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Robert George Schmidt
Robert George Schmidt, 81, of Cary, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 at his home. He was born July 13, 1923 in Wilmont, Wis., to George L. and Myrtle Westlake Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt served his country during World War II in the 10th Mountain Division and received the Bronze Star. He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish, and had a strong belief in the conservation of natural resources that he passed on to his three daughters.
He is survived by his daughters, Judith Ann Schmidt of Reading, Ohio, Laurie S. McCoy and husband, John, of Cary and Donna Dermont of Crystal Lake, Ill.; his grandchildren, John Robert McCoy, Robert Watson and Lauren Stecki; and his brothers, Richard Schmidt of Waunakee, Wis., and Gordon Schmidt of Greer, S.C. Mr. Schmidt was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Emily S. Schmidt.
A funeral service was held Monday, Dec. 27, at 11 a.m. at Apex Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with military honors followed in Apex Cemetery.
The family wishes to express a special thanks to Dr. Sharad Vora and his nurse, Debbie; and to Hospice of Wake County.
Eileen Marie Gress
Eileen Marie Gress, 55, of Apex and formerly of Trotwood, Ohio, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was a 30-year member of the French horn section of the North Carolina Symphony. She was an active member of the Healing Touch community and was also a practitioner.
She is survived by her husband, Vic Benedict, also a N.C. Symphony member; stepdaughter, Cherie Benedict of Cincinnati, Ohio, and stepson, Lorin Benedict of San Francisco; parents, Albert and Ruth Gress of Trotwood, Ohio; and sister, Jean Gress of Springfield, Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary's St., Fourth Floor, Raleigh, NC 27605.
Rev. Paul Kibler
The Rev. Paul Kibler, servant of Jesus Christ, loving husband, son and devoted father, went home to be with the Lord on the morning of Dec. 24, 2004. He was 54.
Pastor Kibler graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1976 and answered various calls within the church before becoming senior pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary in 1983. His professional titles and credentials were numerous, but he would have preferred to be remembered only as a servant. He had a special place in his heart for those in need and personally served those in Africa, India, Bolivia and the Appalachian mountains.
Many will remember Pastor Kibler for his professional accomplishments, but many more will remember him as a trusted friend and tireless advocate for those seeking comfort. Paul Kibler loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his family and his church family. And yes, he loved beating anyone he could find in a spirited game of tennis.
Pastor Kibler is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Marlene Kibler; son and daughter-in-law, Nathanael and Brianne Kibler of Cary; daughter, Amy Kibler of Charlotte; mother, Ellen Kibler of New Port Richey, Fla.; sister, Christine, and husband Tom O'Hearn, of New Port Richey, Fla.; sister, Lois, and husband the Rev. William Engfehr, of Collinsville, Ill.; father-in-law, Wayne Wyse of Archbold, Ohio; and many other members of the extended family.
Visitation was held Monday evening, Dec. 27, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 28, at 1 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Resurrection Lutheran Church Capital Fund Drive or Resurrection Lutheran School. Donation mailing address: Resurrection Lutheran Church, 100 Lochmere Drive, Cary, NC 27511.
A final word from Pastor Paul: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." — Ephesians 2: 8-10
Karoline K. 'Kandy' Saleeby
Karoline K. "Kandy" Saleeby of Apex died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004. She was born Oct. 19, 1945 to Dwight L. and Barbara Burt Kaster in Lincoln, Neb. Mrs. Saleeby was a secretary with Wake County Public Schools, at A.V. Baucom Elementary School.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today, Dec. 30, at Apex Funeral Home Chapel, 511 W. Williams St. (N.C. 55), Apex. Burial will follow in the Apex Cemetery.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Edward Saleeby, and daughter, Rebecca Christine Saleeby, both of the home; son, Craig Edward Saleeby, and wife, Marlene of Basalt, Colo.; mother, Barbara Kaster of Manassas, Va.; grandchildren, Jenna Karel and Regan Kareline Saleeby; brother, Jeffrey Kaster, and wife, Jean of Amissville, Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
The family received friends Wednesday evening, Dec. 29, at Apex Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to Parkinson's Disease Foundation Inc., Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 96268, Washington, D.C. 20090-6268.
Robert S. Sherwin
Robert S. "Bob" Sherwin, 69, a resident of Cary, died Dec. 5, 2004 at St. Marien Hospital in Amberg, Germany.
Born Feb. 17, 1935, in Spangler, Pa., he was the son of the late Lee A. Sherwin and Lois R. (McMinn) Sherwin. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Linda Sherwin and Marguerite Restich.
Surviving are: his wife of 42 years, JoAnne (Sparrer) Sherwin of the home; daughters, Catherine Hatcher and spouse Kevin Hatcher, Tracy Zothner and spouse Eric Zothner, Leslie Aldridge and spouse Trey Aldridge, all of Apex; son, Robert K. Sherwin and spouse Holly Sherwin of Morrisville; and grandchildren Hannah Hatcher, Andrew Hatcher, Kristie Zothner, Matthew Zothner and Mary Alison Aldridge. He is also survived by two sisters, Nancy Sherman of Lewistown, Pa., and Alice Sherwin of Carnegie, Pa.; three brothers, P. David Sherwin of Montgomery, Texas, Samuel Sherwin of Foley, Ala., and Daniel Sherwin of Harrison City, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob served for 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an F-4 fighter pilot with the rank of major. He was an airline pilot for 25 years with Eastern Airlines before retiring in 1989.
The family received visitors at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary on Friday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service was held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home's Chapel on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Good Hope Baptist Church Building Fund, 6628 Good Hope Church Road, Cary, NC 27519.
