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These notices are dated: 06-15-2004
Cindy Smith, found flying her life's thrill
A commercial during "The Merv Griffin Show" changed the course of Cindy K. Smith's life.
Corrine Baruth Kautzman saw a commercial for Delta Airlines and gave her daughter a call.
"Oh mom, I want a big airline, " Ms. Smith said to her mother.
"They are big, " her mother replied.
She joined Delta a few weeks later and worked as a flight attendant there for 24 years.
Ms. Smith, of Crescent Springs, died Friday at St. Elizabeth North Hospice in Covington of complications from ovarian cancer. She was 49.
After graduating from Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City, Mo., in 1975, she took several jobs before her love of animals caused her to begin studying veterinary medicine. But after awhile, she realized that didn't seem to fit her, Kautzman said.
Ms. Smith became a flight attendant in 1979 and it turned out to be the career she had been looking for. She loved the opportunity to travel the U.S. and the world. One Christmas, when she and her crew had a four-day layover in Germany, they rented a van and traveled the countryside.
Wherever she went, she made friends.
"She was an ambassador for Delta, " her mother said.
That was typical for Ms. Smith, said her mother. She was big-hearted even as a child. Her third-grade teacher told her parents that "in all her years teaching, no one had a more understanding heart."
Even in trying times, Ms. Smith could make people smile. After chemotherapy caused her hair to fall out, she took to wearing hats. Her mother joined her, and at Florence Christian Church, they came to be known as the "Hat Ladies."
Her final act of giving was as an organ donor. After she died, her ears and a bone from her leg were given to people awaiting transplants.
In addition to her mother, Ms. Smith is survived by her son, Austin Smith of Crescent Springs.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Florence Christian Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. She will be cremated at Northern Kentucky Crematory, Walton. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth North Hospice, 401 E. 20th Street, Covington, Ky. 41014.
Rita A. Kloentrup Barth, 76, of Florence, died Saturday at her residence. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Burlington, St. Joseph Happy Timers and New Friends of Kentucky. She was also a volunteer with St. Elizabeth Medical Center and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her husband, J. Patrick "Pat" Barth, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Joseph Barth of Nashville, Tenn.; daughters, Carol Polly of Dry Ridge, Jody Rapp of Fort Wright, Debbie Cahill of Waycross, Ga., Mary Barth-Lundrigan of Cincinnati and Diane Ryan of Denver; a sister, Norma Ann Reickhoff of Fort Thomas; 19 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the church. A reception in the church hall will follow Mass. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 4460 Lake Forest Drive, Suite 236, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242; or Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 5876 Veterans Way, Burlington, Ky. 41005. Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington, is handling the arrangements.
Ila Fern Biddle, 78, of Cold Spring, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hospital North, Covington. She was a homemaker. Her husband, Leslie Biddle, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Randy Biddle of Midway; a daughter, Anita Kohrs of Cold Spring; a stepbrother, Larry Oetzel of Louisville; a stepsister, Patricia Smith of Jacksonville, Fla.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Alexandria Church of Christ. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Alexandria Church of Christ, 36 Poplar Ridge Road, Alexandria, Ky. 41001. Alexandria Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Thomas R. Bradford, 90, of Elsmere, died Friday at Village Care Center, Elsmere.
Survivors include sons, Mayor Billy R. Bradford and John Richard Bradford, both of Elsmere; a daughter, Sarah Helen McCray of Cincinnati; and stepsons, Rev. Richard Fowler of Covington, Howard Fowler, Jr., of Los Angeles, and Charles "Chip" Fowler of Elsmere.
Services will be at 7 p.m. today at Barnes Temple AME Church, Elsmere. Visitation will begin there at 5 p.m. today. Burial will be in Mary Smith Cemetery, Elsmere. Memorials are suggested to Barnes Temple AME Church, 437 Fox St., Elsmere, Ky. 41018. Joseph R. Garr Funeral Services, Cincinnati, is handling the arrangements.
