USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
F.L. Grismore Jr.
June 16, 1936 - May 13, 2014
Resided in Ada, OH
Dr. F.L. (Lee) Grismore Jr., 77, of Ada, died at home on Monday, May 13, 2014 at 11 pm.
He was the son of the late Fred and Princess (Long) Grismore of Pandora, OH. Born June 11, 1936, he grew up on the family farm and graduated from Pandora-Gilboa High School in 1954. He received his BS Electrical Engineering Degree from Ohio Northern University in 1958, an MSEE from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1961 and his PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1970.
His life long hobby and passion was flying. He was always a devoted church member, a lifelong Sunday School Teacher and perpetual student, a proud father and devoted husband.
Dr. Grismore was a professional educator. He taught Electrical Engineering at the University of Missouri School of Mines, Georgia Tech, Southern Illinois University and returned to his Alma Matter, Ohio Northern University to finish his teaching career. He was dedicated to the ones he taught and mentored. He also worked as an engineer in industry at Westinghouse and the United States Geological Survey. He served as a Staff Engineer at IBM in upstate New York and as the Head of the Microelectronics Laboratory of the Engineering Experiment Station at Georgia Tech. As an entrepreneur, he was a founding principal of the Computer Avionics Corporation in Mt Carmel, IL. He held six patents and authored ten major reports/publications.
In the summer of 1958, he married
his lifelong love, Ruth Ann Cole of Alger, OH. She and their three children, Stephanie (Steve) Grant of Denver, Colorado, Douglas (Kim) Grismore of Monrovia, Indiana and Deborah (Darren) Bryant of Brownstone, Indiana survive him. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald (Karen) Grismore and his sister-in-law Carol Grismore both of Pandora, Ohio, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father Fred L. Grismore, his mother, Princess (Long) Grismore and his brother Mark Grismore all of Pandora. He was loved and cherished by his family and will be greatly missed. He is now free of Lewy Body Disease and safe with our Lord and Savior.
A memorial services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, May 17, 2014 at St. John Mennonite Church, Pandora. Rev. Lynn Thompson will officiate. Memorial contributions may made to St. John Mennonite Church Missions, Community Health Professionals, or Lewy Body Dementia Assoc. - See more at: https://web.archive.org/web/20141106193426/https://chiles-lamanfh.com/obituary/F.L.-Grismore-Jr./Ada-OH/1381819#sthash.PF50C9Cm.dpuf
Donald Wesley "Don" Stoodt
February 29, 1932 - May 10, 2014
Resided in Lima, OH
Donald Wesley "Don" Stoodt, 82, was called into the presence of the Lord 7:10 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Lima Memorial Health Systems. Don was born February 29, 1932 in LaFayette, to the Late John Wesley and Thelma L. (Kidd) Stoodt. On November 24, 1954 he married
Miriam G. (Davis) Stoodt, who preceded him in death on August 15, 1968. On June 13, 1970 he married
Charlotte F. (Bily) Stoodt, who survives in LaFayette. Don was a 1968 graduate of LaFayette Jackson High School. After graduating from Toledo Barber College, Don began working in Lima. He later opened his own barber shop in LaFayette called Don's Barber Shop. While operating Don's Barber Shop he began working in Lima at Cellar's Barber Shop and later became owner / operator. Don operated both barber shops for many years and most recently was working at the Rustic Razor. He was a United States Army Veteran, serving during the Korean War. Don was a long-time member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lafayette, and enjoyed ministering to children as an amateur ventriloquist with his puppets Henry and Nancy and his mannequin, Gary. He was an avid golfer, and a long- time member of Colonial Golfers Club. Don was blessed with a daughter, Lisa Rene (Stoodt) Stockton, who preceded him in death. He is survived by a granddaughter, Amy Rene (Taylor) McIntyre; two great-granddaughters, Shelby and Dru McIntyre; and a great-grandson, Duncan McIntyre. Other survivors include, sister, Dolores Mary Stoodt; son-in-law, Russell (Jacki) Stockton, and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by an infant son and son-in-law, Carl McLeod. Services will begin 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 101 E. Main St., LaFayette, OH 45854. Pastor Robert F. Gibson will officiate. Burial of his cremated remains will take place on a later date in LaFayette cemetery. Military rites will be provided by the United States Army. Friends may call from 2:00 - 4:00 & 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at CHILES - LAMAN FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, EASTSIDE CHAPEL, and one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 101 E. Main St., LaFayette, OH 45854, or Putnam County Hospice, 139 Court St., Ottawa, OH 45875 or American Cancer Society of Northwest Ohio, 740 Commerce Drive, Suite B Perrysburg, Ohio 43551.
