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Date of these obituaries: 12-14-2002
Mary Wolpers, problem solver, hospital manager, teacher
Mary Wolpers had a gift for translating her wit into writing.
She grew up in a family of journalists. Both of her grandfathers were newspaper publishers, as were her father and brother. She was the eighth grandchild of the founding publishers of her hometown newspaper, the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Ms. Wolpers died Saturday at her home. She was 56.
She lived in Park Hills for the last 17 years of her life and was manager of corporate communications for Bethesda and Good Samaritan hospitals in Cincinnati.
"Mary had a creative approach to solving problems, " said her sister, Emily Wolpers Nelson, also of Park Hills.
"Instead of simply listening to a problem and sympathizing, the next step for her would be to come up with ideas for solutions. I think that's what helped her be a mentor to other writers in her professional career."
Her coworkers tended to become friends, said Joyce Battoclette, who worked with Ms. Wolpers for 16 years.
"She was interested in everyone around her and in what was going on in their lives. She had a way of making you feel important. People cared about her because she cared about them."
She worked in hospital public relations for 25 years, including a role as manager of corporate communications at Santa Monica Hospital in California. She also taught English and journalism in the Los Angeles and Santa Monica school systems.
A graduate of Stephens College and the University of Missouri at Columbia, she earned a lifetime teaching certificate in secondary education from California State University at Long Beach.
Other survivors include her mother, Blanche Wolpers; a brother, John H. Wolpers, sister-in-law, Julie K. Wolpers, a nephew, John H. Wolpers III, and a niece, Anne K. Wolpers, all of Poplar Bluff.
Funeral and burial were held in Missouri Tuesday. A memorial service for friends in Greater Cincinnati will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Union Presbyterian Church, 10259 U.S. 42, Union, Ky.
John Nolan Albertson, 64, of St. Augustine, Fla., formerly of Independence, died Sunday at St. John's Nursing Home, St. Augustine.
He was a member of Eggleston Methodist Church and a veteran of the Army.
Survivors include his wife, Rita Albertson; daughters, Kim Eubank of Newport and Lisa Sargent of Erlanger; sons, John Albertson Jr. of Independence, David Albertson of Covington and Cleet Albertson of St. Augustine; sisters, Margie Hayden of Burlington, Mary Krevinko of North Carolina and Betty Milion of Crittenden; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
There were no services.
Dorothy 'Dot' Bailey, 64, sports enthusiast
Dorothy "Dot" Bailey was always considered quite an athlete -- a world-class softball player, award-winning bowler and accomplished angler. It was in part because of that that her death Thursday surprised many people.
Miss Bailey, 64, of Cincinnati, formerly of Covington, died at St. Elizabeth Medical Center North Hospice Unit, Covington, after a short battle with cancer.
"She had been diagnosed on Nov. 22, " said her sister, Delores Wolfzorn of Erlanger. "It was cancer and it spread quickly."
Miss Bailey grew up in the Main Street section of Covington and attended Holmes High School, but left school before graduation so she could attend business school, where she trained to be a secretary.
Those skills late were put to use as an accounts payable clerk with much of that time spent with the Kinnard Body Works in Erlanger.
Her true passion, however, was sports and in particular softball. She was an outstanding left-handed pitcher both in fast-pitch and slow-pitch, said her sister. She got her start in softball playing games at Goebel Park in Covington.
Miss Bailey played on the Dana Garden national softball team in Cincinnati, which was national champion six times during the 1960s and 1970s. Softball tournaments also helped her travel a bit and meet new people.
"A lot of people followed her softball career, " Wolfzorn said. "She was one of those kinds of people who if you knew her, you loved her."
Her softball success led her to being inducted in the Softball Hall of Fame in Cincinnati in 1986.
She also was a good bowler, winning many trophies in the 1970s and 1980s at Glen Schmidt's Bowling Lanes in Newport.
