Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Kathleen L. Gerber Higgins
Died: Friday, October 03, 2003
Age: 80
ROCKBRIDGE - Kathleen L. (Gerber) Higgins, 80, of Rockbridge, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2003, at Willow Brook Christian Home in Worthington.
Born Nov. 17, 1922, in Marietta, she was the daughter of Floyd and Zelda Caskin Gerber.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Higgins.
Funeral services will be Saturday, 11 a.m., at Cardaras Funeral Home, Logan. Interment will be in Homestead Cemetery, Rockbridge.
Friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Willow Brook Christian Home, 55 Lazelle Road, Worthington, 43235.
Karen J. Faulk Taylor
Died: Thursday, October 02, 2003
Age: 53
MIDDLEPORT - Karen J. Faulk Taylor, 53, of Brooksville, Fla., died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, in Florida.
Born Nov. 2, 1949, she was the daughter of Eleanor Faulk of Middleport and the late Glendon Faulk.
Besides her mother, she is survived by a son, Wade Pooler; and daughters Melissa Nolan and Donita Warren.
Services will be held Tuesday, 1 a.m., at Fisher Funeral Home in Middleport. Burial will be in Rocksprings Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 11 a.m. until the time of service.
George W. Knapp
Died: Thursday, October 02, 2003
Age: 81
MIDDLEPORT - George W. Knapp, 81, of Middleport, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003.
Born Dec. 7, 1921, in Mason, W.Va., he was the son of the late Charles and Eva Mae Knapp. He is survived by his wife, Bertha Young Knapp; a son, Gregory W. Knapp; and a daughter, Anna Knapp Dobbs.
Funeral services are Monday, 11 a.m., at Fisher Funeral Home, Middleport. Burial will be in Rocksprings Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home today from 6 to 8 p.m.
Karen J. Faulk Taylor
Died: Thursday, October 02, 2003
Age: 53
MIDDLEPORT - Karen J. Faulk Taylor, 53, of Brooksville, Fla., died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, in Florida.
Born Nov. 2, 1949, she was the daughter of Eleanor Faulk of Middleport and the late Glendon Faulk.
Besides her mother, she is survived by a son, Wade Pooler; and daughters Melissa Nolan and Donita Warren.
Services will be held Tuesday, 1 a.m., at Fisher Funeral Home in Middleport. Burial will be in Rocksprings Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, from 11 a.m. until the time of service.
Inez Mae Sunkel nee Burson
Died: Thursday, October 02, 2003
Age: 100
SHADE - Inez Mae Sunkel nee Burson, 100, passed away Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, in Akron.
She was born Aug. 23, 1903, in Shade. She graduated from Shade High School and attended Ohio University. She lived most of her life in Akron.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George “Jack” Sunkel; a daughter, Juanita Phillips; and a granddaughter, Yvonne Phillips. She is survived by her grandson, Vincent Phillips of California, many nieces and nephews, and special friends Scott Musleve and family and Curt Miller.
Graveside services will be held Monday, 2 p.m., at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 2580 Romig Road, Akron, with the Rev. Rod Taylor officiating.
Arrangements are by Adams Mason Funeral Home, (330) 535-9186.
George W. Knapp
Died: Thursday, October 02, 2003
Age: 81
MIDDLEPORT - George W. Knapp, 81, of Middleport, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003.
Born Dec. 7, 1921, in Mason, W.Va., he was the son of the late Charles and Eva Mae Knapp. He is survived by his wife, Bertha Young Knapp; a son, Gregory W. Knapp; and a daughter, Anna Knapp Dobbs.
Funeral services are Monday, 11 a.m., at Fisher Funeral Home, Middleport. Burial will be in Rocksprings Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home today from 6 to 8 p.m.
Donna Mae Smith Collins
Died: Thursday, October 02, 2003
Age: 60
GLOUSTER - Donna Mae Smith Collins, 60, of 291 S. High St., LaRue, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, at 8:51 a.m. at Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus.
Born May 30, 1943, in Oakdale, she was the daughter of Nellie Ball Smith of Glouster and the late Charles Smith.
Besides her mother, she is survived by two sons, Lane Franklin Malone Jr. and Jonathon Bo Collins, both of Marion; three daughters, Debra Marie (Ronald) Gates of Marion, Lisa Faye Tanner of Florida and Amy Renee Benson of Kentucky; eight grandchildren; and four sisters, Barbara Wyatt of Crooksville, Judy Pugh and Alice Smith, both of Glouster, and Annamarie Simpkins of Millfield.
Besides her father, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Richard Smith.
Mrs. Collins worked as a case manager for RMS Management, providing assisted living services to many clients. Her work was truly her life. Her clients became part of her family. As a result for her love of her work, she did many things that were very much above and beyond the call of duty. She was an avid antique collector, and loved flowers, gardening and her family, especially her grandchildren.
Services will be held Monday, 11 a.m., at Stofcheck Funeral Home, LaRue, with the Rev. C.L. Fuqua officiating. Burial will be in Grand Prairie Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Those who wish may make contributions to Marca School and Industries in Marion.
