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Date of these obituaries: 03-11-2003
Cynthia Rankin, nurse, breast cancer volunteer
Cynthia Creaghead Rankin tried to take whatever negative that life dished out to her and make it into a positive.
That was true even for breast cancer, the disease that claimed her life Friday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center Hospice in Covington. Mrs. Rankin, of Lakeside Park, was 61.
After she was diagnosed with the disease eight year ago, she volunteered to counsel newly diagnosed cancer patients through the Wellness Community of Northern Kentucky.
"In the face of this awful disease, she served as a shining example of courage, grace and strength -- inspiring everyone who met her, " said her husband, Richard A. Rankin. "She refused to let cancer dampen her spirit and joy for life."
Mrs. Rankin was active in her community long before she had cancer. She was an elder, deacon, parish nurse and Stephen Minister -- a lay minister who comforts and counsels the ill and the grieving -- at Lakeside Presbyterian Church.
She was a recent board member of the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation.
Mrs. Rankin earned a nursing degree from the University of Cincinnati and a master's in nursing from the University of Kentucky. She worked as a nurse at Children's Hospital in Boston and Cincinnati before beginning a teaching career at UC and Northern Kentucky University. She retired in 1995 from NKU, the same year she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Mrs. Rankin underwent treatment after her cancer was discovered and for awhile seemed cancer-free, said her daughter, Katherine "Katie" Creaghead Rankin, of Cincinnati. But when it returned about three years ago, her mother was not diminished, she said.
"She was a total ray of sunshine, " said Rankin. "She really inspired the rest of us with her courage. When we were scared, she was not. She was always the caregiver.
"She'll certainly live on in everyone she ever touched."
Survivors in addition to her husband include two other daughters, Jennifer Rankin Byrne of Alexandria, Va., and Sara Courtice Rankin, both of Cincinnati; her mother, Sybil H. Creaghead of Florence; and a brother, Joseph J. Creaghead III of Fort Mitchell.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Lakeside Park. A reception will follow in the church hall. Memorials are suggested to the Cynthia C. Rankin Memorial Fund, c/o Lakeside Presbyterian Church, 2690 Dixie Highway, Lakeside Park, Ky. 41017; of the charity of the donor's choice. Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Jean Gerringer Allen, 69, of Orlando, Fla., formerly of Fort Thomas, died Saturday in Orlando. She was a retired secretary and a member of First Baptist Church of Orlando. A son, Tom Gerringer, preceded her in death.
Survivors include sons, Paul Gerringer of Smithville, Tenn., and Michael Allen of South Daytona, Fla.; a sister, Joan Sheanshang of Fort Thomas; a brother, Paul Cochian of Covington; and six grandchildren.
Services were held in Orlando. Cremation was at Neptune Society of Palm Harbor, Fla.
Catherine Josephine Ashcraft, 73, of Morning View, died Monday at her home.
Arrangements are pending with Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence.
Sadie Mae Caldwell, 102, of Latonia, died at 3:40 a.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North, Covington. She was a retired seamstress with Parisian, Covington, and a member of Sts. Boniface and James Church, Ludlow. There are no immediate survivors.
Mass of Christian burial: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Rosedale Manor Chapel, Latonia. Visitation will begin there at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Ludlow, is handling arrangements.
Lovell Prater Carpenter, 99, of Villa Hills, died at 8:50 a.m. Monday at Madonna Manor, Villa Hills. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church, Ludlow. Her husband, Braddon W. Carpenter; a daughter, Lola Carpenter; and sons, Clark Carpenter and Robert Carpenter, all preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty Hardymon of Crescent Springs; sons, Charles Carpenter of Burlington and Roy Carpenter of Brooksville; sisters, India Parker and Alice Pollitt, both of Maysville; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Services: noon Thursday at First Baptist Church of Ludlow. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Flemingsburg. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church, 400 Linden St., Ludlow, Ky. 41016; or Madonna Manor, 2344 Amsterdam Road, Villa Hills, Ky. 41017. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Ludlow, is handling arrangements.
Thelma May Fisk, 86, of Warsaw, died Sunday at Gallatin Health Care Center, Warsaw. She was a bookkeeper with Deaconess Hospital, Cincinnati.
Survivors include a sister, Virginia Eckart of Florence, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services: 2 p.m. Thursday at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075; or Gallatin County Care Center, 499 Center Ave., Warsaw, Ky. 41095. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
David Clarence Gabbard, 64, of Orlando, Fla., formerly of Latonia, died Friday at Florida Hospital in Orlando. He was a retired truck driver. His wife, Mamie Alberta Gabbard, died Feb. 15.
