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These notices are dated: 07-13-2004
Frank Florence, war prisoner turned minister
Frank Florence Jr. spent 11 months in a German prisoner of war camp after he was captured in France during World War II, but he found an inventive way to let his wife and family know that he was alive and safe.
The news that her husband was a prisoner of war "was like a nightmare that wouldn't end, " said his wife, Elizabeth Vater Florence -- until she received a handwritten postcard from her husband that contained hidden clues to his whereabouts.
The card simply said that he was alive and safe, but Elizabeth Florence noticed that some of the letters on the postcard were penciled in darker than others -- a secret code that the couple developed years earlier when they were childhood sweethearts.
When she wrote the letters out, they spelled "Kuestrin, a prison camp in eastern Germany near the Polish border.
"That's how we knew where he was, " she said. "I knew he was sending me a secret message."
After Russian troops liberated the camp, the soldiers and his fellow prisoners walked 1, 500 miles through Poland and Russia to reach the port of Odessa and return home to their families. For his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, among other medals.
The Rev. Florence, 82, died Saturday at Jewish Hospital in Shelbyville from complications relating to Alzheimer's disease. He was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Cold Spring from 1976 to 1982.
His family remembers him simply as a man who cared very deeply for his children and his wife.
He and his wife met when they were both children, when she visited her grandparents' house in Pendleton County. They became playmates.
When he was 16, he gave her a signet ring carved with her initials that he bought using two coupons and a dime. Her mother wouldn't let her keep the ring, but that didn't deter him -- he married
her six years later.
"She thought it wasn't right for boys to give girls rings, " Elizabeth Florence said of her mother. "But he told me one day he'd give me one she couldn't take away. I was 17 when we got married."
After he returned from the war, Frank Florence was a pastor in Kentucky for 45 years, and also spent three years in Colombia as a missionary before retiring in 1982.
He wrote two books, "Feet of Clay, " which was based upon his experiences during the war, and "Hopeful, Back to These Hills, " a memoir of his childhood.
Survivors in addition to his wife include a son, Terry Allen of English, Ind.; daughters, Linda French of Cox's Creek and Nancy Whitlock of Taylorsville; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Grants Lick Baptist Church. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Grants Lick. Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth, is handling arrangements.
Stephanie Wilson, 19, involved in activities
When she was 8, Stephanie Wilson wandered into her brother Ben's football practice at Bellevue High School and volunteered for the job of team equipment manager.
It was a position she held for nine years, despite being involved in many other sports and activities.
"She just showed up one day at a scrimmage, and they asked her if she wanted to help out. She just jumped right in, " Ben Wilson, of Bellevue, recalled. "She wasn't afraid to mess around with the guys. She didn't back down from them."
Stephanie M. Wilson, 19, died Sunday at St. Luke East after collapsing from what family members say was an epilepsy-related seizure. She had suffered from the disease for most of her life.
She studied accounting at Northern Kentucky University and was a 2003 graduate of Bellevue High School, where she kept busy in many organizations and activities.
"If there was an organization in school, she was probably a part of it, " Ben Wilson said. "She was always active, always ready to go."
She was president of the school's National Honor Society during her senior year, and served on Student Council. She also played softball, volleyball and basketball at Bellevue High School, where she earned three sports letters. She was assistant coach of the Bellevue softball team, and was also named softball Player of the Year for Class A Schools in her senior year.
She was a member of Divine Mercy Parish in Bellevue.
Her father, Ralph Wilson, died in May.
In addition to her brother, Miss Wilson is survived by her mother, Janice Ramsey Wilson of Bellevue; another brother, Nick Wilson of Bellevue; and her grandfather, Ralph Wilson, also of Bellevue.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at A.C. Dobbling Funeral Home in Bellevue. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Divine Mercy Parish in Bellevue, with burial to follow at St. Stephen cemetery in Fort Thomas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Stephanie M. Wilson Memorial Fund c/o of any Fifth Third Bank in Northern Kentucky.
Mary Lee Eades Boggs, 73, of Covington, died Saturday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Williamstown.
She was retired from the Internal Revenue Service, Covington, and was a member of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Williamstown.