Randy J. Matheny
Died: Friday, October 17, 2003
Age: 44
BUCTHEL - Randy J. Matheny, 44, of Bucthel, died Friday, Oct. 17, 2003, at University Medical Center in Columbus.
Born Dec. 20, 1958, in Murray City, he was the son of the late Delbert F. and Essie M. McFann Matheny.
A graduate of York High School, he held an associate’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Hocking College. He was co-owner and editor of the Dirt Track Racing Roundup. He was also an organizer of the Annual Dirt Track Racing Roundup banquet. He was also the public relations director of the Muskingum County Speedway.
He is survived by his partner in life, Herman Staats of Buchtel; a sister, Georgena (Robert) Allen of San Benito, Texas; brothers, Ronald (Loretta) Matheny of Oak Field; Larry Matheny of Hot Springs, Ark; James (Joyce) Matheny of Newark; Chris (Linda) Matheny of Winston Salem, N.C.; Delbert (Jill) Matheny of Reno; Kenneth (Marie D.) Matheny of Grove City; and Rick (Sherry) Matheny of New Straitsville; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Jo Matheny.
Services will be Tuesday, 11 p.m., at the Warren-Brown Funeral Home in Nelsonville. Burial will be in Shawnee Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Virginia E. Champ
Died: Friday, October 17, 2003
Age: 79
LOGAN - Virginia E. Champ, 79, of Logan passed away Friday. Oct. 17, 2003, at Logan Health Care Center.
Born May 17, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Oprea and Marie Argyelan Sharb. She is preceded in death by her husband, Guy E. Champ Sr., to whom she was married for 51 years.
Virginia will be remembered for her wonderful cooking, her contagious laughter and her sparkling smile.
She is survived by three sons, Guy E. Champ Jr. of Logan, Gary W. (Vickie) Champ of Logan and Greg D. Champ of Logan; two daughters, Darlene (Edward) Stube of Athens and Diane Sherrick of Logan; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, George (Annabelle) Sharb of Haydenville, Jack Sharb (Phyllis Bush) of Logan and Gideon (Katie) Sharb of Logan; and a sister, Mary Ann (Tom) Brown of Sandusky.
She is preceded in death by a grandson, Ross Stube, and two brothers, Vic and Jimmy Sharb.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, 1 p.m., at Cardaras Funeral Home in Logan. Interment will be in Knollwood Cemetery, Logan.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions may be made to the Ross Stube Memorial Foundation c/o Hocking Valley Bank, 936 E. State St., Athens, OH 45701.
Olive Louise Smith
Died: Thursday, October 16, 2003
Age: 87
REEDSVILLE - Olive Louise Smith, 87, of Reedsville, died today, Oct. 16, 2003, at Rocksprings Rehabilitation Center, Pomeroy.
Born Dec. 25, 1915, in Nelsonville, she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Ethel Courtny Brickles.
She is survived by a son, Donald Smith, and daughters Barbara Burns and Thelma Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Smith.
Services will be Saturday, 11 a.m., at Fisher Funeral Home, Pomeroy. Burial will be in Beach Grove Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Erle H. Bridgewater
Died: Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Age: 84
CHAUNCEY - Erle H. Bridgewater, 84, died Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003, at his home in Jacksonville, Fla.
Born in Chauncey, Ohio, on March 27, 1919, he was the son of the late Erle Bridgewater Sr. and Ruth Bridgewater.
He completed a degree program at Ohio University in 1939 and then began a law school program at Ohio State University, which was interrupted by World War II. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in June of 1940 and was called to active duty in December of that year. During the war, he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division where he attained the rank of Major. He completed forty-seven parachute jumps, including participation in the Normandy and Holland operations, and was awarded the Bronze Star Metal with oak leaf cluster. He was released from active duty in 1945, at which time he returned to law school, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1946 with the Order of the Coif honor.
While practicing law in Athens for 32 years, ultimately as senior partner in the firm of Bridgewater & Robe, he also served as President of the United Appeal three times, was elected to the Athens City School Board and served for one year as President of the Ohio Bar Association. During this same time, he also served in the Ohio National Guard, organizing the Second Infantry Battalion of the 166th Regimental Combat Team, which he commanded from 1947 until 1958. He was elected President of the Ohio National Guard Association in 1961, and was awarded the Presidential Meritorious Service Medal in 1969. He retired from the National Guard in 1970 with the rank of Brigadier General.
He was active in the Church throughout his life, serving as a Deacon in the Christian Church and assisting several church communities with their building programs. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Rockledge Baptist Church, in Rockledge, Fla.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, the former Virginia A. McQuade; three sons, Erle Stephen Bridgewater, of Orange Park, Fla., Gregory Bridgewater of Pittsburgh, Penn., and Bradley Scott Bridgewater of Littleton, Colo.; two grandsons and one granddaughter; one great-grandson and one great-granddaughter.
A graveside service will be conducted Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, at 11 a.m. at the Osceola Memory Gardens in Kissimmee, Fla., followed by a memorial service at 3 p.m. at the Rockledge Baptist Church, 3420 Murrell Road, Rockledge, FL 32955.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Rockledge Baptist Church.
Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