Survivors include daughters, Karen Jones and Sharen Dean, both of Orlando; sisters, Mary Patrick of Covington, Shirley Stanley of Monroe, Mich., Lois Herald and Susie Gabbard, both of Corbin; brothers, Nobel Gabbard of Newport, Earl Gabbard of Corbin and Lloyd Gabbard of Pikeville; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Affordable Cremations, Orlando, is handling arrangements.
William Joseph Gripshover, 71, of Morning View, died March 1 at his home. He was a farmer and an Army veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include brothers, Fred T. Gripshover of Covington and Edward Gripshover of Morning View; sisters, Rosella Cross of Latonia, Betty Gripshover of Covington and Rita Hoffman of Demossville.
Mass of Christian burial: 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Matthews Church, Kenton. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to St. Matthews Church, 13816 Decoursey Pike, Kenton, Ky. 41053. Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Marcella F. Feder Hageman, 83, of Latonia, died Saturday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a retired supervisor with Western Southern Life Insurance Co., Cincinnati, and a member of Holy Cross Church in Latonia. Her husband, Lawrence Hageman, died in 1983. A daughter, Peggy Hageman, died in 1980.
Survivors include a sister, Sister Martha Feder, O.S.B. of Villa Hills.
Mass of Christian burial: 11 a.m. Thursday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Prayers: 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to St. Walburg Monastery, 2500 Amsterdam Road, Villa Hills, Ky. 41017.
Barbara Louise Hartman, 62, of Demossville, died Saturday at Audubon Hospital in Louisville. She was a retired housekeeper with St. Charles Care Center, Covington, and a member of Wilmington Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Wendell L. Hartman Sr.; sons, Wendell L. Hartman Jr. and David Hartman, both of Sparta, Edward Hartman of Dry Ridge, James Douglas Hartman of Walton and Brian Hartman of Williamstown; a daughter, Rhonda Hartman of Edgewood; sisters, Grace Lemming of Gardnersville and Betty Hartman of Flemingsburg; a brother, Walter Sharon of Piner; and 12 grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Wilmington Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Barbara Hartman Memorial Fund, in care of Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, P.O. Box 55, Walton, Ky. 41094.
Ruby A. Hoover, 69, of Ryland Heights, died at 5:50 a.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a homemaker and a member of Oakland Avenue Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Daniel Hoover; a son, Danny Hoover of Indianapolis; daughters, Carolyn Roeper of Maineville, Ohio, Connie Wyatt of Warsaw and Pamela Gentry of Berry; sisters, Mary Holman of Florence and Brenda Wells of Falmouth; eight grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Taylor Mill. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Phillip "Tony" Kraus, 49, of Covington, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. He was a student at Perceptions Inc., Edgewood.
Survivors include his parents, Phillip and Doris Kraus of Covington; a brother, Steven Edward Kraus of Erlanger; and sisters, Tina Louise Erskine of Taylor Mill, Susan Lynn Kraus and Christina R. Kraus, both of Covington.
Services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to New Perceptions Inc., 1 Sperti Drive, Edgewood, Ky. 41017.
Paul E. Marquette, 76, of Hampton, Va., formerly of Falmouth, died Feb. 14 at Veterans Administration Hospital, Hampton. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was a member of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church and Barber Shop Singing SPEBSQSA.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Marquette; daughters, Mary V. Dunham of Indianapolis and Nanette E. Marquette-Wicklund of Stafford, Va.; sons, David P. Marquette of Virginia Beach, Va., and Kent R. Marquette of Indianapolis; a sister, Nelle M. Kirby of Florence; brothers, Ralph L. Marquette of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Rex E. Marquette of Ocala, Fla.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services: 11 a.m. Thursday at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Memorials are suggested to Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, 212 19th St., Virginia Beach, Va. 23451; or the charity of the donor's choice. H.D. Oliver Funeral Home, Hampton, is handling arrangements.
Amelia Elizabeth Bitter Martin, 89, of Union, formerly of Hebron, died today at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence.
David Scott Meece, 32, of Erlanger, died at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at his home. He was a factory worker with Fisher Scientific of Florence.
Survivors include his wife, Melody Lambert Meece; stepsons, Benjamin Johnson and Nicholas Johnson, both of Erlanger; his mother and stepfather, Geraldine and Bill Stephens of Hebron; stepbrothers, Sean Stephens of Paris and Chad Stephens of Hebron; a stepsisters, Kris Walsh of Union; and grandmother, Virginia Meece of Hamilton, Ohio.