As an adult, Miss Bailey lived in the Price Hill area of Cincinnati, but had a summer camp on Lake Corinth in Grant County, where she liked fishing and passing the time with friends and relatives.
"She had great patience with people like me who were not as good at fishing as she was, " Wolfzorn said. ""I would get the fishing lines hooked up, but she never got mad."
Miss Bailey was a former member of Main Street Methodist Church in Covington.
In addition to her sister, she is survived by three other sisters, Bonnie Webster of Fort Thomas, Joann Meece of Florence and Carol Mai, of Erlanger.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Hospice, 401 East 20th St., Covington, Ky. 41011.
Steve Ballis Jr., 69, of Newport, died at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at Northern Kentucky Care and Rehabilitation Center, Highland Heights.
He was a retired supervisor with W.J. Baker Co.
Survivors include his wife, Rae Ballis of Newport; sons, Billy Ballis of Crittenden and Anthony Ballis and Tommy Combs, both of Newport; a sister, Helen Marshall of Beattyville; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Fares J. Radel Funeral Home, Newport. Visitation will from 11 a.m. until the time of services Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Memorials are suggested to Northern Kentucky Care and Rehabilitation Center, 3510 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights, Ky. 41076.
Sr. Mary Consilia Cahill, CDP, 97, of Melbourne, died at 2:30 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Home, Melbourne.
She was a member of the Congregation of Divine Providence.
There were no immediate survivors.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Anne Convent Chapel, Melbourne. Visitation will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday at the convent chapel. Burial will be in St. Anne Convent Chapel, Melbourne.
Memorials are suggested to Sisters of Divine Providence, 1000 St. Anne Drive, Melbourne, Ky. 41059-9603.
Ray Chambers Jr., 70, of Independence, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
He was a machinist and an Army veteran of the Korean War. His wife, Opal Chambers, preceded him in death.
Survivors include daughters, Delores Turner of Walton, Linda Swartz of Franklin, Wisc., and Sandra Lee Skipworth and Deborah Ruedebusch, both of Athens, Ohio; sons, Ronald Chambers of Corinth, Donald Chambers of Jasper, Tenn., and Michael Chambers of Erlanger; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Forest Lawn cemetery Mausoleum.
Memorials are suggested to Ralph Fulton VFW Post No. 6423, 4435 Dixie Highway, Elsmere, Ky. 41018.
Louise Fulton Cracraft, 75, of Mount Olivet died at 1:52 a.m. Friday at Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana.
She was a member of the Sardis United Methodist Church. Her husband, William Sherman "Billy" Cracraft, died in 1996. She was also preceded in death by her daughters, Joyce Chandler and Wanda Cracraft and three grandsons, Scotty Cracraft, Jeffrey Chandler and Chad Chandler.
Survivors include sons, Jerry Cracraft, Roy Cracraft and Gary Cracraft, all of Mason County, and Steve Cracraft of Fleming County; daughters, Janie Cooper, Barbara Colemire and Bonnie Turner, all of Mason County, Connie Workman of Somerset and Mary Kay Jett of Mount Olivet; brothers, Bill Fulton and Marvin L. Fulton, both of Maysville; and sisters, Aleta Foster of Dayton, Ohio, and Helen Workman of Bracken County.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Palmer Funeral Home, May's Lick. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Shannon Cemetery, Mason County.
Ruth H. Fenton, 94 of Newport, formerly of Taylor Mill, died Thursday at 12:10 p.m. at Baptist Convalescent Center, Newport.
She was a retired switchboard operator for Interlake Steel, Newport, and a member of Latonia Baptist Church in Latonia, Senior Citizens of Northern Kentucky, and Taylor Mill Homemakers. Her husband, Edward Fenton, died in 1991.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of services Monday 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.
Nora Lee Freeman, 92, of Florida, formerly of Northern Kentucky, died Dec. 4 at Tandem Health Care, Bayonet Point, Fla.
