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Date of these obituaries: 02-16-1999
Ronald Abbott, played jazz
Ronald Douglas Abbott didn't live a long life by modern standards.
But the impact of his 47 years will be felt for many years by those who knew him.
A professional musician, father, son, brother and friend to hundreds of people, Mr. Abbott will best be remembered for the joy he gave to others, said his older sister, Elizabeth Barnes of Grants Lick.
'He was the most gentle man, other than my father, that I have ever known,' Ms. Barnes said. 'He lived a very full life. He was a wonderful father.'
Mr. Abbott, of Fort Thomas, died Saturday at Deaconess Hospital in Cincinnati after a long illness.
He was a self-employed jazz musician and was a member of the Cincinnati Musicians Association and First Baptist Church of Fort Thomas.
Mr. Abbott was a bass player who earned a music degree at Morehead State University. He played in clubs in Cincinnati and Chicago alongside Jimmy McGary, Dee Felice and the Blue Wisp Jazz Band, among others.
Mr. Abbott began playing music seriously as a teen, his sister said.
A brother, Dave Abbott of Cincinnati, who has been featured in news reports recently because he won a number of games on Jeopardy, also is a musician.
Mr. Abbott took care of his children during the day while his wife worked, his sister said. Then he would spend his evenings playing music.
'He and I never had a cross word,' Ms. Barnes said.
'I know there will be some excellent music in heaven because he is there.'
Other survivors include sons, David Abbott of Grants Lick and Ian Abbott of Fort Thomas; a daughter, Jennifer Schulz of Arlington, Texas; and his parents, Lloyd and Margaret Abbott of Fort Thomas.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 7730 U. S. 42, Suite C6, Florence, Ky. 41042. Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Rex Don Barger, 60, of Independence, died Monday at Vista Care Hospice, Cincinnati. He was a manager of Link Recreational Inc., Minong, Wis.
Survivors include his wife, Karen Prochaska Barger; a son, Gary Don Barger of Walton; sisters, Sandra Kay Douglas of Vandalia, Ohio, and Bobbie Joyce Barger of Iola, Wis.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will begin there at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Spooner, Wis., Cemetery.
Sister Mary Gemma Blovitz, R.G.S., 86, of Fort Thomas, died at 1:03 a.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a teacher, cook and bookkeeper with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
Survivors include several nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pelletier Hall Chapel, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today and 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pelletier Hall. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Pelletier Hall, 930 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Charles L. Edwards, 59, of Port Richey, Fla., formerly of Elsmere, died Thursday at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in New Port Richey, Fla. He was a bus driver with the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, JoElma Edwards; sons, David Edwards and Billy Edwards, both of Newport, and Jeff Edwards of West Liberty; daughters, Carol Sue Edwards of Port Richey, Linda Edwards of Covington and Viola Edwards Sowell of Dry Ridge; brothers, William Edwards of San Antonio and Woodrow Webster Jr. of Universal City, Texas; his stepfather, Woodrow Webster Sr. of Universal City; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Memorials are suggested to the family, in care of JoElma Edwards, P. O. Box 1268, Port Richey, Fla. 34673-1268. Michels and Lundquist Funeral Home, New Port Richey, is handling arrangements.
David M. Hall, 57, of Taylor Mill, died at 2 a.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington. He was a retired driver with Executive Transportation Service in Covington and a former Covington florist.
Survivors include a brother, Ted A. Hall of Taylor Mill.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, 8899 Brookside Ave., West Chester, Ohio 45069.
William E. 'B. J.' Johnson-Lofton, 17, of Rex, Ga., formerly of Mason County, died Friday at his home. He was a junior at Mount Zion High School in Rex and a member of the school basketball team.
Survivors include his parents, Larry and Billie Johnson Lofton of Rex; brothers, Malcolm Johnson-Lofton and Marcus Johnson-Lofton, both of Maysville; a sister, L'Erin Johnson-Lofton of Rex; and grandparents, William and Ann Johnson of Maysville, and James and Bernice Warner of Willingsboro, N.J.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Second Baptist Church, Mays Lick. Visitation will begin there at noon Thursday. Burial will be in Mays Lick Cemetery. Palmer Funeral Home, Mays Lick, is handling arrangements.
Charles Kelly, 88, of Florence, died Monday at St Luke Hospital West in Florence.
Arrangements are pending at Stith Funeral Home, Florence.
Josephine Mastin, 95, of Highland Heights, died Thursday at Lakeside Place Nursing Home, Highland Heights. She was a retired teacher with Dayton schools.
Survivors include a niece, Caroline Mastin of Morehead.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Knox and Brothers Funeral Home, Maysville. Burial will be in Shannon Cemetery, Mason County.
Oakley C. Mays, 70, of Newport, died at 6:05 a.m. Monday at his home. He was a valve repairman with Herbert-Verkamp Co. His wife, Maggie Mays, died in 1990. A son, Curtis Mays, died in 1994.
Survivors include sons, James Mays of Hubbard, Ohio, Randy Mays of Crittenden, Terry Mays of Bellevue and Paul Mays of Newport; daughters, Ginger Martz of Edgewood, Joan Fryman of Covington, Debbie Ollberding of Dayton and Paula Ackerson of Alexandria; a brother, Claude Mays of Manchester; a sister, Virginia Garvin of London; 17 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Dayton. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
John Middleton, 76, of Erlanger, died at 2:14 p.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired dietary aide with the Old Kenton County Tuberculosis Sanitarium and an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include a son, James Middleton of Erlanger; sisters, Lena Weatherly and Corie Long, both of Pontiac, Mich.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Beechwood Baptist Church, Independence. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington, and at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Beechwood Baptist Church, 450 Independence Station Road, Independence, Ky. 41051.
