Genevieve M. O'Connor (nee Gebhart) of Kirkwood died Friday, Dec. 31, 2004.
Mrs. O'Connor was born and raised in St. Louis, and was a special friend to many. She loved people and never met a stranger. Her fight with cancer was short and she was taken too quickly from the ones she loved. She will truly be missed, even by her dog, Lady.
Mrs. O'Connor was the wife of the late Joseph J. O'Connor; mother of Maggie O'Connor, Liz (Steve) Voss, Mary (Gary) Wimberly and Kathe (Bruce) Arbogast; grandmother of Don, Alli, Katie, Lauren, Shayne, Sarah and Kelly.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 5, at St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church in Kirkwood. Interment, Calvary Cemetery.
David Forbes Orwig of Kirkwood died peacefully at home on Monday, Dec. 26, 2005.
Mr. Orwig attended Westminster College of Fulton, and graduated from Northwestern University of Evanston, Ill., in 1939. He served as a U.S. Navy officer and pilot in World War II and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands.
He was vice president of the spice division for Forbes Tea & Coffee Co., St. Louis, and founded Spicecraft, Inc. in 1962. Mr. Orwig served as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, was a member of the Missouri Athletic Club and Treecourt Swim Club, was an avid skier and swimmer, and lived life to the fullest.
Mr. Orwig was the husband of Elizabeth Orwig (nee Budke); father of Martha Lee Orwig and Sarah Forbes (James Clark Costen) Orwig; brother, of James Preston Orwig and Elizabeth Ann Queal.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Dec. 30, 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, 100 E. Adams at Kirkwood Road. Private burial. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood; BJC Hospice, BJC Hospice, 9890 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63124; or the charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Bopp Chapel.
Lawrence Edward Ott Sr., a lifetime resident of Rock Hill, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005.
Mr. Ott was born Dec. 18, 1923, to William Jacob and Flora Larsen Ott of Rock Hill. He headed the Department of Public Works for the city of Rock Hill for 47 years. While in that capacity, he received numerous awards and commendations for his service.
He was also owner/operator of Ott Asphalt Paving. Since his retirement in 1994, he spent time working, enjoying and expanding his farm, Ott Farm, Inc., in St. James, Mo.
Mr. Ott was the husband of Joan Smith Ott; father of Linda Ott and Lawrence (Lisa) Ott Jr.; grandfather of Lauren Taylor and Landon Edward; brother-in-law of Hortense Ott and Richard and Patti Smith. Mr. Ott was preceded in death by his first wife, Beatrice Blair Ott; and siblings William Francis Ott and Helen Ott White.
Funeral services were held Oct. 13, at Gerber Chapel in Webster Groves. Interment, Zion Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 4643 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63108; and the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga. 30368-2454.
George H. Pfister of Kirkwood died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2005, peacefully at his home with his family present. He was 86.
married 60 years in April, he is survived by his wife, Marie L. Pfister. He was the father of Mark H. Pfister of St. Louis and the late Jeanne (Peter) Gordon of Hartland, Vt.; grandfather of Bryan, Heather and Laura; great-grandfather of Reilly.
Serving in the South Pacific during World War II as a U.S. Marine, Mr. Pfister lived his life by the Marine credo as "Always Faithful." After returning home to marry Marie and start a family, he also began his career in banking. His long banking career began as a mail clerk with Mercantile Trust and continued on with Manchester Bank, later merging with Commerce Bank.
Mr. Pfister rose through the ranks when in Nov. 1973 he was named president/CEO. After retiring in 1983, he and his wife were able to enjoy many years of traveling, playing golf and visiting family. He was an avid golfer and a great sports fan.
He coached the Kirkwood St. Peter basketball and softball teams for many years. He lived his life with integrity and grace, was a consummate gentleman, and will be missed by many.
Funeral services were held Mon., Nov. 28, at Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood. Memorials may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, 4625 Lindell Blvd, Suite 501, St. Louis, Mo. 63108.
Dr. Edmond Phillips of Webster Groves died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005, of prostate cancer. He was 87.
Dr. Phillips was the co-founder of the Polish-American Cultural Society of Metropolitan St. Louis, and served as its education director for nearly 30 years.
He was born in Indianapolis, Ind., to Polish immigrants. As a child during the Depression, he won a trip to the World's Fair in Chicago by selling newspaper subscriptions. He received a Rector Scholarship to attend DePauw University, from which he graduated with distinction.
In World War II, Dr. Phillips served in the Army in France, Belgium and Germany. Later he worked for the Veterans Administration, earned his doctoral degree from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University, and served as professor of social science research at the University of Trondheim, Norway.
Dr. Phillips' wife of 39 years, Doris Campbell Phillips, died in 1989. He is survived by a son, Douglas Edmond Phillips; two brothers, Julian Phillips and John Phillips; a sister, Olga Woolman; a daughter-in-law, Kirsten Jensen; and three grandchildren, Alexander, Nicholas and Madison Phillips.
Funeral services were held Oct. 28, at First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, 10 W. Lockwood. Interment with honors will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials to the Polish-American Cultural Society Scholarship Fund, 13 Huntleigh Manor, St. Louis, Mo. 63131; or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga. 30368-2454.
Burdette Margaret Randolph (nee Pecha) died Saturday, May 14, 2005, at her home in Kirkwood.
Mrs. Randolph was past president of the JG chapter of P.E.O., member of Alpha Phi sorority at the University of Nebraska, and a member of Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church.