Roseina Mains Bruin, 91, of Cynthiana, formerly of Falmouth, died Sunday at Grand Haven Nursing Home, Cynthiana. She was a member of Antioch Mills Christian Church, Berry. Her husband, Shelby Bruin, and daughter, Cora Mae Colvin, preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, L.W. Bruin and Shelby Bruin, both of Falmouth; daughters, Rubye L. Cooper of Berry and Naomi Teegarden of Falmouth; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Bracken Memorial Cemetery, Brooksville. Memorials are suggested to Grand Haven Nursing Home, 105 Rodgers Park Drive, Cynthiana, Ky. 41031.
John A. Claybern Sr., 87, of Dayton, died Thursday in St. Augustine, Fla. He was a retired truck driver and a World War II veteran. His wife, Helen Claybern, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sons, John Claybern, Jr., of Alexandria, Tom Claybern of Florence, Donald Claybern of Cold Spring, and Ronald Claybern of Louisiana; daughters, Janet Morority and Linda Tolley; 20 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be scheduled at the convenience of the family at St. Stephens Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Graig Funeral Home, St. Augustine, Fla., is handling the arrangements.
Mike Ewing, 43, of Newport, died Sunday at Lakeside Heights Nursing Center Hospice, Highland Heights. He was a cook for various local restaurants.
Survivors include sons, Thomas Ewing and Michael Cummins, both of Pendleton County; his mother, Mary Lou Ewing of Newport; brothers, Elwood Ewing, Patrick Ewing, and Stephen Ewing, all of Covington; sisters, Carol Anderson of Melbourne, Liz Collins of Wilder, Nanette Miller of LaGrange, and Stephanie Sawyers of Florence.
Services will be at noon Wednesday at T.L.C. Cremation & Funeral Services, Covington. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery, Alexandria. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075. Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling the arrangements.
Marilyn Crowe Kolkmeier, 70, of Cincinnati, formerly of Fort Thomas and Covington, died Friday at her residence. She was a member of the Legion of Mary and the Mary Rose Mission.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond "Ray" J. Kolkmeier; sons Thomas Kolkmeier of Miami Heights, Ohio, and Kenneth Kolkmeier of Pleasant Plain, Ohio; daughters, Marianne Mertz of Westwood, Ohio, Rebecca Rosing of Milford, Ohio, and Kathleen Sias of Mack, Ohio; brothers, Jack Crowe and David "Joe" Crowe; sisters, Beverly Sahnger and Patti Lee; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Cincinnati. Visitation was Monday at Meyer & Geiser Funeral Home, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to Mary Rose Mission, 1543 Russell Street, Covington, Ky. 41011.
Pauline Lovelace, 75, of Covington, died Wednesday at Mary Rose Mission, Covington. She was a retired waitress with the former Press Club Restaurant, Covington. Her husband, Jeff Lovelace, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Clinton King of Covington; sisters, Dorothy Price of Manassas, Va., Jackie Cantrell of Harriman, Tenn., Anne Mullins of Fredericksburg, Va., Sue Gaier of Fort Loramie, Ohio, and Linda Gates of Lakeland, Fla.; brothers, Kenneth Gilliam of Kingsport, Tenn., Glenn Gilliam of Florence and Joe Gilliam of Owenton; and a granddaughter.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice, 401 E. 20th Street, Covington, Ky. 41014. Cremation Society of Greater Cincinnati is handling arrangements.
Dora E. Martz, 92, of Melbourne, died Sunday at her residence. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Joseph Church, Camp Springs.
Survivors include her daughter, Louella Martz Meier of Bellevue, three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Church, Camp Springs. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at A.C. Dobbling & Sons Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Camp Springs.
Bertha Mayes, 88, of Bellevue, died Sunday at her residence. She was a retired custodian for Bellevue School District. Her husband, James B. Mayes, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Margarette Sebastian of Wilder; a sister, Ellen Sebastian of Alexandria; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Cooper Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Visitation will begin there at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Eversole Cemetery, Booneville. Memorials are suggested to New Macedonia Old Regular Baptist Church, Twelfth and Central, Newport, Ky. 41071.
Barbara Ann Nickell Merrill, 49, of Dry Ridge, died Sunday at her residence. She was a dishwasher at Gold Star Chili, Dry Ridge, and a member of Williamstown Church of God.