Dr. Harlan B. Shupert, 83, of New Castle, Ind., formerly of Napoleon, died Friday at his home after an extended illness. He was a retired dentist with a private practice in New Castle and a member of the American and Indiana dental associations.
Dr. Shupert was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in New Castle, the New Castle Evening Kiwanis Club, New Castle Masonic Lodge and New Castle VFW Post. He was a member of the New Castle Elks Lodge, the Conservation Club and the Chamber of Commerce, and he was a captain in the Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Audrey Watson Shupert; a son, H. Wesley Shupert of New Castle; a daughter, Ann E. Shupert of Indianapolis; sisters, Mary Joy Warnock of Marshall, Texas, and Wanda Lee Eisenach; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church in New Castle. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Macer-Hall Funeral Home, New Castle. Burial will be in South Mound Cemetery, West Lawn, New Castle.
Margie E. Dolwick Sprague, 76, of Hebron, died at 9:35 p.m. Sunday at her home. She was a farmer and homemaker and a member of Constance Church of the Brethren.
Survivors include her husband, Ralph S. Sprague; a son, S. Wayne Sprague of Hebron; daughters, Sue Miller of Hebron and Shirley A. Ryle of Burlington; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Thursday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Petersburg Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 7730 U. S. 42, Suite C6, Florence, Ky. 41042; or Constance Church of the Brethren, Constance, Ky. 41009.
Jefferson M. Taylor, 51, of Covington, died Friday in an auto accident on Interstate 275 in Colerain Township, Ohio. He was a master electrician with Bluegrass Electrical Consultants, Boone County, and a member of Taylor Mill Church of Christ. He was a musician, a songwriter, a member of Promise Keepers and an Army veteran.
His mother, Margie Casullo Cooper of Taylor Mill, died in 1996. A brother, Del Ray 'Buster' Cooper, died in 1985. Survivors include sons, Travis Taylor and Joshua Taylor, both of Covington; a daughter, Hinda Taylor of Covington; his father and stepmother, Delmar Rayburn and Patricia Cooper of Independence; sisters, Cissy Van Huss of Ryland Heights and Bea Angel of Independence; a foster brother, Donnie Marsh of Independence; a foster sister, Beverly Ashcraft of Owenton; and his fiancee, Karen Weyman of Fort Thomas.
Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Swindler and Currin Funeral Home, Latonia. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to Taylor Mill Church of Christ, 6203 Taylor Mill Road, Taylor Mill, Ky. 41015.
Clara Trent, 79, of Latonia, died at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at her home. She was a retired machine operator with Formica Corp. in Cincinnati and attended Southside Baptist Church, Covington. A daughter, Edna Mae McConnell, died in 1988.
Survivors include a son, Michael McCormick of Latonia; daughters, Juanita Bridewell of West Covington, Elvora Combs of Mishawaka, Ind., and Helen Dow of Ryland Heights; a brother, Edward Wyatt of Hamilton, Ohio; sisters, Bessie Murray of Alexandria and Orita Cottongin of Hamilton, Ohio; 20 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Della Christine Vest, 93, of Covington, died Monday at Rosedale Manor, Latonia. She was a homemaker and a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Danville, Boyle Chapter No. 350 Order of the Eastern Star and Boone County Senior Citizens. Her husband, Raymond Vest, died in 1969. Sons, Leonard Vest and Henry Vest died in 1956 and 1986 respectively.
Survivors include a son, William Lawrence Vest of Danville; a daughter, Letha Wheeler of Florence; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Geneva Wainscott, 82, of Owenton, died Monday at Owenton Manor. She was a beautician and owner of Friendly Beauty Shop in Owenton and a member of Owenton First Baptist Church.
Survivors include a nephew, Jack Wainscott of Owenton County; and a niece, Mary Betty Haines of Owenton.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at McDonald Funeral Home, Seminary Street, Owenton. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Owenton. Memorials are suggested to Owenton First Baptist Church, Together We Build Program, 213 N. Main St., Owenton, Ky. 40359.
Mary Warfield, 62, of Florence, died Monday at Woodspoint Nursing Home in Florence.
Arrangements are pending at Stith Funeral Home, Florence.
Hazel Knight Wilson, 83, of Cincinnati, formerly of Grant County, died at 8:36 p.m. Sunday at Jewish Hospital Kenwood in Cincinnati. She was a retired sales clerk with Shillito's Department Store in Cincinnati and a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Norwood, Ohio, where she belonged to the Dorcas Baptist Women. She was a member of the church's food committee, a board member of the church food pantry and a member of the church quilters' group and Young at Heart Senior Citizens.
Survivors include sons, Vergil G. Knight of Independence and Delbert C. Knight of Lexington; brothers, Robert Collins of Torrence, Calif., Tommy Collins of Phoenix, Wilbur Collins of Louisville and Albert Collins of Florida; sisters, Martha Moore of Cynthiana and Ann Williamson of Florida; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pythian Grove Cemetery, Berry. Memorials are suggested to New Bethel Baptist Church, 2400 Norwood Ave., Norwood, Ohio 45212.
