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Date of these obituaries: 05-02-97
Elizabeth Stark Ratermann filled 102 years with energy
If growing old means growing cranky, then Elizabeth Stark Ratermann lived a youthful life.
Even at 102, Mrs. Ratermann was difficult for her children to track down in Madonna Manor Nursing Home, Villa Hills.
"She was always around talking to 'the old people, ' visiting them in the lounge, " said her son, Robert Ratermann of Kenton Hills.
"When people get old sometimes, they complain a lot, but she always had a smile and she was very kind, " he said.
Mrs. Ratermann, of Ft. Wright, died Thursday at Madonna Manor.
Mrs. Ratermann was a busy woman, starting out her adult life as cook for farmhands at Latonia Springs Dairy in Latonia. The dairy has long since closed.
Before she married
Joseph B. Ratermann, who died in 1974, she worked at Mullane Taffy Co. in Cincinnati.
The thread that wove through her whole life, though, was her affinity for painting porcelain.
Every family member, from her siblings to her grandchildren, was treated to china of all kinds, from Christmas sets to cups commemorating births.
Nancy Ratermann, a daughter-in-law, credits two things for Mrs. Ratermann's longevity: a strong faith, and a hot toddy every night before bed.
"She was a wonderful mother-in-law."
Other survivors include a son, Walter Ratermann of Taylor Mill; a brother, Henry Stark of Crestview Hills; sisters, Dorothy Nagelisen of Latonia, and Ruth Hunter of Erlanger; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Ft. Wright. Memorials are suggested to Madonna Manor, 2344 Amsterdam Road, Villa Hills, Ky., 41017.
Robert Lee Cave, 76, of Hebron, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. He was a retired foreman with General Electric, Cincinnati, and a member of Hebron Baptist Church, where he was a deacon emeritus. He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Jane Cave; a son, Arlie G. Cave of Bloomington, Ind.; a sister, Ella Mae Mahorney of Burlington; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to the church building fund, 1488 Petersburg Road, Hebron 41048.
Helen J. Gagle, 73, of Ludlow, died at 7:50 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a retired assistant vice president of Trust Department of Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati.
Survivors include a sister, Marjorie Houp of Ludlow.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow. Ms. Gagle's body was donated to University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Memorials are suggested to Wood Hudson Cancer Research Center, 139 Isabella St., Newport, Ky., 41071.
Florence Gehrich, 86, of Ft. Thomas, died at 12:15 a.m. Thursday at Highlands of Ft. Thomas nursing home. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a son, John Gehrich of Laguna Beach, Calif.; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Ft. Thomas. Visitation will begin there at 8 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
Sister Donna Henry, O.S.B., 84, of Villa Hills, died Wednesday at St. Walburg Infirmary in Villa Hills. She was a teacher and librarian with the Diocese of Covington, serving at St. James School in Brooksville, St. Henry High School in Elsmere, Holy Cross High School in Latonia, and Villa Madonna College.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 5 p.m. Monday at St. Walburg Monastery Chapel. A vigil will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the chapel. Burial will be in St. Walburg Cemetery, Villa Hills. Memorials are suggested to the monastery, 2500 Amsterdam Road, Villa Hills, Ky., 41017. Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Laura Barbara Schaber, 91, of Cincinnati, formerly of Newport, died at 5:25 a.m. Thursday at Franciscan Hospital Mt. Airy Campus, Cincinnati. She was a seamstress. Her husband, Elmer Schaber, died in 1979.
Survivors include sons, Douglas W. Schaber and Stan Schaber, both of Cincinnati; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Newport. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Virgil "Pappy" Shields, 69, of Independence, died at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday at his home. He was a retired inspector with Roadway Express, Cincinnati, and a member of Teamsters Local 100, Cincinnati.
Survivors include his wife, Lena Mae Shields; sons, Virgil Shields, Randall Shields and Steve Shields, both of Independence, Nelson Shields of Brentwood, Tenn., and Keith Shields of Frankfort; a daughter, Brenda Shields of Independence; a brother, Paul Shields of Union; sisters, Iva Lee Bowen of Edgewood and Aline Stephens of Union; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Jack West, 39, of Covington, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Hospital North in Covington. Funeral arrangements are pending with Don Catchen and Son in Covington.
Tommy Wilson, 49, died Thursday at St. Luke Hospital East, Ft. Thomas. He was a boiler room engineer supervisor with St. Luke Hospitals.
Survivors include his wife, Alta Schafer Wilson; a brother, Gerald Wilson of Mt. Auburn; and sisters, Peggy Bickers of Cynthiana, Shirley Howard of Latonia and Carolyn Hamblin of Cold Spring.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Peoples Funeral Home, Butler. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Butler Cemetery.
