Search Archived Marriage Records
These notices are dated: 11-23-2004
John Wadsworth, backed local government reform
Former Fort Thomas businessman John S. Wadsworth transformed a Northern Kentucky company and helped initiate important government reforms in Campbell County politics in the 1960s.
Mr. Wadsworth died Friday in Naples, Fla. He was 91.
"He was a motivator of people, " said his son, John "Jack" S. Wadsworth, a venture capitalist in San Francisco. "He had the unique ability to inspire people to do their best."
As captain of the Highlands High School football team, Mr. Wadsworth found an outlet for his motivating ability early in life. He graduated in 1932 and went on to the University of Wisconsin, where he was president of his sophomore class and his fraternity, Chi Psi.
"Scotch, " as his friends called him, helped the fraternity win the Thayer Trophy for being the best chapter in the country.
By 1950, Mr. Wadsworth had worked his way up the ladder at the Wadsworth Watch Case Factory in Dayton to become president of the family business. The Elgin Watch Company bought the business, only to close the Wadsworth factory in 1955.
That's when Mr. Wadsworth moved to another family company, Littleford Day Inc. When Mr. Wadsworth assumed control of the 150-year-old business, he transformed it from a road- maintenance machinery manufacturer to the high-speed, sophisticated industrial-mixing machinery producer that it is today.
During the 1960s, he helped found the Committee of 500, a group dedicated to clean government in Northern Kentucky.
At that time, one couldn't even open a business without paying off several government officials, said Mr. Wadsworth's son.
The committee, which Mr. Wadsworth co-chaired, ran George Ratterman for Campbell County sheriff on the platform of clean government. The candidate was abducted and framed by local gangsters, according to Mr. Wadsworth's son, leading to a trial in which Ratterman was acquitted and ultimately elected.
That "led to a new era of good government and economic development which are still benefiting the people of Northern Kentucky, " his son said.
Mr. Wadsworth was also a chairman of the greens committee at the Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club, a member of the Naples Yacht Club, the Gyro and Commonwealth clubs in Cincinnati and a member of Cincinnati Country Club.
He retired as chairman of the board at Littleford Day in 1990 and spent his retirement in Naples, Fla.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Claire Wadsworth; a son, John S. Wadsworth Jr. of San Francisco; a daughter, Jamee Wadsworth Todd of Pittsburgh; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Naples Yacht Club. Memorials are suggested to the Fort Thomas Education Foundation, Highlands Capital Campaign, P.O. Box 75090, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; or the charity of the donor's choice. Fuller Funeral Home, Naples, is handling arrangements.
Frank L. Distler, 89, of Wilder, died Saturday at Baptist Convalescent Center, Newport.
Arrangements are pending at A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home, Fort Thomas.
Etta Belle Fisk, 97, of Batesville, Ind., died Friday at her home. She was a homemaker. Her husband, John Fisk, died in 1971. Sons, Lloyd Fisk and Arthur Fisk, and a daughter, Doris Fisk, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Emma Mullins of Independence, Goldie Cumming of Dalhart, Texas, Helen Crowder of New Richmond, Ind., Norma Beckett of Maysville, Dora Jones of Verona, Rose Mobley and Delorus Adams, both of Batesville, Ind.; sons, Paul Fisk and John Fisk Jr., both of Versailles, Ind.; 30 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren.
Services were this morning at Wilmington Baptist Church, Fiskburg. Burial was in Fiskburg Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Camp Chazon Youth Camp, New Testament Baptist Church, 13382 N. State Road 101, Sunman, Ind. 47041; or Batesville Rescue 10, 132 S. Main St., Batesville, Ind. 47006. Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence, is handling local arrangements.
Geneva Alice Kincaid Haaseth, 81, of Georgetown, formerly of Corinth, died at 12:05 p.m. Sunday at Dover Manor Nursing Home, Georgetown. She was a homemaker. Her husbands, Gayle Kincaid and Ed Haaseth, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Ina Mae Jones Lawson of Falmouth and Dixie Elam of Georgetown; stepdaughters, Kristi Smith and Allyn Sweet, both of Michigan; stepsons, Ivan Haaseth of Tennessee, Magne Haaseth and Terry Haaseth, both of Michigan; a brother, Maurice Riddle of Nicholasville; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at McDaniel Funeral Home, Corinth. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in New Columbus Cemetery, Corinth. Memorials are suggested to New Columbus cemetery Fund, in care of Robert Lee, 12515 New Columbus Road, Corinth, Ky. 41010.