She was the wife of 54 years to Ted Randolph; mother of Margy (Gary) Reim, Bob (Jenny), Jim and the late Kathryn Jo Randolph; sister of the late Robert Pecha; grandmother of Kelly and Erin Timmerman and Peter Randolph; aunt, cousin and friend to many.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, May 17, at Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church. Interment private. Memorials may be made to the Burdette Randolph Endowment Fund for lung cancer research and education through Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation, 3015 N. Ballas Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63131; or to BJC Hospice, 9890 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63124.
Philip James "Jim" Ratz of Lander, Wyo., formerly of Kirkwood died Wednesday, May 4, 2005. He was 52.
Mr. Ratz died from injuries sustained in a fall while climbing a rock face in Lander, Wyoming. He was raised in Kirkwood, and attended Kirkwood High School, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Missouri.
Mr. Ratz was an avid climber. He co-owned Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, and was former executive director of the National Outdoor Leadership School.
Mr. Ratz is survived by his wife, Lantien Chu; his two children, Mei Loong Chu-Ratz and William Morgan Chu-Ratz; his mother, Mary Margaret Ratz; a sister, Trudi Rammelkamp; and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, the late William Alan Ratz. A memorial service was held Wednesday, May 11, in Wyoming.
Frances Lucas Reeves, formerly of Kirkwood died on Sunday, Sept. 25, in Winchester, Mass.
After the death of her husband Ray Reeves, Mrs. Reeves moved to Winchester to live with her older son Barry, his wife Marilyn and their three children.
She was born in Kirkwood on Oct. 21, 1911, to Katherine (Creamer) Lucas and Francis Edward (Frank) Lucas. She graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1930.
Mrs. Reeves was the wife of the late Raymond O. Reeves. They were active members of Grace Church in Kirkwood. Mrs. Reeves worked at the Kirkwood Public Library from 1959 to 1969.
Mrs. Reeves was the mother of Barry (the late Marilyn), Dick (Nancy) and Martha (Peter) Border; grandmother of seven; great-grandmother of 12; and great-great-grandchildren of two. She was the sister of Margaret Hollman and the late James Lucas; sister-in-law, aunt, and friend.
A graveside gathering and service will be held at Sunset Memorial Park, 10180 Gravois Road, on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Red Cross, 1-800 HELP NOW, or www.redcross.org; or Ronald McDonald House, 4381 W. Pine Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63108.
Harold G. "Bud" Reichardt, a former longtime resident of Webster Groves died Saturday, April 9, 2005. He was 87.
Mr. Reichardt was born June 29, 1917, in Webster Groves, the son of Clarence A. and Edna S. Reichardt. He attended both grade school and high school there. He attended the University of Illinois and Washington University-St. Louis, where he graduated in May 1939 with a B.A. in physics and psychology.
Mr. Reichardt worked at Curtis-Wright and McDonnell Aircraft Co. during World War II. In 1959, he purchased Mac Hardware on Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves, which he owned until he retired in 1981. He was a past president of the Webster Groves Lions Club, and loved the sport of tennis. In retirement he and his wife moved to Naples, Fla., returning to the St. Louis area in 2001, where he resided until his death.
Mr. Reichardt was the husband of Frances Esson Reichardt (nee Johnson) for 62 years; brother of Dorothy Thacker and Peggy (Bud) Leonard; father of Robert Esson Reichardt (Tricia Powell), Ann Terry (Bob) Morrow, Sally Marie (Steve) Wasserman and Mary Kathryn (Steve) Wiltse. He was the grandfather of Tim Reichardt, Cindy (Reichardt) Cox, Sarah Reichardt, Rob Morrow, Trisha (Morrow) Madden, David Wasserman, Amanda Wasserman, Jeffrey Wasserman, Ryan Wiltse and Erin Wiltse; great-grandfather of five great-grandsons.
A funeral Mass was celebrated April 13, at St. Anselm (Priory) Church in Creve Coeur. Memorials to the American Diabetes Association, Gateway Office, 10820 Sunset Office Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63127.
Arthur Joseph Rekart, formerly of Kirkwood died Sunday, May 22, 2005.
Mr. Rekart was the husband of Shirley (LaPoint) Rekart and the late Muriel Rekart; father of Judy (Dan) Regan, Pat (Bob) Smith, Diane (John) Horn, Tim (Pat) Rekart and Jeff (Allison) Rekart; stepfather of Rollin (Debbie) LaPoint and Don (Chrissy) LaPoint; brother of Barbara (David) McCarthy; grandfather of 16, uncle, cousin and friend to many.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, May 26, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Kirkwood. Interment, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Masses or donations to the charity of one's choice are preferred for memorials.
Olive D. Rheinnecker (nee Davis) of Rock Hill died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005.
Mrs. Rheinnecker was a clerk at the St. Louis County Library. She was the wife of the late Alfred O. Rheinnecker Jr.; mother of Barbara (Jerry) Branham, Frances (Houghton) Peterson and Al (Marsha) Rheinnecker; grandmother of Loraine Helmel, Amy Russell and Andrew Ishmael; great-grandmother of three; and aunt.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, Nov. 14, at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Brentwood. Interment, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017
Esther B. Doyle (nee Brown) of Warson Woods died Sunday, June 1, 2003.
Mrs. Doyle was the wife of the late James J. Doyle; stepmother of the late Mary Kathryn Leonardi and Regina Mosley; grandmother of Michelle Hofmeister, Lee Leonardi and the late Renee and Bart Leonardi; aunt of Patricia Eyres; cousin of M.E. Druschky, D. Vreeland and Helen Hoxie.
A memorial Mass will be held at a later date at Ste. Genevieve du Bois Catholic Church. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Masses preferred. Arrangements by Bopp Chapel.
