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Date of these obituaries: 03-09-1999
Willie Mathis, "kind, gentle' teacher, dad
Willie Mathis Sr. started teaching during the Depression in a one-room school house in Eastern Kentucky.
As World War II began, he moved to Northern Kentucky to work in a munitions factory, then returned to the classroom after the war.
For the next 26 years, Mr. Mathis helped mold young minds as a teacher at elementary schools in the Walton-Verona district.
'I always had the benefit of going through life without anyone saying anything bad about my dad,' said his son, Boone Commonwealth Attorney Willie Mathis. 'He was just a very kind, gentle man.'
Mr. Mathis, 89, died Monday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence.
'He lived a long time and had a good life,' his son said. 'He died as he deserved to - peacefully and without pain.'
Mr. Mathis was a member of Florence Baptist Church.
Other survivors include his wife, Leota Mathis; brothers, Blaine Mathis of Cypress, Ga., Hugh Mathis of Cincinnati, J. B. Mathis of Orlando and Tom Mathis of Piner; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at noon Wednesday. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery, Verona.
Catherine Belcher, 81, of Butler, died today at Lakeside Place Nursing Home, Highland Heights.
Arrangements are pending at Peoples Funeral Home, Grants Lick.
Joseph A. Benzinger Sr., 92, of Cincinnati, formerly of Northern Kentucky, died Monday at Veterans Hospital in Cincinnati. He was the professional featherweight boxing champion of Greater Cincinnati in 1932, played semi-professional baseball and was a Navy veteran of World War II. His wife, Hazel Gulley Benzinger; a son, Joseph A. Benzinger Jr.; and a daughter, Patricia Koshin, all preceded him in death.
Survivors include nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be private. Witt, Good and Kelsch Funeral Home, Cincinnati, is handling arrangements.
Julius 'Dude' Claypool, 93, of Williamstown, died today at his residence.
Arrangements are pending at Eckler-Hudson Funeral Home, Dry Ridge.
Harry W. Collier Jr., 78, of Lakeside Park, died at 11:15 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. He was a retired supervisor of file clerks with the Cincinnati Financial Corp. and a deacon at Fort Mitchell Baptist Church. He was a member of Golden Rule Lodge No. 345 F&AM Indra Consistory Scottish Rite; Emera Chapter Order of the Eastern Star; and White Shrine of Jerusalem Covington Council No. 10.
Mr. Collier was a former deacon, chairman and secretary of the general board of the Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Covington.
Survivors include brothers, Shelva Collier of Louisville and Emil Collier Louisville.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Fort Mitchell Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington, and after 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Baptist Children's Home, P. O. Box 43433, Middletown, Ky. 40253.
Gary James Cunningham, 47, of Florence, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence. He was a financing department employee with Stillpass Honda, Cincinnati, and a member of Florence Christian Church and Passionist Friends. A son, Ernest Cunningham, died in 1995.
Survivors include his wife, Angie Cunningham; sons, Jimmy Cunningham and Kevin Cunningham, both of Florence; a daughter, Elizabeth Cunningham of Florence; his mother, Carol Cunningham of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and sisters, Linda Hardy of Orlando, Fla., Susan Hencin of Gainesville, Fla., and Nancy Hoffman of St. Petersburg.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Dale Dedden, 41, of Fort Wright, died Sunday at his home. His mother, Ruby Dedden, died in 1998. His father, Elmer Dedden, also died Sunday.
Survivors include a brother, Terry Dedden of Fort Wright; and a sister, Linda Gosney of Independence.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Elsmere, is handling arrangements.
Elmer Dedden, 79, of Fort Wright, died Sunday at his home. He was a retired co-owner of Kenton County Motors in Independence and a Marine Corps veteran of World War II. His wife, Ruby Dedden, died in 1998. His son, Dale Dedden, also died Sunday.
Survivors include a son, Terry Dedden of Fort Wright; a daughter, Linda Gosney of Independence; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Elsmere, is handling arrangements.
Richard Lee Gadker Sr., 62, of Punta Gorda, Fla., formerly of Independence, died Monday at his home.
Arrangements are pending at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia.
John Joseph 'Joe' Hacker, 83, of Latonia, died at 1 p.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired section foreman with L&N Railroad, an inspector with the Federal Railway Administration, and an Army veteran of World War II.
Mr. Hacker was a member of Latonia Baptist Church, where he was active in the television ministry, and was a member of Latonia Lodge No. 746 F&AM and Indra Consistory Scottish Rite. He was a past patron of the Keturah Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, and a member of Emera Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include his wife, Bertha Asbell Hacker; sons, Marshall Hacker of Covington and Bob Hacker of Independence; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to Latonia Baptist Church Building Fund, 38th and Church streets, Covington, Ky. 41015.
Martha Smith Hornsby, 76, of Covington, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North in Covington.
Arrangements are pending at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown.
Paul M. Johnson, 94, of Villa Hills, died at 7:10 a.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired owner of Murray Biscuit Co., Augusta, Ga., and a former yard switchman of the L&N Railroad and member of the Villa Hills Civic Club. His wife, Elizabeth L. Meyer Johnson, died in 1993.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty A. Kathman of Edgewood; brothers, Joe Johnson of Huntsville, Ala., and Edward Johnson of Raleigh, N.C.; a sister, Marynell Hamilton of Trenton, Tenn.; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will begin there at noon Friday. Entombment will be in Mother of God Mausoleum, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to charity of the donor's choice.