She was a member of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, Hudson, Fla., and Timber Oaks Live Oaks Club. Her husband, Everett Freeman, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Jackie Forbes of Port Richey, Fla., two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services were held Dec. 7 at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Paris, Tenn. Memorials are suggested to Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Center, 12107 Majestic Blvd., Hudson, Fla. 34667.
Prevatt Funeral Home, Hudson, Fla., is handling the arrangements.
Billie Hall, 56, of Covington, died Wednesday at Jewish Hospital, Kenwood campus, Cincinnati.
She was a caregiver and a member of Taylor Mill Pentecostal Church.
Survivors include her husband, Wade Hall Sr.; sons, Wade Hall Jr., John Hall and Cecil Hall, all of Covington; daughters, Patricia Butler of Barbourville, Sheila Hall, Shonda Jones, Rebecca Eggleston and Marsha Hall, all of Covington; sisters, Janet Calbert of Madison, Ind., and Brenda Martin of Florence; and 21 grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Taylor Mill Pentecostal Church. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Donald Ray Hendricks, 57, of Alexandria, died Thursday at his home.
He was the owner of Don's Barbershop, Alexandria.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Hendricks; daughters, Rhonda Hendricks of Cincinnati and Dellah Powers of Alexandria; his mother, Georgia Gills of Ohio; sisters Shirley Syke, Barbara Propes and Debbie Whiteford, all of Ohio; and a brother, J.R. Hendricks of Russell Springs.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Cooper Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of services Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Persimmon Grove Cemetery.
Richard P. Kirkhart, 68, of Southgate, died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
He was a retired national sales manager for C.R. Lawrence Co., Ontario, Calif.; the second recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from National Glass Association in 1997; and a member of the 1959 and 1961 world championship Yorkshire Club softball team, Newport.
Survivors include a daughter, Karen Class of Fort Thomas; sisters, Eileen Adams of Richmond, Ind., Jenean Baldwin of Fayetteville, Ga., Mary Hansen of Pine Mountain, Calif., and Sandy Raynes of Hendersonville, N.C., brothers, Jacob Kirkhart of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Timothy Kirkhart of Lakeland, Fla.; and a granddaughter.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alexandria Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Buenger Boys and Girls Club, 36 East 10th St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Ryan Alexandra Koeninger, 1, of California, died at 10:18 p.m. Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
Survivors include mother and stepfather, Angel and Richard Koeninger of California; her father, Jason Hamm of Kings Mills, Ohio; a sister, Taylor Koeninger of California; grandparents, Barb Scully of Crittenden, Mike Cryer of Union, Barbara and Earl Koeninger of California, Rick Hamm of Kings Mills, Sue Koetz of Kings Mills, Carol Fischer of Cincinnati and Dean Hacker of Cincinnati; and great-grandparents, Elizabeth Hamm of Liberty, Nita Evans of California, and Marie and Walter Peters of Grants Lick.
Services will be at noon Monday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of services Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, For Thomas.
Memorials are suggested to Welcome House, 205 Pike St., Covington, Ky. 41011.
Edith Juanita Lovins, 84, of Alexandria, died at 2:15 p.m. Thursday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas.
She was a homemaker and a former bookkeeper for the HUD office in Newport. Her husband, Bruce Lovins, died in 1966.
Survivors include a son, Ron Lovins of Mount Olivet; a daughter, Barbara Schweitzer of Alexandria; a brother, W.F. Bunnell of Birmingham, Ala.; sisters, Joy Meachum of Birmingham and Hope Parker of Thomaston, Ala.; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Holly Hill Children's Services, Route 1, Box 21, California, Ky. 41007; or Baptist Convalescent Center, 120 Main St., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Anna Louise Thompson, 52, of Cynthiana, died Friday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of the Elizabeth Christian Church, Grant County.
There are no immediate survivors.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Ware Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pythian Grove Cemetery, Berry.
