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Date of these obituaries: 01-11-2000
Charles R. Ostermeyer, lived 14 years with heart transplant
In 1986, the grieving family of a young man who died during surgery donated his heart to Charles R. "Chuck" Ostermeyer of Ludlow.
Monday, after the heart transplanted into Mr. Ostermeyer's chest gave out, his family directed doctors to take any organs of his that could help somebody else.
"We donated everything we could - his corneas, inner ears, bone marrow - because if somebody hadn't done it for him, he would not have been here for the last 14 years," said a sister, Janet Riesenbeck of Southgate.
"The family that gave their son's heart kept him alive for 14 years."
Mr. Ostermeyer was the sixth heart transplant recipient in the Greater Cincinnati area. He died early Monday morning at University Hospital in Cincinnati at the age of 55.
Mr. Ostermeyer was a native of Pontiac, Mich., and was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. He had worked about eight years at the Warman Aluminum Foundry Co. in Cincinnati, where he was promoted to foundry foreman, when heart problems forced him to leave.
In July 1985, Mr. Ostermeyer went on a national waiting list for a heart transplant. Five months later, on Christmas Eve, he had a heart attack in Mrs. Riesenbeck's living room.
Mr. Ostermeyer was taken to St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas. There, on Christmas Day, he was interviewed by a doctor from the University of Cincinnati, David Melvin, who got him listed on the national heart transplant network.
Mr. Ostermeyer got his heart transplant at University Hospital in March 1986. The donor was a 29-year-old man who died during surgery.
Afterward, "he was able to get up and move around," said his sister. "He was more or less in bed before that. He couldn't function, and he would tire out fast. This gave him more opportunity to be with a daughter he had."
Mr. Ostermeyer was a member of the Dayton Eagles. He also was president for two years of the Change of Heart Support Group, which helps transplant recipients adjust physically and mentally to their new life.
Mrs. Riesenbeck encourages people to tell their family they want to be organ donors and to mark their driver's license in the section that indicates they want to be organ donors.
"I realize it's a very traumatic thing for a family to be asked to do when a loved one is dying," she said. "But there are more people waiting for organ transplants than people realize."
Mr. Ostermeyer's wife, Carol Farrell Ostermeyer, died in 1994.
Other survivors include a daughter, Stephanie Powell of Covington; sisters, Shirley Fernandez of Bellaire, Mich., and Beverly Petty of Melbourne, Fla.; his mother-in-law, Anna Helen Farrell, with whom he lived; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home in Newport. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery in Southgate.
Memorials are suggested to the Charles Ostermeyer Fund, in care of Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, 835 York St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Rosa Deaton, 77, of Florence, died at 3:40 a.m. Monday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence. She was a homemaker and a former assembly line worker with the General Motors plant in Norwood, Ohio. Mrs. Deaton was a member of First Church of Christ in Burlington, Florence Star Order of the Eastern Star and the Joy Club senior citizens group. Her husband, Ben Harrison Deaton, died in 1985.
Survivors include daughters, Evelyn McClain of Florence and Anna Fields of Somerville, Ohio; sons, Benny Deaton of Aurora, Ind., Lige Deaton of West Chester, Ohio, and Billy Deaton of Florence; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at First Church of Christ, Burlington. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Mary Jewell Dotson, 93, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Mason County, died Saturday at Naples Community Hospital. She was a retired elementary school teacher and a member of First Christian Church of Wilmington, N.C., where she taught adult Sunday school classes. Her husband, John Henry Dotson, also a retired teacher, died in 1989.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Ralph J. Dotson of Naples; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Palmer Funeral Home, Mays Lick. Visitation will begin there at noon Thursday. Burial will be in Mays Lick Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Naples First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 250 Sixth St., South Naples, Fla. 34102; or to Salvation Army, 340 W. 10th St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Gladys Shepherd Ellison, 81, of Robertson County, died Monday at Meadowview Regional Medical Center, Maysville. She was a homemaker. Her husband, John William Ellison, and a brother, Edward Shepherd, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Noel Ellison and Wayne Ellison, both of Robertson County, and Wendell Ellison of Longmont, Colo.; brothers, Shirley Shepherd of Bracken County, Jewell Shepherd of Paris and Harlan Shepherd of Gas City, Ind.; sisters, Sarah Cole of Aberdeen, Ohio, and Rose Howell of Marion, Ind.; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Robertson County Funeral Home, Mount Olivet. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ellis Family Cemetery, Robertson County.
E. P. Gentry, 79, of Carrollton, died Saturday at his home. He was a ret ired funeral director and embalmer and owner of E. P. Gentry Funeral Service and Gentry Insurance Agency in Carrollton. He was a member of United Methodist Church of Carrollton, Disabled American Veterans, American Association of Retired Persons and Dallasburg Lodge No. 621 F&AM. He was an Army veteran of World War II. His wife, Dorothy Doyle Wood, died in 1970. A sister, Kathryn See, died in 1986.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Hill Baglan Gentry; stepdaughters, Jolinda Menne of Louisville, Amy Baglan of Carrollton and Jean Baglan of Bowling Green; stepsons, Ricky Wood of Carmel, Ind., and Charles Baglan of Frankfort; five step-grandchildren; and several step- great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church of Carrollton. Burial will be in Dallasburg Masonic Cemetery, Wheatley. Memorials are suggested to Old Masons Home or Salvation Army, in care of Tandy-Eckler-Riley Funeral Home, 809 Highland Ave., Carrollton, Ky. 41008.
Billy Neal Gruber, 60, of Berry, died Sunday at his home. He was a retired employee of General Motors and Navy veteran. A brother, Jack Gruber, died in 1957.
Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Bell Gruber; a son, Jack Gruber of Memphis; a daughter, Vicki Kelly of Klamuth Falls, Ore.; sisters, Patricia Cunnigan and Sue Roberts, both of Arcanum, Ohio; a sister, Baird Bell of McComb, Ill.; and two grandsons.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Pythian Grove Cemetery, Berry. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Association, 837 Euclid Ave., Suite 100, Lexington, Ky. 40502. Woodhead Funeral Home, Berry, is handling arrangements.
Lean Johnson Just, 45, of Williamstown, died Sunday at Grant County Hospital, Williamstown. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Sam Just; sons, Daniel Just and William Just, both at home; her parents, Charlie and Mary Johnson of Pendleton County; a brother, Johnny Johnson of Pendleton County; and sisters, Jewel E. Johnson of Pendleton County, Barbara Turner of Grant County, Wanda Roberts of Florence and Roberta Wenzel of Racine, Wis.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Morgan Cemetery, Pendleton County.
Marshall Justice, 84, of Butler, died Monday at River Valley Nursing Home in Butler.
Arrangements are pending at Woodhead Funeral Home, Falmouth.
Eudelia Mae "Dayde" Carwile Kirchhoff, 76, of Houston, formerly of Fort Thomas, died Jan. 2 at her home. She was a past president of St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary and Holly Hill Children's Home and was a member of Lakeside Christian Church, Lakeside Place. Her husband, Martin Roy Kirchhoff, died in 1996.
Survivors include a daughter, Lynn Ann Kirchhoff Long of Houston; and four grandchildren.
Memorial services at 11 a.m. Thursday at Lakeside Christian Church, Lakeside Park. Entombment was in Memorial Mission Mausoleum, Houston. Memorials are suggested to Lakeside Christian Church, 195 Buttermilk Pike, Lakeside Park, Ky. 41017. Forest Park Funeral Home, Houston, handled arrangements in Texas. Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington, is handling local arrangements.
Stanley Blaine Lawrence Sr., 68, of Dry Ridge, died Sunday at his home. He was a self-employed carpenter and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Ella L. Ecklar Lawrence; sons, Stanley Lawrence Jr. and Donald Lawrence, both of Dry Ridge; a daughter, Ellen Milner of Dry Ridge; a sister, Myrtle Higgins of Burbank, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Eckler-Hudson Funeral Home, Dry Ridge. Visitation will begin there at noon Wednesday. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge.
Daisy R. Marksberry, 79, of Carrollton, died Monday at Carroll County Memorial Hospital in Carrollton. She was a homemaker and a member of Ghent Baptist Church. Her husband, Donavan Marksberry, died in 1950. Sisters, Annie Breeden, Ruby Davis, Elizabeth Wheeler and Sallie Ellis; and half-brothers, Harvey Wheeler, William Wheeler and Ralph Wheeler, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Kathy Hurley of Carrollton; sons, Tom Marksberry of Madison, Ind., Greg Hurley of Broadhead and Danny Hurley of Mount Vernon; a sister, Lura Lewis of Carrollton; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Tandy-Eckler-Riley Funeral Home, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, New Liberty.
Virginia Lee "Virgie" Morgan, 89, of Owenton, died Sunday at St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington. She was a homemaker and a member of Squiresville Baptist Church, Owen County. Her husband, Ray Morgan, preceded her in death.
Survivors include sisters, Lucy B. Smith of Owenton and Beulah Toll of Lexington.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home, Main Street, Owenton. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Squiresville Cemetery, Owen County. Memorials are suggested to Squiresville Baptist Church, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church and Hospice of Bluegrass, all in care of McDonald Funeral Home, P. O. Box 474, Owenton, Ky. 40359.
Rosalie Race Oliver, 68, of Alexandria, died at 4:50 a.m. Monday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church of Silver Grove, where her late husband, Rev. Morton F. Oliver, served. Rev. Morton died in 1999.
Survivors include a son, John Oliver of Mount Sterling; daughters, Kathleen Auclerc of Erlanger and Patricia Keith of California; brothers, Donald Race and LeRoy Race Jr., both of Dry Ridge, George Race of Worthville, Floyd Race, Larry Race and Gary Race, all of Crittenden, and Joe Race of Covington; sisters, Ruby Harris of Dry Ridge and Margaret Thurman of Falmouth; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Silver Grove. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at Alexandria Funeral Home. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Herbert Raleigh, 77, of Walton, died Sunday at Baptist Convalescent Center, Newport. He was a laborer with Equitable Bag Co.
Survivors include his wife, Mimia Raleigh; a son, Dallas Raleigh of Fort Thomas; a brother, Charles Raleigh of Dry Ridge; sisters, Ruby Ducker of Florence and Geneva Strong of Newport; and one granddaughter.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Harry J. Verax, 79, of Fort Thomas, died at 2:10 p.m. Sunday at his home. He was retired from the L&N; Railroad.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine Klaine Verax; daughters, Joyce Hamilton of Highland Heights, Sharon Wehrle of Newport, Michele King of Florence, Linda Verax of Bellevue and Joan Verax of Fort Thomas; a son, Mark Verax of Alexandria; and two grandsons.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Stephen Church, Newport. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Prayers will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
Mark A. Waters, 31, of New Albany, Ind., died Saturday at Clark Memorial Hospital, Jeffersonville, Ind. He was a restaurant worker.
Survivors include his parents, Donald Ray and Allene Joan Waters of Maysville; brothers, James Waters and George Waters, both of Maysville, and Roger Waters of Aberdeen, Ohio; half-brothers, Tommy Bryant of Aberdeen, Ohio, and Timmy Bryant of Morehead; sisters, Sherry Rowland, Patty Dezarn and Marsha Waters, all of Maysville; and a grandmother, Dorothy Watson of Maysville.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Brell and Son Funeral Home, Maysville. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Shannon Cemetery, Mays Lick.