Her husband, Duward Belmont Boggs, and sons, Lawrence "Larry" Belmont Boggs and James Michael Boggs, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Ronald Eugene Boggs of Covington; a daughter, Cynthia Lee Francis of Corinth; a sister, Catherine Sark of Indianapolis, Ind.; eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and one step-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday at Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Williamstown. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. EDT Wednesday. Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Springdale Cemetery, Madison, Ind. Memorials are suggested to Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 2425 Oak Ridge Road, Williamstown, Ky. 41097. Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, Vevay, Ind., is handling the arrangements.
Luella "Dottie" Dischar, 86, of Alexandria, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was a former kitchen aide for Lakeside Nursing Home and a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Alexandria. Her husband, George Dischar, preceded her in death.
Survivors include stepsons, Eddie Dischar and Marshall Dischar; brothers, Chris Schweitzer of Alexandria and Harold Schweitzer of Crescent Springs; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Alexandria Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Grants Lick. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's United Church of Christ, One N. Jefferson Street, Alexandria, Ky. 41001; or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Herman Brown Douglas, 88, of Newport, formerly of Alexandria, died Friday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
He was a former driver and salesman from Husman's Potato Chips Co., a Marine veteran, and a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Alexandria. He was also a member of Knights of Columbus-DeJaco Council, Bellevue Vets, VFW Post No. 3186, and the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame.
His wife, Dorothy Adela Douglas, preceded him in death.
Survivors include a son, Larry Douglas of Alexandria; a daughter, Nancy A. Liska of Grants Lick; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Alexandria Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home with a Knights of Columbus service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042; or Knights of Columbus-DeJaco Council, 11186 S. Licking Pike, Alexandria, Ky. 41001.
Tommy G. Garrett, 54, of Milton, died Monday at his residence.
He was employed with Ameriform Manufacturing, Inc., Carrollton, and was an Army veteran.
He was a member of Baptist Faith Church and the American Legion, Madison, Ind.
Survivors include his fianc�, Cheryl Coburn of Milton; his father, William Edward Garrett of Sanders; and brothers, Robert Garrett of Ghent and Porter Garrett of Sanders.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Tandy-Eckler-Riley Funeral Home, Carrollton. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ghent Masonic Cemetery.
Thelma Jane Gebhard, 82, of Erlanger, died Saturday at Florence Park Care Center.
She was a retired jewelry department manager for McAlpin's Department Store.
She was a member of St. Henry Church, Elsmere, and St. Henry Altar Society.
A daughter, Nancy Jane Roenker, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, Gus J. "Buddy" Gebhard; a daughter, Melanie Jeanne Brummer of Villa Hills; a sister, Estelle Hegge of Ellenton, Fla.; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Henry Church, Elsmere. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; St. Henry Church Building Fund, 3813 Dixie Highway, Elsmere, Ky. 41018; or Florence Park Care Center, 6975 Burlington Pike, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Olivette Gose Guitteau, 89, of Florence, died Monday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a retired real estate agent from Hamilton Realty, Miami, Fla. Her husband, William G. Guitteau, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, Erin Gose of Crestview Hills, and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Cremation will be at Northern Kentucky Crematory, Walton. Entombment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 596, Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-0596. Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling the arrangements.
Flossie King, 95, of Falmouth, died Monday at Grant Manor Health Care Center, Williamstown.
She was a homemaker and a member of Falmouth Baptist Church.
Her husband, Claude King, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a brother, William F. Weaver of Fort Worth, Texas; a sister, Margaret Cooksey Harris of New Castle, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Woodhead Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will begin there at noon Thursday. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.
Dennis Knasel, 56, of Burlington, formerly of Florence, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth North Hospice, Covington.
He was an electrician with IBEW Local No. 212.
He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Burlington, and the National Rifle Association.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Wermeling Knasel; sons, Doug Knasel of Cincinnati and Brian Knasel of Burlington; a daughter, Amy Knasel Green of Park Hills; parents, Earl and Betty Knasel of Edgewood; brothers, Larry Knasel of Taylor Mill, David Knasel of Covington, Tim Knasel of Edgewood, and Kevin Knasel of St. Louis, Mo.; sisters, Judy Eggemeier of Kettering, Ohio, and Sue Brandner of Fort Wright; and two grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Burlington. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Burial will be in St. Johns Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Sandra Rudd Lykins, 54, of Verona, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence.
She was a laborer with Parkway Products, Erlanger, and a member of Wheelrim Baptist Church, Morgan County.
