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Date of these obituaries: 02-25-1999
Hall of Famer Edward Volpenhein, made mark with cafe, court work
Whether running a cafe, helping mothers receive child support or encouraging children to play sports, Edward J. Volpenhein Sr. made an indelible impression on everyone he met.
'He was a wonderful man. He was one-of-a-kind,' said a daughter-in-law, Amanda Volpenhein, of Park Hills.
'He was a big part of this community for many years.'
Mr. Volpenhein, 78, of Fort Wright, died at 4:35 p.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood. He was a former owner of the Cottage Cafe in Covington and was a retired supervisor of the Kenton County Domestic Relations Court.
Mr. Volpenhein was born and raised in Covington. He was an avid baseball and softball player and was a co-founder of the Cottage Athletic Club in Covington.
He also was a member of the board of directors of the Fort Wright Trace Homeowner's Association and was an usher for the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals and the University of Cincinnati athletic teams.
Mr. Volpenhein was a member of the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and the Hilltoppers.
Mr. Volpenhein worked under former Kenton County Attorney John R. Elfers and helped ensure mothers received their child-support payments. He ran his small cafe in Covington's West End for many years and promoted sports during his spare time.
Mr. Volpenhein enjoyed his family and friends and encouraged his grandchildren to take up golf, basketball and baseball, his daughter-in-law said.
'He was sincere and just endeared people to him. He was pleasant and funny,' she said.
'You could go anywhere in Northern Kentucky with him and people would know him, from the courthouse or the cafe.'
Other survivors include his wife, Virginia R. Guenther Volpenhein; sons, William J. Volpenhein of Milford, Ohio, Edward J. 'Ted' Volpenhein of Taylor Mill and Donald J. Volpenhein of Park Hills; a daughter, Charlene H. Dailey of Hebron; brothers, Joseph G. Volpenhein Jr. of Park Hills, Charles J. Volpenhein of Covington and Frank Volpenhein of Fort Mitchell; sisters, Catherine Robke of Fort Mitchell, Mary Fritz of Fort Wright and Clara Betty McMannon of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and seven grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John Church, Covington. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Covington. Entombment will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to St. John Church Restoration Fund, 627 Pike St., Covington, Ky. 41011; or American Cancer Society, 7730 U. S. 42, Suite C6, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Ralph Joseph Bailer Jr., 50, of Covington, died Feb. 18 at Veterans Hospital in Cincinnati. He was a baker and a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include a son, Michael Bailer of Covington; a daughter, Alicia Bailer of Covington; sisters, JoAnn Toadivine of Las Vegas, Donna Williams of Indianapolis, Roberta Brownfield of Burlington, Marcia Russell of South Carolina and Margaret Collins of Grant County; and one grandson.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Mr. Bailer donated his body to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 7730 U. S. 42, Suite C6, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Micah Lee Daniel Bernard, 13 days, of Independence, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
Survivors include his parents, James Lee and Sharlyn Marie Bernard Jr. of Independence; a sister, McKaylee Marie Bernard, at home; and grandparents, Bobby and Sandra Helvey of Independence, James L. Bernard Sr. of Dayton, Ohio, and Mary Wilder of Elsmere.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Velma Bishop, 84, of Fort Thomas, died Tuesday at Highlands of Fort Thomas. She was a seamstress with Jacob Brothers Co.
Survivors include a daughter, Flossie Shives of Florence; four grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Grove Funeral Home, Hancock, Md. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Hancock, Md. Dobbling Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling local arrangements.
Mary Frances 'Jane' Cloe, 78, of Cynthiana, died Wednesday at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana. She was a retired employee of the hospital and a member of Ruddles Mills Christian Church, Harrison County. Her husband, James Earl Cloe, died in 1995. A son, Wilson Blades, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Donald Keith Blades of Cynthiana and Danny Blades of Georgetown; daughters, Beverly Sue Caudill and Cathy Richie, both of Cynthiana; brothers, Orie Linus 'Odie' Pugh, Wallace Pugh, Quince Everett 'Bill' Pugh Jr., Adrian Keith Pugh and Harlan Freddie Pugh; sisters, Lelia Mae Swart, Marguerite Brown, Betty Louise Wolfe and Joan Carolyn Walthers; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Whaley-McCarty Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana. Memorials are suggested to Harrison Memorial Hospital Extended Care Activities Fund, Cynthiana, Ky. 41031.
Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Cronin, R.G.S., 91, of Fort Thomas, died at 7:25 a.m. Wednesday at the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Pelletier Hall in Fort Thomas. She was a teacher and child-care worker with the religious order.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pelletier Hall. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Pelletier Hall. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Sisters of the Good Shepherd, 930 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Betty Jane Day, 72, of Warsaw, died Tuesday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of VFW Post No. 1650 and American Legion Post No. 400, both of Topeka, Kan. Her husband, Grover A. Day Jr. died in 1986.
Survivors include daughters, Evelyn Bergeron of Hampton, Va., Wanda Bunch and Beverly Davis, both of Warsaw, and Rebecca Mays of Covington; sons, Arthur Roberts of Glencoe, Clem Roberts of Ripley, Ohio, and John Roberts of Topeka, Kan.; a brother, Everett Glass; 25 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge.
Thomas Edward Diskin, 75, of Southgate, died Sunday at his home. He was a retired sports editor for the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, a correspondent with several national magazines, and a publicist.
Mr. Diskin was a former associate publicity director for Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino, where he coordinated film crews working at the hotel.
Mr. Diskin was a publicity worker with the Harlem Globetrotters, and laid claim to one of the touring team's best-known tricks - in which a player shoots a free throw with a trick ball attached to an elastic string, tricking opponents into a rules violation.
In the early 1950s, Mr. Diskin served as an assistant publicity director for 700 WLW radio and WLWT television stations in Cincinnati and later went to Frankfort to serve as Gov. A.B. 'Happy' Chandler's public relations director.
At the end of Chandler's term, Mr. Diskin moved to Mesa, Ariz., as sports editor of the Mesa Daily Tribune and then moved to the Phoenix Gazette.
Survivors include a daughter, Rhonda Rose Diskin and a sister, Patricia Vail, both of Phoenix.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Therese Church, Southgate. Burial will be in Dayton, Ohio, National Cemetery. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Robert B. Finnell, 78, of Independence, died at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday at Woodspoint Nursing Home, Florence. He was a retired construction worker and an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include cousins.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Staffordsburg United Methodist Church, 11815 Staffordsburg Road, Independence, Ky. 41051. Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence, is handling arrangements.
Bea Wright Heathman, 71, of Louisville, died Tuesday at Audubon Hospital in Louisville. She was a sales clerk with Dawhares Department Store in Louisville.
Survivors include a daughter, Donna Lancaster of Erlanger; sisters, Evelyn Darnell of Lexington and Mabel Franklin of McRoberts; brothers, Bill Williams of Eolia and Doc Williams of Whitesburg; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 12:30 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, 721 W. Main St., Suite 102, Louisville, Ky. 40202.
Richard P. Hoffman, 29, of Fort Thomas, died Tuesday at his home. He was an assistant manager with Walgreens in Mount Washington, Ohio.
Survivors include his parents, Patricia Hoffman of Highland Heights and John Hoffman of Fort Thomas; a sister, Mary Therese Burton of Fort Thomas; a brother, John J. Hoffman of Burlington; and grandparents, Mary E. Hoffman of Cold Spring and Edith M. Lundrigan of Highland Heights.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas Church, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, with prayers at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Luella V. Bauer Irvin, 80, of Fort Mitchell, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a retired bookkeeper and a member of Fort Mitchell Baptist Church. Her husband, Howard E. Irvin, died in 1970. A daughter, Virginia L. Sofranko, died in 1978.
Survivors include a son, H. Edward Irvin Jr. of Lakeside Park.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Fort Mitchell Baptist Church. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Covington, is handling arrangements.
Olga Louise Mullins Kerler, 86, of Fort Thomas, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a retired clerk with R. L. Polk Co. in Cincinnati and a member of First Baptist Church of Ludlow and Ludlow Senior Citizens. Her husband, Edward M. Kerler, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Gerald E. Kerler of Atlanta; brothers, Henry Lee Mullins of Edgewood and Victor Mullins of Florence; a sister, Virginia Reinhart of Ludlow; one granddaughter; five step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Ludlow. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church Van Fund, 400 Linden, Ludlow, Ky. 41016.
Jerry Link, 54, of Monticello, died Tuesday at St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington. He was a retired truck driver with Consolidated Freight Co. and an Army veteran.
Survivors include daughters, Lori Link and Amy Link, both of Cincinnati; a brother, Raleigh Link of Owen County; a sister, Carolyn Robbins of Carrollton; and one grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, Seminary Street, Owenton. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 tonight at funeral home. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Owenton.