Survivors include her husband, Gary Wayne Merrill; sons, Scott Allen Merrill and Kenny Wayne Merrill, both of Dry Ridge; a daughter, Crystal Dawn Merrill Morgan of Crittenden; brothers, Henry Nickell, Greg Nickell, and Larry Nickell, all of Dry Ridge, Jeff Nickell and Gary Nickell, both of Williamstown; sisters, Virginia Varner, Sharon Merrill, Kathy Caldwell, and Angie Rains, all of Dry Ridge, Margie Vickers of Corinth, Teresa Caswell of Falmouth, Carolyn Davis of Crittenden, and Ada Kearns of Burlington; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hill Crest Cemetery, Dry Ridge. Memorials are suggested to Barbara Merrill Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 130, Williamstown, Ky. 41097; or Williamstown Church of God, 113 High St., Williamstown, Ky. 41097.
Deborah Hicks Messer, 49, of Covington, died Saturday at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati. She was a homemaker and a member of Highland Avenue Baptist Tabernacle Church, Fort Thomas.
Survivors include her husband, Harry J. Messer; a son, Michael Messer of Covington; her mother, Florence Hicks of Bellevue; and a sister, Linda Hayes of Bellevue.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at A.C. Dobbling & Sons Funeral Home, Bellevue. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to Highland Avenue Baptist Tabernacle Church, 1080 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075.
Gurdon William Plaskett, 92, of Florence, died Sunday at Villaspring Health Care Center, Erlanger. He was a retired security worker from General Motors and a member of Florence Baptist Temple. His wife, Leona Plaskett, preceded him in death.
Survivors include sons, Donald H. Plaskett of Norwalk, Ohio, and Robert Plaskett of Petersburg; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Erlanger.
Memorials are suggested to Emma Lane Transplant Fund, 27424 Collosse Road, Carrsville, Va. 23315.
Jeremy Taylor Ray, 29, of Elsmere, died Saturday at his residence. He was a locksmith.
Survivors include his fianc�, Tesha Kittle of Glencoe; his mother, Lisa Stevenson of Edgewood; his stepfather, Richard Stevenson of Edgewood; his father, Wayne Ray of Ocean Springs, Miss.; a sister, Bethany Marie Ray of Chicago; a stepbrother, David Stevenson of Covington; a stepsister, Cindy McCracken of Cary, N.C.; and grandparents, Allen and Leota Ray of Owensboro.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Episcopal Church, Covington. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Episcopal Church Book of Remembrance, 326 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky. 41011; or Kenton County Animal Shelter, 1020 Mary Laidley Drive, Covington, Ky. 41017. Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling the arrangements.
Ralph E. Schrode, 71, of Covington, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth North Hospital, Covington. He was a retired jailer for the city of Newport.
Survivors include his wife, Emma Schrode; daughters, Sally Schrode and Linda Schrode, both of Austin, Ind., Pam Kinman and Linda Sludder, both of Covington, Juanita Schrode and Annette Howard, both of Cincinnati, and Terry Schrode and Sandy Schrode, both of Newport; brothers, George Schrode of Alexandria and Frank Schrode of Covington; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Newport. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Thursday. He will be cremated.
Samuel Gayle Stahl, 65, of Alexandria, died Sunday at University Hospital, Cincinnati. He was a retired carpet layer from McAlpins, Cincinnati, and an Army veteran. He was a member of Mason Alexandria Lodge No. 152, and F&AM; Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter No. 337. He was past associate Grand Guardian of Job's Daughters of Kentucky.
Survivors include his wife, Phoebe Marie Stahl; a daughter, Lisa Gail Napier of Alexandria; his mother, Coletta Stahl of Falmouth; a brother, Denny Stahl of Falmouth, a sister, Karen Schneider of Dayton, Ohio; and one grandchild.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Alexandria Funeral Home.
Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Burial will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Alexandria Church of Christ, 36 Poplar Ridge Road, Alexandria, Ky. 41001.
Alma Gall Williams, 97, of Independence, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Edgewood. She was a retired seamstress and a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church. Her husband, Robert H. Williams Sr., preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Robert H. Williams Jr., of Independence; daughters, Alma Lee Williams of Ludlow, Pauline Cooper and Joyce Holt, both of Independence; six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Thursday at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, Independence.
Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 11969 Taylor Mill Road, Independence, Ky. 41051. Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence, is handling the arrangements.