Survivors include her husband, Willard Ray Lykins; a son, William Lykins of Verona; daughters, Anna First and Sandy Renaker, both of Verona; her mother, Chesley Elam Rudd of Verona; a brother, Willie Rudd of Williamstown; sisters, Brenda Gosney, Rita Connelly, Leshia Rudd, and Kim Burgess, all of Verona; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hamilton-Stanley Funeral Home, Verona. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery, Verona. Memorials are suggested to Verona EMS, 14920 Walton Verona Road, Verona, Ky. 41092.
Mildred Sokamp Mathein, 86, of Fort Thomas, formerly of Dayton, died Sunday at Highlands of Fort Thomas.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. John United Church of Christ, Bellevue.
She was also a member of Dayton Homemakers Club, past president of Campbell County Homemakers, and clothing chairman of the Kentucky Homemakers.
Her husband, Arthur Mathein, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Greg Mathein of Dayton.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at A.C. Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to St. John United Church of Christ, 520 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky. 41073.
Bobby Joe Morrison, 68, of Independence, died Saturday at VA Hospital, Cincinnati.
He was a retired Chief Master Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include a daughter, Robin Elizabeth Morrison of Sacramento, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Marlene Estes of Cleves, Ohio; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 1 p.m. Thursday. Cremation will be at Northern Kentucky Cremation Services, Walton. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6616 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Robert L. "Poncho" Pearson Sr., 78, of Latonia, died Monday at his residence. He was a retired laborer and an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 203, Latonia. His wife, Fannie Frances Pearson, preceded him in death.
Survivors include a son, Robert L. Pearson Jr., of Hamilton, Ohio; a daughter, Sherri Lambert of Indianapolis, Ind.; brothers, George "Buster" Pearson of Hammond, Ill., Albert Pearson of Madison, Ind., Junior Baxter of Mount Ida, Ark., and Tom Pearson of Marble Floors, Texas; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will begin there at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Erlanger.
Minnie Roseberry, 93, of Buckley, died Sunday at River Valley Nursing Home, Butler.
She was a member of the Second Twelve Mile Baptist Church, Peach Grove.
Her husband, Theodore Roseberry, and sons, James Roseberry, Wendell Leroy Roseberry, Theodore Roseberry, Jr., Franklin Thomas Roseberry, and Chester Lee Roseberry, preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, William Howard Roseberry of Demossville, Henry Roseberry of Peach Grove, and Donald Roseberry of Butler; a daughter, Betty Schnitzler of Covington; brothers, Donald Lawson of Florence and Allie Lawson of Covington; sisters, Velma Walthers of Florida and Lillian Nazi of Latonia; 15 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Second Twelve Mile Baptist Church, Peach Grove. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Grants Lick.
Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth, is handling the arrangements.
Howard O. Schneider, 77, of Florence, died Sunday at his residence.
He was the owner of Schneider Shoe Repair, Florence, and a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 159, Clay; Masonic Lodge No. 949, Florence; Masonic Lodge No. 757, Hebron; Scottish Rite, K.C.C.H.; York Rite, K.Y.C.H.; Florence Eastern Star No. 559; and past associate grand guardian with Kentucky Jobs Daughters.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Schneider; a son, Michael H. Schneider of Florence; a daughter, Damie J. Scott of Cincinnati; a brother, C.M. Bud Schneider of Edgewater, Fla.; a sister, Melba A. Bramerloh of Florence; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Don Catchen & Son Funeral Home, Erlanger-Elsmere.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Blue Lodge services at 7:30 p.m.
Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to Northern Kentucky Hospice, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41076.
William "Bill" Scott, 78, of St. Augustine, Fla., formerly of Cincinnati, died Saturday in Florida.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Ballou & Stotts Funeral Home, Burkesville.
Visitation will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Geneva M. West, 74, of Independence, died Sunday at Florence Park Health Care Center.
She was a homemaker and a member of Community Pentecostal Church, Independence.
Survivors include her husband, John West; a daughter, Donna Brindley of Florence; brothers, Odell Morgan and Osborne Morgan, both of Hodgensville; sisters, Vernalene Warren and Avis Gowen, both of Hodgensville, and Florence Neville of Orleans, Ind.; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Thursday at Swindler & Currin Funeral Home, Latonia.
Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Erlanger.
