USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Gordon "Buddy" Blaine Cordell
Died: Monday, January 12, 2004
Age: 69
Gordon Blaine “Buddy” Cordell, 69, died Monday (Jan. 12, 2004) at the University of Cincinnati Hospital after being ill for five years. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Mary E. Medley Cordell. They were united in holy matrimony Nov. 10, 1953, and celebrated their 50th anniversary last November.
Mr. Cordell was born Dec. 26, 1934, in Dayton, son of the late Earl and Armina Cordell. He moved to Wilmington in October 1947 and graduated in 1953 from Wilmington High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged. He retired from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and in 1970 he began working for Lebanon Correctional Institution. He went through the ranks and became the first black captain at the institution. While at Lebanon Correctional Institution, he touched many people’s lives, impacting most for the good. He retired in 1998. He was a member of the Christian Science Society of Hillsboro, and after his illness in 1998, he attended Solid Rock Church in Monroe and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He received a Mason degree in 1961 from United 115 Prince Hall, and received a 32nd Mason degree from Miami Consistory in Troy. He was a member of Amer 107 Shrine in Dayton. He attended the Carnegie Institute and earned a degree as a lab and X-ray technician. He received an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Wilmington College and Hocking Technical. He attended the Springfield School of Business and received an associate’s degree in accounting and business administration. He was a board member of the Clinton County YMCA. He was an avid swimmer, and in 1997 received a plaque from the YMCA for swimming 4,000 miles. He also enjoyed sports and faithfully followed his daughters to their softball games. He was a people person who was very outspoken and often times was blunt. He was not concerned if people did or did not agree with what he said as long as they knew what he meant. He was a giving person, and if anyone needed something and he had it, he would give it, even though the person may have had to endure a fussing first (smile). He was an excellent writer, with the penmanship to match. He loved his family and was always trying to make things better for them. His family will cherish his memory.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Leticia E. (Dennis) Thomas of Middletown and Sheila E. Cordell of Wilmington; two brothers, Hubert (LeGene) Cordell of Wilmington and Macey (Linda) Cordell of Jeffersonville; four grandsons, Gregory Williams Jr., Aaron (Terri) Cordell of Columbus, Gordon (Sherri Cordell III of Cuba and Cameron Cordell of Columbus; a stepgranddaughter, Monae Berry of Middletown; nine great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Gordon Blaine Jr. and Don O’Neal Cordell; a sister, Bonnie E. Burns; a brother, Don O’Neal; and a loving grandmother, Auroa Williams.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday at REYNOLDS-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 327 N. South St., Wilmington. Arrangements are under the direction of HALL-JORDAN & PRETTY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 918 S. Main St. Middletown.
Juanita Simmons
Died: Monday, January 12, 2004
Age: 86
Juanita Simmons, 86, of Wilmington, died Monday (Jan. 12, 2004) at Clinton Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Lee Simmons, who died in 1975.
Mrs. Simmons was born March 6, 1917, in Pike County, daughter of the late George Jacob and Osa Ann Cooper Stevenson. She was a member of the Bible Baptist Church of Wilmington.
She is survived by two daughters, Nancy (Jack) Cowgill of Hillsboro and Charlotte (Bill) Abrams of Blanchester; three sons, James (Sharon) Simmons of Pricetown, Ronald Simmons of Xenia and John (Beverly) Simmons of Amelia; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Lawrence Stevenson; and four sisters, Laverna Rittenhouse, Dorothy Brown, Maxine Edwards and Ruth Malott.
Services will be held 2 p.m. Friday at FISHER-EDGINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 97 W. Locust St., Wilmington, Pastor Kelly D. McInerney officiating, with burial in White Oak Grove Cemetery, Buena Vista. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Bonnie Novak
Died: Sunday, January 11, 2004
Age: 54
Bonnie Novak, 54, of New Vienna, died 3:40 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 11, 2004) at her residence.
She was born Sept. 29, 1949, in Elyria, daughter of the late Raymond Curtis and Phyllis Pearl Stanberry Kemp. She was a member of the Cuba Friends Meeting.
She is survived by a son, Matt Novak of New Vienna; and her stepmother, Phyllis Kemp of Carthage, N.Y.
Her family will host an open house to remember her from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at her residence in New Vienna. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 5378 A Cox-Smith Road, Mason, 45040. Arrangements are under the direction of L. EUGENE SMITH & SON FUNERAL HOME, 64 S. South St., New Vienna.
Charles "Chuck" E. Jones
Died: Saturday, January 10, 2004
Age: 47
Charles “Chuck” E. Jones, 47, of Waynesville, died Saturday (Jan. 10, 2004). He is survived by his significant other, Rebecca Piercy of Fayetteville.