Yvonne "Bonnie" Joslin, 66, of Owenton, died Sunday at University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington. She was a retired nurse and a member of Owenton First Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Ronald Shrout Sr.; a stepson, Ron Shrout Jr. of Georgetown; and her mother, Margaret Elizabeth Goodwin Goldsberry of Owenton.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at McDonald and New Funeral Home, Main Street location, Owenton. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Owenton. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church, 213 N. Main St., Owenton, Ky. 40359.
Gregory Shawn Jett, 30, of Independence, died at 3:53 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. He was a machinist with Walltex Corp., Walton, a member of Orchard Street Baptist Church in Florence.
Survivors include his wife, Heather S. Jett of Fort Wright; a son, Dyland Jett of Fort Wright; a daughter, Ericca Jett of Fort Wright; a stepdaughter, Christina Swartz of Taylor Mill; his mother and stepfather, Vicky and Jeff Sweet of Independence; his father, Gary Lee Jett of Nashville, Tenn.; a sister, Shannon Blackburn of Salina, Kan.; and a brother, Joey Penrod of Independence.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery.
Thelma Pearl Dunavent Lusby, 89, of Owenton, died Sunday at Owenton Manor. She was a former secretary with Ransdell and Bowling Insurance Agency and a member of Owenton First Baptist Church. Her husband, Preacher Landon Lusby, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, L.C. Lusby of Cynthiana; daughters, Melody Stafford of Owenton and Jeanette Dempsey of Corinth; brothers, Don Dunavent and Russell Dunavent, both of Owenton; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Owenton. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 tonight at McDonald and New Funeral Home, Seminary Street location, Owenton. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery, Owenton. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church Music Fund, 213 N. Main St., Owenton, Ky. 40359; or Owenton Manor Employee Emergency Fund, 905 Highway 127 N., Owenton, Ky. 40359.
William Newton Montfort, 88, of Highland Heights, died Saturday at Millers Mary Manor Nursing Home, Mooresville, Ind. He was a former officer with the Fort Thomas Police Department, a former Campbell County deputy sheriff and a former employee of Deluxe Printing and Engraving. His wife, Dorothy Montfort, died in 2003.
Survivors include a daughter, Diane Montfort Staudinger of Highland Heights; a son, William R. Montfort of Camby, Ind.; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. A.C. Dobbling and Son Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Blanche McNees Ashcraft Parsons, 81, of Falmouth, died Sunday at Lakeside Heights Nursing Home, Highland Heights. She was a member of Turner Ridge Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school classes. Her first husband, George E. Ashcraft, and an infant son preceded her in death.
Survivors include her husband, George M. Parsons; sons, Phillip B. Ashcraft of Georgetown and Douglas E. Ashcraft of Wilder; daughters, Phyllis Kay Blades of Falmouth and Pamela Perkins of Williamsburg; sisters, Mabel Holmes of Falmouth and Katherine Chapman of Florence; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Turner Ridge Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Memorials are suggested to Turner Ridge Baptist Church Debt Retirement Fund, 60 McGraw Road, Falmouth, Ky. 41040.
Donald R. Pipes, 64, of Ryland Heights, died Sunday at his home. He was a retired service technician with Peterson Heating and Cooling, Boone County. A son, Keith Pipes, died in 2001.
Survivors include his wife, Billie Wells Pipes; sons, Greg Pipes and Kevin Pipes, both of Covington; daughters, Cheryl Pipes of Covington and Rae Jean Roberts of Mount Vernon; stepsons, Danny Wells of Corbin, Michael Wells of Williamsburg, Va., Phil Wells of Cincinnati, Wendell Wells of Covington and Allen Wells of Walton; a stepdaughter, Pam Collins of Covington; sisters, Mae Poland of Glencoe and Brenda Hall of Erlanger; 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at his home. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014. Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia, is handling arrangements.