Debra Ann Gray Collins
Debra Ann Gray Collins, 50, of Apex died Dec. 15, 2004, with her loving and caring family by her side.
Mrs. Collins was retired from the Information Systems Technology Department at Underwriters Lab.
She is survived by her husband, Larry B. Collins of the home; one daughter, Karen Collins Medlin, and husband Fred, of Apex; one son, Bryan Gray Collins, and wife Sarah, of Holly Springs; and two grandchildren, Tyler Medlin and Zachary Medlin. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Katie Collins.
She also is survived by her parents, Charles T. and Jackie Cash Gray of Apex; her in-laws, Jasper and Frances Collins of Holly Springs; one brother, Tony Gray, and wife Ann, of Lancaster, S.C.; a sister, Robin Blalock, and husband William, of Durham; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a special pet, Lexus Collins.
A funeral was held Sunday, Dec. 19, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church with the Rev. Buddy Johnson officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
The family received friends Saturday afternoon at Apex Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Katie Collins Fund at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 1288 Mt. Pisgah Church Road, Apex, NC 27523.
Catherine Gowen
Catherine Gowen died peacefully at Rex Hospital in Raleigh on Dec. 20, 2004, after a brief illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James; her sister, Mary Kralik; and her brother, John Mahoney.
A Mass of celebration will be held at 11 a.m. today, Dec. 23, at St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church, 804 High House Road, Cary.
Burial will be at a later date in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, N.Y. Mrs. Gowen was born in New York City on Feb. 3, 1913. She attended St. Catherine of Siena Grammar School and Cathedral High School in New York City. On Sept. 14, 1935, she married James Gowen and they moved to Dover Plains, N.Y., in 1944.
Mrs. Gowen worked as a medical stenographer at Wassaic State School, retiring in 1973. In 1998, she moved to Raleigh to be near her daughters and family. She lived at Sunrise Assisted Living until he hospitalization two weeks ago.
Mrs. Gowen was the loving mother of four children, Maureen Schumann of Massapequa, N.Y.; Cathy and Tim Mannix of Cary; Peggy and Paul Mulligan of Cary; and Jim and Marty Gowen of Lincoln University, Pa.
She was the loved and adored grandmother of Kerri Coughlin, Scott Schumann, Kelley Averette, Dan Mannix, TJ Mannix, Debbie Antonelli, Denise Dell, Kati Hilton, and Brendan, Brianne and Kevin Gowen. She was known as "Gigi" to her great-grandchildren, Sean Coughlin, Micaela and Carter Mannix, Brooke, Connor and Corey Averette, Joey, Frankie and Patrick Antonelli, Matthew and Maggie Dell, and Riley and Jack Hilton. They loved visiting their "Gigi" and listening to her stories and wise advise. "Gigi" was admired, respected, and an inspiration to all who knew her.
Mrs. Gowen's family would like to extend special thanks to the "angels" at Sunrise for their tender, loving support for the past five years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for autistic children to Raleigh TEACCH Center, 1418 Aversboro Road, Suite 101, Garner, NC 27529; or to Special Olympics of South Carolina, 856 Montgomery Road, Charleston, SC 29412.
Entrusted with the services are Apex Funeral Directors, 511 W. Williams St. (N.C. 55), Apex.
Stuart Mark Johnston
Stuart Mark Johnston, 36, of Pollocksville and Cary passed away suddenly on Dec.15, 2004, at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. Mark died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while he was working in Pinehurst.
Mark was born April 18, 1968, in Raleigh and was reared in Raleigh and Cary. He lived in Pollocksville, but had been residing in Cary recently while working in the Sandhills area. He lived life to the fullest, never met a stranger, and was a friend to all. He was enthusiastic and could accomplish anything he set his mind to. There was never a dull moment in his life.
Mark loved to travel and was always up for adventure. Hiking in Umstead Park, hiking at Philmont Scout Camp, golfing at St. Andrew's, running up the Eiffel Tower, skiing Loon Mountain and Mount Hood, touring Berlin on his own at age 12, climbing Half Dome, riding his motorcycle across America, hiking the Appalachian Trail, whitewater rafting the Skagit River in Washington and the St. Lawrence in Montreal, hiking the Grey Mare's Tail and Ben Nevis in Scotland, in the winter, in shorts, falconing in Scotland, building a home at Pike's Peak in the winter. Mark believed in living life to its fullest. At home with friends and family, Mark always shared his enthusiasm for cooking, grilling and singing. He loved ESPN and fantasy football, singing karaoke, playing poker, pool, chess, horseshoes, darts, Scrabble, any kind of trivia and crossword puzzles. He loved sharing his world with his grandson Jared, encouraging him to follow in his footsteps through sports and a love of motorcycles. Theirs was a special relationship.
Mark is survived by his wife Toni and her children Jason and Jennifer, and her grandchildren Jared and Elijah, all of Pollocksville; his mother Pat and father Steve of Cary; his sister Amy and brother-in-law Chuck Mooney of Fuquay-Varina; his brother Eric and sister Wendy, both of Cary; his aunt Sandie T. Wash of Louisburg; his aunt and uncle Jane J. and Willie Stallings of New Bern; uncles Tony Tabor and Mike Tabor of Hendersonville; and great-aunt and uncle Helen Ross and Reed McNeeley of Gastonia.
A memorial service was held at the Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church, 200 High Meadows Drive, Cary, on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. Celebrations of Mark's life will be scheduled later in the Triangle area and in the New Bern area. In lieu of flowers, you can remember Mark with MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or The Nature Conservancy.
