Mel issa Amick of Decatur, Ill., Rachel Meyer of Dunnellon, Fla., and Nicole Wirth of Berry; a stepson, Michael Stephens of Virginia Beach, Va.; his mother, Geraldine Williams Slayback of Dry Ridge; and two granddaughters.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in White's Chapel Cemetery, Williamstown.
John D. Love, 72, of Corinth, died at 6 p.m. Sunday at his home. He was a retired carman with Southern Railway and was a member of Williamstown Baptist Church. He was a member of the board of directors of Parkview Manor Inc., Williamstown, and a member of Na tional Association of Railroad Veterans and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Poynter Love; a daughter, Carol Love Guffey of Park Hills; brothers, Chauncey H. Love of Danville and Pat Love of Ludlow; and one grandson.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge. Memorials are suggested to Super Seniors or Media Library of Williamstown Baptist Church, 214 N. Main St., Williamstown, Ky. 41097.
Madeline Merschel, 99, of Southgate, died at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at Highlands of Fort Thomas Nursing Home. She was a homemaker. Her husband, Raymond Merschel, died in 1986.
Survivors include a daughter, Janet Hegge of Southgate; two granddaughters and two great- grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Therese Church, Southgate. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, with prayers following. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to St. Therese Church, 11 Temple Place, Southgate, Ky. 41071.
Jimmie Lee Messmer, 64, of Verona, died Monday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence.
Arrangements are pending at Hamilton-Stanley Funeral Home, Verona.
Arthur Meyers, 83, of Cincinnati, formerly of Covington, died Monday at West Hills Nursing Home, Cincinnati.
Arrangements are pending at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow.
James Frink Rogers, 90, of Florence, died at 6 a.m. Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence. He was a retired signal maintainer with Cincinnati Union Terminal. A daughter, Roberta Ann Rogers, died in 1962.
Survivors include his wife, Freda A. Rogers; and a son, Lee Rogers of Lexington.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Nathan M. Runyon, 2, of Newport, drowned Friday in a neighbor's pool.
Survivors include his parents, Mendnile Warren of Covington and Deanna Runyon of Newport; a sister, Katherine Runyon of Newport; a brother, Ronald Headen of Newport; grandparents, Joseph and Kathy Runyon of Newport, Robert Warren of Covington and Robbie Fann of Covington; and great-grandmother, Sylvia Parrish of Newport.
Graveside services will be at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Radel Funeral Home, Newport. Memorials are suggested to the family, in care of Radel Funeral Home, 822 York St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Theresa Poole Ryan, 71, of Dry Ridge, died at 10:35 a.m. Monday at Grant Manor Health Care Center in Williamstown. She was a homemaker and a member of St. William Church, Williamstown. Her husband, Bernard Thomas Ryan, died in 1982. Sons, Edward Thomas Ryan, Martin Dennis Ryan, Fred William Ryan, Joseph Leo Ryan and Joseph Ryan, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Kathleen E. Robinson of Crittenden, Margaret Ann Ryan of Dry Ridge and Ruth Marie Mason of Erlanger; brothers, Tony Poole of Williamstown and Bobby Poole of Independence; sisters, Agness Acra of Hebron, Margaret Wadell of Covington, Dorathy Bowin of Erlanger, Loretta Cuzick of Verona and Elizabeth Herington of Walton; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. William Church, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Hamilton-Stanley Funeral Home, Verona. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Verona.
Albert Joseph Sandfoss, 84, of Southgate, died at 4:45 p.m. Sunday at Woodspoint Nursing Home, Florence. He was a retired self-employed accountant and a member of Southgate Super Seniors and the Churchill Super Seniors. A stepdaughter, Susan Berringer, died in 1986.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Owen Sandfoss; stepsons, Mark Owen of Southgate, Kent Owen of Summerfield, Fla., and David Owen of Fort Thomas; sisters, Rita Hall of Kenosha, Wis., and Ruth Cunningham of Cincinnati; brothers, William Sandfoss of Newport and Thomas Sandfoss of Highland Heights; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Therese Church, Southgate. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Kathryn Schack, 84, of Fort Thomas, died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Highlands of Fort Thomas Nursing Home. She was a teacher at St. Mary School in Alexandria and was a former bookkeeper with her father's furniture store. Her husband, John "Jack" Schack, died in 1996.
Survivors include a daughter, Michele "Mickie" Kemphaus of Fort Wright; sons, J. Terence Schack of Saratoga, Calif., and Tim Schack of Florence; sisters, Rita Venneman of Venice, Fla., and Marcella Mahler of Grand Junction, Colo.; a brother, Carl Nunner of Fort Thomas; and five grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Therese Church, Southgate. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary School, 9 S. Jefferson, Alexandria, Ky. 41001.
Richard Stewart, 58, of Ludlow, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington. He was an office clerk with Micro Metal Finishing Co., Cincinnati.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Mae Stewart; sons, Michael Stewart of Silver Grove and Richard W. Stewart of Ludlow; a daughter, Kimberely Haggard of Florence; brothers, Ken Stewart of Cincinnati and Obie Stewart of Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Pauline Reinhardt of Cincinnati; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow. Visitation will begin there at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Cremation will be at Baxter Cremation Co., Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219.