William Russ, 66, of California, died Sunday at St. Luke East Hospital in Fort Thomas. He was a welder for the Lingo Co. of Florence.
Survivors include his wife, Bobbi Jean Russ; daughter, Candy Wamsatt of Hebron; sons, Sammy Lee Russ and Kenneth Russ, both of California; two sisters, Sally Golden of Barboursville and Mary Hale of Newport; and three grandchildren.
Visitation is 4-7 p.m. today at the Cooper Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Interment will be at Alexandria Cemetery.
Nancy Lee Spratt, 65, of Fort Mitchell, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington.
She was a waitress with Skyline Chili in Covington and a member of Hillendale Homemakers Association, Christopher Gist Historical Society and the Herweigh Society.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph S. Spratt; a son, Joseph S. Spratt Jr. of Independence; daughters, Beth Morrison of Erlanger and Rebecca Ledger of Ludlow; a sister, Carol Klein of Sunman, Ind.; and seven grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Wednesday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219; or American Diabetes Association, 8899 Brookside Ave., West Chester, Ohio 45069.
Thomas Jefferson Waters, 83, of Ludlow, died Sunday at Thomson-Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore. He was a retired Navy chief petty officer and a member of Latonia American Legion Post No. 203 and Bagon Buhay Lodge No. 17 F&AM.;
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Norris Waters; daughters, Alice Treece of North Adams, Mass., and Patricia Waters of Richmond, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Tammy Helfenstine of Latonia; a stepson, Paul T. Helfenstine of Japan; and a grandchild.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Dr. Charles Earle Whitehead, 81, of Brooksville, died Sunday at Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana. He was a veterinarian, a former Brooksville city councilman and a past president, secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo Trace Veterinary Medical Association. He was an elder of Brooksville Christian Church, where he also taught Sunday school, a past president of the Lions Club, a member of the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma C. Whitehead; daughters, Margaret Whitehead of Brooksville and Barbara Whitehead of Fort Thomas; a son, Chuck Whitehead of Maysville; a brother, William Whitehead of Union; and two 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 Bracken Memorial Cemetery, Brooksville. Memorials are suggested to Brooksville Christian Church, 148 W. Miami St., Brooksville, Ky. 41004; Northward Christian Assembly, 49 Ky. 159 N., Falmouth, Ky. 41040; or the charity of the donor's choice.
Norma Fay Widener, 72, of Dry Ridge, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker and a member of Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Covington.
Survivors include her husband, Melvin Widener; daughters, Sherry Piles of Del Rio, Texas, Darlene Williams of Walton, Barbara Reams of Taylor Mill, Iva Jean Perry of Berry, and Betty Draper and Rene Pitts, both of Williamstown; sons, Scott Widener, Keith Widener and Donald Antrobus, all of Dry Ridge; sisters, Mary Jo Phillips of Crittenden, Jean Bergfield of Fort Mitchell, Joyce Rabe of Erlanger, Linda Onkst of Taylor Mill, and Sonny Holt, Judy Henry and Sandy Smith, all of Williamstown; brothers, Goble Edward Perkins of Berry and Delbert Perkins of Williamstown; 29 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Hughes Chapel Cemetery, Union. Memorials are suggested to Widener Memorial Fund, in care of Stith Funeral Home, 7500 U.S. 42, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Mildred L. Willenborg, 101, of Fort Thomas, died at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at Highlands of Fort Thomas nursing home.
She was a retired clerk with Kelly Services, Cincinnati.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Church, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 9 to 9:40 a.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, followed by prayers. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Campbell Lodge Boys Home, 5161 Skyline Drive, Cold Spring, Ky. 41076.
John Clifford Wynn, 63, of Latonia, died at 10 a.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington. He was a retired employee of DHL, a member of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Cincinnati and an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Clara Wynn; sons, John Wynn Jr. of Union and Chester Wynn of Covington; a daughter, Sherry Chittum of Latonia; his mother, Hattie Wynn of Florence; a brother, James Wynn of Florence; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be at noon Wednesday at Don Catchen and Son Funeral Home, Elsmere. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Union-Rise Cemetery, Union. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; or American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042.