Joel R. Kimmel
July 18, 1921 - May 10, 2014
Resided in Bluffton, OH
Joel R. Kimmel, 92, of Bluffton died at 8 am May 10, 2014 at the Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. He was born July 18, 1921 in Lima to the late Leslie and Minnie Bigler Kimmel. On August 17, 1947 he married
Rebecca Hofstetter and she preceded him in death on December 10, 1989. He then married
Madlyn Isham Marquart on June 15, 1991 and she died March 10, 2012.
Joel had been an engineer at Westinghouse Corp., Lima. He was a member of Bluffton Presbyterian Church where he was active in church music and the choir, Mt Cory Masonic Lodge 418, Bluffton Senior Citizens where he was a past president, and had been active in Boy Scouts. He was a board member of the Bluffton Stone Co. He sailed and raced with the Indian Lake Yacht Club. Music was important to Joel. He played clarinet in the Lima Area Concert Band and the Bluffton University Band. He taught clarinet and repaired woodwind instruments. Joel graduated from Bluffton High School and received a bachelor of engineering degree from Ohio Northern University. During WWII he served in the Army Air Corps.
Survivors include a son, Alan (Pamela) Kimmel of Boswell, PA, two daughters, Mary Kimmel of Concord, NH, Jane Kimmel of Honolulu, HI, a step daughter, Barbara Fett of Pandora, two grandsons, Robert (Jaime Lee) Kimmel and Thomas Kimmel and a great granddaughter, India Kimmel.
A funeral service will begin at 11 am, May 24, 2014 at the Bluffton Presbyterian Church. Rev. David Good will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove cemetery, Bluffton prior to the service. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Friday, May 23, 2014 at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton with a Masonic service at 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lima Area Concert Band.
William Knotts
March 9, 1951 - May 11, 2014
Resided in Lima, OH
William Knotts age 63, passed away May 11, 2014, at 11:50 pm at his residence. William was born March 9, 1951 in Lima, OH, to William and Grace (Avery) Knotts who preceded him in death. On August 16, 1969 he married
Susan (Taylor) Knotts who survives in Lima.
Bill was a 1969 graduate of the Bath High School. After high school he took a position as a maintenance man at Anderson (Trinity) Guard Rail and then later he also worked for Libby McNeill Libby and North Land Lanes also as a maintenance man. Then in 1996 he transferred to Superior Forge and Steel and worked there in the maintenance department until he retired in 2001. Bill was an avid bowler, pool player, hunter and fisherman. He also enjoyed collecting items of all sorts. Most of all he enjoyed watching his grandchildren in all of their activities. He took great enjoyment in helping coach the Bath Tigers youth football teams and also various youth baseball teams in the Bath sports programs. Bill will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and a very dedicated family man.
Bill is survived by a son, William "Billy" (Cindy) Knotts of Lima, OH, Daughter, Melissa "Jo" (John) Neth of Lima, OH, Son, Mark (Jayme) Knotts of Lima, OH, 7 grandchildren, Summer Alsept Knotts, Jayde Neth, Garrett Neth, Carlea Neth, Madalena Knotts, Louis Knotts, and Mark "MAK" Knotts, a brother-in-law, Don Keith of Lima, OH and a special family friend, Johnny "Tucker" Burchett of Lima. He was preceded in death by a 3 sisters, Sandra Keith, Nancy Dingledine and Marilyn Rich.
