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Date of these obituaries: 09-26-2003
John G. Yunker, stay-at-home dad
Well before it became fashionable, John G. Yunker was a stay-at-home dad.
When his daughter was born in 1976, Mr. Yunker decided he would become the homemaker and primary caregiver to the children so his wife, Martha Aikman Yunker, could pursue her career as a nurse-anesthetist.
He proved good at his calling.
"I was sometimes working 24-hour shifts, so it certainly simplified my life, " said Martha Yunker. "He did all the cooking and cleaning. He took care of the kids. I like to call him one of the original 'Mr. Moms.'"
Mr. Yunker, of Walton, died Saturday while vacationing in Destin, Fla. He was 60.
Before he took on parenting full time, Mr. Yunker was a mortician and funeral director for about seven years, then a dental technician for another six.
He was a graduate of the Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis and was trained as a dental technician while serving in the Navy.
After his children got older, he became a carrier for The Kentucky Post and volunteered serving meals at the Parish Kitchen in Covington.
His experience there helped him land a job in the cafeteria at St. Henry District High School in Erlanger, where he worked the two years before his death.
Her husband was a gregarious sort, said Martha Yunker. "He could get conversation out of a fencepost, " she said. "He loved parties. He loved having a good time. We had a little place on the river in Boone County, and he used to go up and down the road there every day talking to everybody."
Mr. Yunker also had wide-reaching interests and talents.
He was an avid boater, loved sports cars, raised tropical fish, did landscaping and made stained glass windows and lamps.
He was a member of St. Timothy Church, Union.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a son, Robert Yunker of Florence; a daughter, Stephanie Hagedorn of Walton; his mother, Thelma Yunker of Evansville, Ind.; sisters, Sister Judy Yunker, O.S.B., of Martin and Deborah Hammerle of Northville, Mich.; a brother, Phillip Yunker of Missouri City, Texas; and a grandson.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Timothy Church.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger.
Cremation will be at Southwest Ohio Crematory, Milford, Ohio.
Memorials are suggested to Dwelling Place Monastery, in care of Sr. Judy Yunker, O.S.B., 150 Mount Tabor Road, Martin, Ky. 41649.
Russell D. Cooke, 83, of Owenton, died at 9 a.m. Thursday at Owenton Manor Health Care Center.
He was a retired librarian with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
Survivors include brothers, Orville Cooke of Williamstown, Rassie B Cooke of Owenton and Harold Cooke of Snow Camp, N.C.; and sisters, Mayme Arnold of Sherman, Mary Honshull of Trenton, Ohio, Alice Glacking of Demossville and Pet Dennler of Independence.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery, Verona.
Vada M. Florence, 88, of Milford, died Tuesday at Edgemont Manor, Cynthiana.
She was a homemaker and a member of Milford Christian Church.
Her husband, Bill Florence, and a son, Billy Franklin Florence, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include a brother, Earl Lovelace of Falmouth; a sister, Bonnie Moore of Falmouth; and five grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Milford Christian Church.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at Moore and Parker Funeral Home, Brooksville.
Burial will be in Neave Cemetery, Falmouth.
Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
William Edward Mullins Jr., 61, of Burlington, died Thursday at Villaspring Health Care Center, Erlanger.
He was a self-employed stonemason and bartender, and a member of Bass Masters Association.
Survivors include daughters, Bridgett Mullins of Covington and Julie Gibson of Hebron; sons, Keith Mullins, Danny Mullins and Aaron Mullins, all of Florence, Jeff Mullins of Ryland, Chip Mullins of Kenton County, Greg Mullins of Florida and Mark Mullins of Covington; a brother, Hank Mullins of Burlington; a sister, Judy Cromer of Worthville; and 22 grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence.
Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Monday.
Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Minnie Elizabeth Sipple, 89, of Fort Mitchell, died Thursday at Rosedale Manor, Latonia.
She was a retail stock clerk with Kmart department stores and a member of Church of God, Latonia.
Survivors include a nephew, Mathew Sipple of Fort Mitchell.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger.
Visitation will begin there at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Burial will be in Glencoe Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Florene Foley Steele, 92, of Florence, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence.
She was a homemaker and a member of Florence United Methodist Church, and the Merry Makers and Eva Miller Circle at the church.
Her husband, Morgan C. Steele and a son, Larry Steele, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, Clay Hamilton of Nicholasville; and half-brothers, Erman Foley and Marvin Foley, both of Bourbon County.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Florence United Methodist Church.
Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Machpelah Cemetery, Mount Sterling.
Memorials are suggested to Florence United Methodist Church, 8585 Old Toll Road, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Dr. William Kennedy Thomas, 92, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of Newport, died Tuesday at Hernando Pasco Hospice, Brooksville, Fla.
He was a retired chiropractor, a member of United Church of Christ in Spring Hill and a Mason. His wife, Garnet Schneider Thomas, and a son, William "Bing" Kennedy, both preceded him in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Judi Jones of Spring Hill; a brother, Robert Thomas of Villa Hills; a sister, Corinne Dougherty of Columbus, Ohio; and a grandson.
No services are planned. Memorials are suggested to Hernando County Hospice, 1114 Chatman Blvd., Brooksville, Fla. 34601.
Brewer and Sons Funeral Home, Spring Hill, is handling arrangements.
James "Pete" Washington, 78, of Sparta, died Wednesday at Veterans Administration Hospital, Lexington.
He was a retired employee of Arvin's, a farmer and a deacon with Park Ridge Baptist Church, Owenton.
He was an Army veteran of World War II. His wife, Maggie Tolliver Washington, preceded him in death.
Survivors include a son, William Greg Washington of New Liberty; daughters, Deborah Combs of Columbus, Ind., and Antoinette "Toni" Walden of Sparta; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Park Ridge Baptist Church, Owenton.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 tonight at McDonald & New Funeral Home, Seminary Street location, Owenton.
Burial will be in Park Ridge Cemetery, Owenton.