Harry H. May, 91, of Covington, died at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit in Covington. He was a retired maintenance supervisor with Union Terminal in Cincinnati and an elder with First Presbyterian Church in Covington. He was a former pipe fitter with L&N Railroad; a member of Latonia Masonic Lodge No. 746 F&AM and Indra Consistory Scottish Rite in Covington; a scoutmaster with Boy Scouts Troop No. 4 in Covington for 28 years; and a volunteer with the Parish Kitchen.
Survivors include his wife, Ena M. Petty May; sons, David L. May of Fort Wright and Roger A. May of Chicago; a brother, Gene F. May of Fort Wright; a sister, Kittie Ellen Dupps of Erlanger; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to First Presbyterian Church of Covington, 1400 Highland Pike, Covington, Ky. 41011.
William Harris Read, 58, of Atlanta, formerly of Covington, died Feb. 3 in Atlanta of cancer. He was a former reporter for The Cincinnati Post and former Cincinnati bureau chief for United Press International, and recently a professor at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
A 1958 graduate of Covington Latin School, Mr. Read worked on the night desk of the Cincinnati Associated Press while attending Xavier University.
At Georgia Tech, his principal appointment was in the School of Public Policy, where he was a pre-law adviser, and as an adjunct professor in the College of Computing. He also was active in founding the Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology at the college.
He previously was in private law practice in Washington, D.C., focusing on communications law, and served as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Federal Communications Law Journal.
Mr. Read wrote and edited several books on communications law and the media.
He was an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Read; sons, Mark Read and David Read, both of Atlanta; a daughter, Lisa Read of Atlanta; his mother, Lauretta Read of Park Hills; and brothers, Rick Read of Covington and John Basil Read of Annandale, Va.
Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington. Burial was in Lakeview cemetery in Freedom, N.H. Memorials are suggested to William H. Read Memorial Fund, in care of Friends of the Library, Freedom, N.H.; or Cathedral Garden Guild, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky. 41011. Wages & Sons Funeral Home, Stone Mountain, Ga., handled arrangements.
Marlene Link Switzer, 60, of Ocala, Fla., formerly of Corinth, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a homemaker and a member of Antioch Church of Christ, Corinth.
Survivors include her husband, Ray D. Switzer; sons, Ken Gene Kells of Peach Grove and Michael L. Kells of Cincinnati; a daughter, Lisa Kells Johnting of Falmouth; her mother, Irene Link of Williamstown; brothers, Donald Gene Link, Thomas Jefferson Link and Jeffrey See Link, all of Williamstown, Daniel Ray Link of Dry Ridge and Darrell Leigh Link of Crittenden; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Antioch Church of Christ, Corinth. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 tonight at Rogers Funeral Home, Corinth. Burial will be in Antioch Church of Christ Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Antioch Church of Christ Cemetery, Keefer Road, Corinth, Ky. 41040.
Charles Elmer Toal, 71, of Alexandria, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired orderly with Veterans Hospital in Fort Thomas, a member of Disabled American Veterans, and an Army veteran of World War II. A son, Charles Timothy Toal, died in 1983.
Survivors include a daughter, Deborah Zai of Cold Spring; and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Church, Cold Spring. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Radel Funeral Home, Highland Heights. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas.
Bruce Trapp, 66, of Grants Lick, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas. He was a farmer and operated an excavation company. He was a member of Plum Creek Christian Church, National Farmers Organization and Kentucky Land Improvement Contractors Association. His wife, Wanda Cockayne Trapp, died in 1994.
Survivors include sons, Tony Trapp of Mount Auburn, and Dale Trapp and Barry Trapp, both of Grants Lick; a daughter, Paula Kramer of Newport; a brother, Bobby Trapp of Morgan; sisters, Nancy Grooms of Paris, Donna Kennedy of Grants Lick and Dixie Higgins of Dade City, Fla.; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Peoples Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Plum Creek Cemetery, Campbell County.
Myrtle Marie Wessling, 85, of Miami, Fla., formerly of Newport, died Sunday at her home. She was a retired secretary.
Survivors include her husband, Rev. Howard A. Wessling; a son, Thomas Howard Wessling of Miami; a daughter, Janet Marie Whitling of Miami; sisters, Wilma Graves and Jean Kiefer, both of Fort Thomas; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to Winhold Montessori School, 17700 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Fla. 33157.