Funeral services will be held at the CHILES-LAMAN FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES SHAWNEE CHAPEL on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:00am. Officiating the service will be the Rev. Dan Holbrook. Friends may call on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8pm at the SHAWNEE CHAPEL. Burial will be in the Shawnee cemetery following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Health Professionals of Ada-Hospice @ 1200 S. Main St. Ada, OH 45810, Children's Developmental Center, Lima or the Special Olympics of Lima.
Rhonda M. Myers
February 15, 1969 - May 6, 2014
Resided in Lima, OH
Rhonda M. Neely Myers age 45, passed away May 6, 2014, at 10:23 am at the Lima Manor Nursing Home. Rhonda was born February 15, 1969 in Indianapolis, IN, to Robert and Judith Clatterbuck Neely who survive in Russells Point, OH. On September 27, 2008 she married
Roger L. Myers who preceded her in death on October 24, 2012.
Rhonda was a 1987 graduate of Benjamin Logan High School. She attended UNOH and graduated with an Associates degree in Travel and Tourism and an Associates in Marketing. She had worked as a service coordinator with Grace Works until she had to quit because of her illness. Rhonda was a member of the Lima First Missionary Church. She was also a member of the Epiphany (Prison Ministry), Via de Christo, S.O.A.R. Ministries, and a life member of the Girl Scouts. She was also a volunteer at the St. Rita's medical Center.
Rhonda is survived by a Brother, Robert D. Neely II of Belle Center, OH, Nephew, Hayden Douglas Neely and a Nephew, Kyler Tarkington. She was preceded in death by a Sister-in-law, Amy K Neely.
There will be a memorial services held at 3:30pm on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Lima First Missionary Church. Officiating the service will be Rev. Dr. Timothy White. Friends may call one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. Burial of cremated remains will be held privately in Center cemetery, Leipsic, OH, prior to the memorial service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lima First Missionary Church.
Evelyn "June" Gilmer
May 21, 1928 - December 6, 2014
Resided in Lima, OH
Evelyn "June" Gilmer, age 86, passed away December 6, 2014, at 6:15 pm, at her residence surrounded by her family. June was born May 21, 1928 in Lima, OH, to Everett and Mildred (Carter) Miller who preceded her in death. She married
John Gilmer who preceded her in death on April 30, 1978.
June was a 1946 graduate of the Wapakoneta High School. She then continued her education with Lima Memorial Hospital and received her degree as a R.N. and worked there for 44 years and retired in 1993. After retirement she took a position with Otterbein Nursing Home in Cridersville and worked there a couple years. June loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening. She will be remembered as being selfless. She was always willing to assist anyone in need and was always on the go.
June is survived by 3 daughters; Denise (Greg) Reiff of Waynesfield, OH, Jane (Bill) Ulrich of Fort Wayne, IN and Sheila (Randy) Washington of Rapphannock, VA, a son, James Gilmer of Waynesfield, OH, 6 grandchildren; Johnathon Reiff, Liza (Robert) Shields, Nancy (Dustin) Sitton, Patty Washington, Weston Ulrich and Sam Ulrich and 5 great grandchildren; Dominick Reiff, Franklin, Patrick and Calvin Shields and Margot Sitton. She was preceded in death by a sister, Rosanna Selover.
There will be a funeral service held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 11:00 am at the CHILES-LAMAN FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES EASTSIDE CHAPEL. Friends may call on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the EASTSIDE CHAPEL. Burial will be in Willow Branch, Waynesfield following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Judy Ann Gephart
October 25, 1953 - December 15, 2014
Resided in Spencerville, OH
Judy Ann Gephart, 61, passed away December 15, 2014, at 1:15 am, at Roselawn Manor. Judy was born October 25, 1953 in Lima, Ohio to Richard and Vivian (Aspinall) Armstrong who preceded her in death.
On April 7, 1978, she married
Jerry R. Gephart who survives in Spencerville, Ohio.