Esther Monroe Lefken, 73, of Dayton, Ohio, formerly of Demossville, died Saturday in Florida. She was a nurse.
Survivors include her husband, Edward Bernard Lefken; a son, Richard Lefken of Cincinnati; daughters, Lesley Lefken of Tamarac, Fla., Valerie Krasne of Twin Lakes, Wis., Natalie Lefken of Columbus, Ohio, and Ann Thompson of Kettering, Ohio; and four grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Emmanuel Catholic Church, Dayton, Ohio. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.
Memorials are suggested to Emmanuel Pro-Life, 149 Franklin St., Dayton, Ohio 45402; or Christ Child Society of Dayton, 301 E. Sixth St., Dayton, Ohio 45402. Tobias Funeral Home, Dayton, Ohio, is handling arrangements.
Lillian Padgett, 77, of Newport, died at 1:30 p.m. Friday at her home. She was a tailor.
Survivors include a daughter, Annette Padgett Sailor of Newport.
No services are planned. Cremation will be at Hillside Chapel, Cincinnati. Muehlenkamp- Erschell Funeral Home, Newport, is handling arrangements.
Raymond Kelly Payne, 72, of Independence, died at 9:41 a.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired bookkeeper with Kemper Plumbing Supply, Covington, and a member of Latonia Christian Church and Williamstown Masonic Lodge. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Rosemary Henry Payne; a son, John Bert Payne of Independence; a daughter, Cheryl Ann Klumb of West Chester, Ohio; a sister, Irene Lippencott of Georgetown; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to Latonia Christian Church, 3900 Decoursey Ave., Covington, Ky. 41015.
Alfred C. Peters, 83, of Fort Thomas, died Monday at St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas. He was owner of Peters Coal & Supply Co., Bellevue, and a former member of the Bellevue Rotary Club and Auxiliary Coast Guard in Cincinnati. He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn 'Queenie' Peters.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Church, Fort Thomas. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Steven C. Rakel, 44, of Bellevue, died at 7:45 p.m. Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington.
Survivors include his wife, Katy Rakel; a son, Edmond Rakel of Columbia; stepsons, Brant Marcy and Jeremy Marcy, both of Latonia; stepdaughters, Carla Marcy of Minnesota and Faith Marcy of Bellevue; his father, Bob Rakel of New Mexico; his mother and stepfather, Jan and Zane Sears of Cincinnati; a brother, Greg Rakel of Wisconsin; and eight step-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Linden Grove Cemetery, Covington.
Clarence 'Tub' Rigney, 67, of Ludlow, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. He was a retired driver with Ryder's Distribution Center, and a member of the Buffalo Club in Ludlow and First Baptist Church, Ludlow. He was a member of Ludlow Boosters and the Ludlow Hobo Club.
Survivors include his wife, Julia Rigney; a son, Mike Rigney of Ludlow; a daughter, Dale Rigney of Covington; his mother, Girtie Green Rigney of Demossville; brothers, J. P. Rigney and Paul Rigney, both of Speedwell, Tenn., Carl Rigney of Demossville, Kenneth Rigney of Fort Wright, Jerry Rigney of Crittenden and Glen Rigney of Evarts; and four grandchildren.
Services were at 12:30 p.m. today at First Baptist Church, Ludlow. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014. Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow, is handling arrangements.
Virginia H. Hein Sauerbeck, 75, of Bellevue, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was a statistics clerk with Lazarus department stores, and a member of Christian Mothers, Ladies Auxiliary No. 63, the St. Vincent DePaul Society and Legion of Mary, all of Sacred Heart Church, Bellevue.
Survivors include her husband, Albert Sauerbeck; sons, Gary Sauerbeck of Florence and Robert Sauerbeck of Cincinnati; three grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Cincinnati.
Stanley Sparks Sr., 85, of Brooksville, died at 6:45 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. He was a state highway department worker. His wife, Bertha Lucas Sparks, died in 1998.
Survivors include a son, Stanley Sparks Jr. of Brooksville; two grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, Brooksville. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Brooksville Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Jessie Marie Tomlin, 73, of Covington, died at 8 a.m. Saturday at her home. She was a homemaker. Her husband, Elbert Tomlin, died in 1970.
Survivors include a stepdaughter, Ruthie Rowe of Phoenix; and three grandchildren.
Services were at noon today at Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Covington. Burial was in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Edward L. Vogel, 80, of Melbourne, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. He was a storekeeper for C&O Railroad, a farmer, and a former usher with St. Philip Church, Melbourne. He was also an usher with the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. His wife, Katherine Mitchell Vogel, and a daughter, Susan Vogel, both preceded him in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Stegman of Fort Mitchell; sons, Anthony Vogel of Covington, Edward Vogel and Gregory Vogel, both of Silver Grove, and Stephen Vogel of Alexandria; a brother, Frank Vogel of Fort Thomas; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Philip Church, Melbourne. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Camp Springs.
Memorials are suggested to Campbell Lodge Boys Home, 150 Skyline Drive, Cold Spring, Ky. 41076; or Covington Community Center, 1008 Lee, Covington, Ky. 41011.
