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Date of these obituaries: 08-22-2002
Clifford Howe, 'tough' veteran, father, husband
There was only one word, says Steve Howe, to describe his father: tough.
Tough enough to survive being shot down in a B-17 bomber in the Pacific during World War II, an episode Clifford Howe weathered even though he was nearly scalped in the process.
Tough enough to survive four brothers and two sisters.
Tough enough to hang on through the final illness of his wife, Mary Jean, even though Mr. Howe himself was suffering from cancer that was only diagnosed four days before his death.
"I think he was just hanging on to see if Mom got better, " said Steve Howe of Florence. "When she died, then he didn't have to hold on any more."
Mrs. Howe died Aug. 10. Clifford Howe, of Newport, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. He was 83.
Mr. Howe, a machinist, worked at a Newport steel mill before signing on at General Electric in Evendale, Ohio, building aircraft engines.
For his service during the war he was awarded the American Defense Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with four Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished Unit Badge.
"The military didn't leave him when he left the military, " Steve Howe said. "He was the disciplinarian. When that voice got to a certain level, you knew you had pushed it far enough."
His father had two loves: baseball and University of Kentucky basketball, Steve Howe said.
"He taught my sister and me the game. She played softball, and I played baseball."
Also surviving Mr. Howe is his daughter, Connie Voneye, of Southgate, and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at A.C. Dobbling & Son Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will begin there at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 6612 Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Geneva Baker, 86, of Florence, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a former file clerk with Cincinnati Gas & Electric. Her husband, Donel Baker, preceded her in death.
Survivors include her son, Donel Lee Baker of Florence; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 9 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger.
Dorothy Ann Connett, 92, of Covington, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a former secretary with Emery Industries, Cincinnati, and a member of Erlanger Baptist Church.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn cemetery Chapel, Erlanger. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Covington Ladies Home, 702 Garrard St., Covington, Ky. 41011. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Joseph R. Eichelberger, 91, of Fort Thomas, died at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday at Highlands of Fort Thomas Nursing Home, Fort Thomas. He was a retired repair foreman at Cincinnati Bell Telephone, and a member of the Telephone Pioneers Club, Christ Church United Church of Christ in Fort Thomas and the Fort Thomas Retired Men's Club. His wife, Helen Eichelberger, died May 15.
Survivors include a son, Richard W. Eichelberger of Fort Thomas; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas. Visitation will begin there at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Betty Jane Bitter Hughes, 64, of Latonia, died at 7:25 a.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a homemaker and a member of Holy Cross Church, Latonia.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph R. Hughes; a son, Terry Vogel of Hillsboro, Ohio; daughters, Rhonda Ciresi and Mary Diaz, both of Cincinnati, Vickey Steffen of Villa Hills, Carla Martinez of Chicago, Darleena Hughes of Latonia and Marleena Hughes Cloyd of Union; brothers, Robert Bitter of Clearwater, Fla., and Pat Bitter, Joseph Bitter, Edward Bitter and Phillip Bitter, all of Covington; sisters, Marie Watters of Covington, Dorothy Hopper of Sevierville, Tenn., Charlene Pierce and Mary Ellen Bartlett, both of Clearwater, Fla., and Margaret Sharpe of Union; 42 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at noon Friday at Holy Cross Church, Latonia. Visitation will begin there at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia, is handling arrangements.
Robert "Marty" Mitchell, 42, of Burlington, died Tuesday at his home of injuries suffered in a tractor accident. He was a pollution control worker with Cinergy Co.
Survivors include sons, James Robert Mitchell and Jordan Lee Mitchell, both of Union; his parents, Robert W. and Nancy L. Martin Mitchell of Burlington; a brother, Lane K. Mitchell of Burlington; and grandparents, Cletus H. and Ann Martin of Burlington.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Eastbend Cemetery, Boone County. Memorials are suggested to Belleview Baptist Church, 6658 Fifth St., Belleview, Ky. 41005; or Belleview-McVille Life Fire Department, Belleview, Ky. 41005.
Martha Rose Neace, 59, of Newport, died Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was a teacher's assistant at A.D. Owens School, Newport.
Survivors include her daughters, Tammy Miller of Bellevue and Paula McCuIlah, June Ann Neace and Tonya Neace, all of Newport; sons, Roger Neace of Newport and Kager Neace of Dayton; sisters, Evelyn Turner of Walton and Maude Thompson of Newport; a brother, William Turner of Walton; 13 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.
Services will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at New Macedonia Old Regular Baptist Church, Newport. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until the time of services Friday at the church. Burial will be in Herald Cemetery, Breathitt County.
Cecil Jett Poe, 95, of Mount Olivet, died Tuesday at Robertson County Health Care Center, Mount Olivet. She was a homemaker and a member of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church. She was a former member of the Robertson County Homemakers and was a former election officer. Her husband, Edgar Allen Poe, and a son, Jimmy Poe, both preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, Runelt Snyder of Cincinnati; three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Robertson County Funeral Home, Mount Olivet.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Thelma Lee Towe, 95, of Covington, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. She was a homemaker and a former president of the C&O; Railroad Women's Auxiliary and a member of St. Henry Church, Elsmere. Her husband, John F. Towe, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Paul F. Towe of Erlanger; a daughter, Margaret Brady of Erlanger; and five grandsons.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erlanger. Memorials are suggested to St. Henry Church, 3813 Dixie Hwy., Elsmere, Ky. 41018.
Ralph R. Voss, 65, of Cold Spring, died at 4:13 a.m. Wednesday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. He was a retired shipping clerk with American Laundry Machinery, Cincinnati. A daughter, Jacqueline Fields, died in 1994.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Voss; daughters, Cami Strong of Norwood, Ohio, Teresa Gorman-Seifert of Dayton, Karen Beckmeyer of Grants Lick and Lynda Gorman of Newport; sons, Keith Gorman and Thomas Gorman, both of Fort Thomas; 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Newport. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill.
Herbert N. Williams Jr., 75, of Maysville, died Tuesday at Ohio Valley Manor in Ripley, Ohio. He was a carpet salesman with Scotty's Lumber in Palatka, Fla., and a former Maysville city commissioner, vice mayor and director of urban renewal for the city. He was a member of St. Patrick Church in Maysville, a former employee of radio stations WFTM in Maysville and WFFG in Marathon, Fla., and an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include a sister, Margaret Sears of Maysville; and brothers, Daniel F. Williams of Summerton, S.C., Joseph W. Williams and James T. Williams, both of Maysville.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Church, Maysville.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at Brell Funeral Home, Maysville. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Maysville.