Judy was a custodian for Shawnee School system for 15 years and had previously worked at V.F.W. Post #1275 for 10 years. She was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, member of American Legion Auxiliary #96. Judy enjoyed doing crafts at the Allen County Fair, attending her grandchildren's sports events, bingo and camping at Lake Hope with family members.
Judy is survived by 2 sons; Richard Gephart of Lima, OH, Zachary Reynolds, of Lima, OH.; three daughters, Kimberly (Edward) Kennedy, of Lima, Jeri (Dan) Downard of Lima, and Mailai (James) Crawford of Hamilton, OH.; Seven Grandchildren and Four Great-Grandchildren; three brothers, Daniel Armstrong of Lexington, KY., Chris Armstrong of Las Vegas, NV., Scott (Di Di) Armstrong of Las Vegas, NV., a brother-in-law, Bill (Linda) Gephart and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Armstrong and two sisters, Lynette Mechling and Ginger Armstrong.
The family would like to thank Dr. Powell, Dr. Bowersock, St. Rita's Hospice and Roselawn Manor for their kindness and exceptional care of Judy.
There will be a funeral service held on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 11 am at the CHILES-LAMAN FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, SHAWNEE CHAPEL. Father David Ross will officiate the service.
Friends may call from 2-8 pm on Wednesday and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at SHAWNEE CHAPEL.
Burial will be in Gethsemani cemetery following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rita's Hospice.
Ronald Lee Rich
March 29, 1927 - November 28, 2014
Resided in Bluffton, OH
Ronald Lee Rich, 87, of Bluffton, Ohio, died on Nov. 28, 2014 from complications from
prostate cancer. He was born on March 29, 1927 in Washington, Illinois to Rufus J. and Lillian (Lantz) Rich. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, of Bluffton; son Jonathan (Tai) of Union City, California; son Andrew (Sally) of North Manchester, Indiana; daughter Miriam (James Brown) of Blacksburg, Virginia; son Mark (Kathy) of Yellow Springs, Ohio; six grandchildren; sister Lois Smucker (Len) of Ashland, Oregon; and sister Mary Blosser of Bluffton.
At school he excelled in math and science. His senior year in high school, 1945, he was chosen as one of the top forty students in the country in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search and won a trip to Washington, D.C. where he met Harry Truman and Eleanor Roosevelt.
He graduated from Bluffton College in 1948 and received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago, where he had famous professors such as Enrico Fermi, Willard Libby, Harold Urey, and Edward Teller. His advisor, Henry Taube, later won a Nobel Prize in chemistry and considered Ronald Rich to be one of his best students ever. Two days after receiving his degree, June 14, 1953, he married
Elaine Sommers.
He was a chemistry professor at Bethel College in Kansas from 1953 to 1966. Four children were born during these years. In 1966 he. moved to Tokyo, Japan where he was a professor at International Christian University. With various leaves, he was there until 1979 when he came to Bluffton University. Time in Japan included distressing confrontations with violent student Marxists. Over the years, he taught or did research at Los Alamos Laboratories, the National Bureau of Standards, and the Universities of Utah, Harvard, Kansas, Kansas State, Stanford, Illinois, Oregon, and North Carolina State.
He inspired many students over the years. An endowed chemistry scholarship at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis was created in his honor by one of his former students.
He published many articles in chemistry journals and was the author of several books: Periodic Correlations (1965); a series of books for Japanese scientists on writing science papers in English (1976); and Inorganic Reactions in Water, (2007).
Besides science, Ron was always keenly interested in world affairs, promoting human rights, classical music, learning languages, riding his bicycle, conserving resources, debating issues with friends and family, and trying new things. He was an amateur astronomer and an avid member of the Lima Astronomical Society who loved helping others see the amazing wonders of creation through his telescope.
He was baptized into the Mennonite church at age 12 and his faith was a guide throughout his life. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 20 at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton. The family will receive friends from 9:30 am until the time of service. Memorials may be given to Bridge Hospice of Findlay.