Services were at noon today at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Hebron. Burial was in Gardnersville Cemetery, Demossville. Memorials are suggested to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 10901 Reed Hartman Highway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.
Marion E. Ramsey, 83, of Park Hills, died Monday at Villaspring Health Care Center, Erlanger. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Laurel Greis of Fort Mitchell; sons, Randolph Seal of Breckenridge, Colo., and Thomas Ramsey of Florence; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to Redwood Rehabilitation Center, 71 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell, Ky. 41017.
Bert Theodore Reinhart Sr., 84, of Erlanger, died Saturday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington.
He was a piece worker with General Electric, Cincinnati, and a member of the Bromley VFW post. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II. His wife, Lois K. Houp Reinhart, died in 2000.
Survivors include daughters, Donna Lynn Barton of Demossville, Paula Myerhoff of Florence and Denise Lea Hoskins of Rising Sun, Ind.; sons, Bert Theodore Reinhart Jr. and Jeffrey Scott Reinhart, both of Demossville; 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services: noon Wednesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to Florence Community Church of Nazarene, 199 Richardson Road, Independence, Ky. 41051; or St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41014.
Roxie Sylvia Griffith Sammons, 78, of Newport, died at 7:55 p.m. Sunday at Baptist Convalescent Center, Newport.
She was a homemaker and a member of South Side Baptist Church, Covington.
Her husband, Marion L. Sammons, died in 1963.
Survivors include a son, David A. Sammons of Florence; daughters, Lynette Callahan of Elsmere, LeFelse Sammons of Cincinnati, Jan Steward of Burlington and Donna Kinman of Covington; a brother, John Griffith of Jonesboro, Ind.; a sister, Allie Meadors of Pine Knot; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Allison and Rose Funeral Home, Covington. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Baptist Convalescent Center, 120 Main St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Mary Magdalen "Mae" Arlinghaus Schroder, 87, of Fort Mitchell, died Sunday at her home. She was a homemaker. A daughter, Marlene Schroder, died in 2002.
Survivors include her husband, Wilfrid Robert Schroder; daughters, Gail Rider of Boone County, Penny Dietrich of Schaumberg, Ill., Melanie Boone of Taylor Mill, and Lana Rutterer and Laurie Kuhlman, both of Fort Mitchell; sons, Wil Schroder, Urban Schroder and Roger Schroder, all of Fort Mitchell, Robert Schroder of Edgewood and Jeff Schroder of Chatham, N.J.; brothers, Carl Arlinghaus of Fort Mitchell, John Arlinghaus of Fort Thomas, Tom Arlinghaus of Boone County and Louie Arlinghaus of Covington; 29 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Church, Fort Mitchell. A reception will follow in the Parish Center. Burial will be in Schroder Family Center, Fort Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Blessed Sacrament School, 2415 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell, Ky. 41017.
Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger, is handling arrangements.
Arnold J. Schweinefus, 62, of Highland Heights, died Saturday at his home. He was a former owner of Walton Auto Parts and a former district manager with Northern Kentucky Auto Parts.
He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include his wife, Kathy Schweinefus Crowley; a son, Bryan Schweinefus of Loveland, Ohio; daughters, Vicki Boerger of Fort Mitchell and Kim Strategier of Park Hills; stepsons, Ian Farrow and Keith Farrow, both of Highland Heights; sisters, Jody Schwartz and Shelly Barton, both of Villa Hills; and eight grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial: noon Wednesday at St. Joseph Church, Cold Spring. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Cold Spring. Memorials are suggested to Family Cancer Care of Kentucky, 1030 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky. 41011; or Wellness Community, 1717 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright, Ky. 41011. Radel Funeral Home, Highland Heights, is handling arrangements.
Anna Marie Sheriff, 40, of Newport, died Sunday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
She was a cashier with Kroger's in Bellevue.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Sheriff; sons, William Helphenstein and Kenneth Knippenberg, both of Cincinnati; a stepson, Michael Sheriff of Newport and stepdaughters, Michelle Sheriff and Barbara Sheriff, both of Newport.
Services: 7 p.m. today at Newport Church of God of the Mountain Assembly. Visitation will begin there at 4 p.m. Burial will be in Peach Grove Cemetery, Peach Grove. Cooper Funeral Home, Grants Lick, is handling arrangements.