He was born a son of Kathryn Jones of Waynesville and the late Harry Jones. He was an employee of Red Bank Trucking and a member of the Bethany Baptist Church in Clarksville. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
In addition to his significant other and mother, he is survived by three brothers, John (Dana) Jones of Wilmington, Elmer Jones of Carlisle and Tom Jones of Xenia; seven sisters, Judy (Stan) Harris of Tennessee, Mary (Wayne) Kendall of Wilmington, Pat (Bob) Smith of Piqua, Wanda (Wayne) Budwine of New Mexico, Sarah (Bill) Mathews of Sabina, Liz (Allen) Dock of Piqua and Doris (Dennis) Bohn of Waynesville; three special nephews, Charles Bohn and Josh and Jake Jones; and special friends, Pat and Quinton Kidwell.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Jones.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at STUBBS-CONNER FUNERAL HOME, 185 N. Main St., Waynesville, Pastor Tommy Chattin officiating, with burial in Plainview Cemetery, Goshen. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Society for Handicaps, Carlisle, or to the Bethany Baptist Church, Clarksville.
Vernon L. Lee
Died: Saturday, January 10, 2004
Age: 71
Vernon L. Lee, 71, of Lynchburg, died Saturday evening (Jan. 10, 2004) at his residence. He is survived by his wife, Madonna L. Younker Lee. They were married March 3, 1961, in Spring Valley.
Mr. Lee was born Feb. 8, 1932, in Piqua, son of the late Earl and Levina Chaney Lee. He was a retired interior-exterior painting subcontractor. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War with the 82nd Airborne.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Tim Lee of Columbus; twin daughters, Jerry Lee of Cincinnati and Sherry Maquire of Nevada; a grandson, Brandon Maguire of Nevada; a brother, Stanley Lee of Arizona; a sister, Shirley Hampton of Lake Tahoe, Nev.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Loretta, and a brother, Robert Lee.
Services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at DAVIS-TURNER FUNERAL HOME, 201 Broadway St., Lynchburg, Robert Coyle officiating, with burial in Hillsboro Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the Highland County Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Reta Mae Minzler Cochran
Died: Saturday, January 10, 2004
Age: 79
Reta Mae Minzler Cochran, 79, of 352 Johnson St., Lot 29, Hillsboro, formerly of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday (Jan. 10, 2004) at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile crash in Highland County. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl H. Cochran, who died in 1993. They were married Feb. 22, 1946.
Mrs. Cochran was born Sept. 20, 1924, in Clinton County, daughter of the late Andy and Minnie Cassidy Minzler. She was a retired office manager for Century 21 in Florida and currently was working for Marvin Wilson Real Estate in Hillsboro. She was a very active member of the Hillsboro Church of Christ and was a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association. She graduated in 1942 from Wilmington High School.
She is survived by two brothers, Raymond C. (Phyllis) Minzler of New Vienna and Oris (Dottie) Minzler of Hillsboro; a sister, Betty Lee Henthorn of Sabina; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Dale Minzler and Henry Minzler; and two sisters, Rose Ellen Young and Mary Ruth Young.
Services will be held 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at L. EUGENE SMITH & SON FUNERAL HOME, 64 S. South St., New Vienna, David Stokes officiating, with burial in Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Port Charlotte, Fla. Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hillsboro Church of Christ, 155 W. Walnut St., Hillsboro, 45133, or to the Murdock Christian Church, 17500 Elmwood Ave., Port Charlotte, Fla. 33948.
Robert "Bob" E. McFadden
Died: Saturday, January 10, 2004
Robert E. “Bob” McFadden, 80, of 328 Woodsview Drive, Jeffersonville, died 10:04 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 10, 2004) at his residence. His wife, Grace C. Potts McFadden, survives. They were married March 12, 1954.
Mr. McFadden was born June 27, 1923 in Fayette County, the fourth son of the late John Newcomb and Eva Blanche Cockerill McFadden. He was a lifelong resident of Fayette County. He was a graduate of Leesburg High School and attended The Ohio State University until joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he was a farmer, controller for several businesses, a tax preparer and bookkeeper. He was a member of the Grave United Methodist Church where he was an usher, Sunday school teacher and served on the church council. He was a member of the Fayette Lodge F&AM 107 for more than 50 years, a former clerk for Perry Township, was active in the National Farmers Organization, Grange, 4-H and AFS.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, David E. McFadden; two daughters, Anita Fennig of Gilbert, Ariz. and MaryBeth (Michael) Slocum of Jeffersonville; and three grandchildren, Matthew Fennig of Chandler, Ariz., and Lindsey and John Michael Slocum of Jeffersonville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons; Robert E. McFadden II in 1955 and Michael Dale McFadden in 1983; and three brothers.
Services will be conducted 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Grace United Methodist Church, 301 E. Market St., Washington Court House, the Rev. Dr. Wayne O. Clark and the Rev. Ronald Dodds officiating, with burial in the Cochran Cemetery in Fayette County. The Rev. Clark is pastor at the Grace United Methodist Church while the Rev. Dodds is pastor at Jeffersonville United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a Masonic service open to the public at 8 p.m. at the KIRKPATRICK FUNERAL HOME, 554 Washington Ave., Washington Court House. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, 301 E. Market St., Washington Court House, 43160; the Jeffersonville United Methodist Church, 13 E. High St., Jeffersonville, 43128; or Hospice of Fayette County, P.O. Box 849, Washington Court House, 43160.
Phyllis J. Barrett Bales
Died: Saturday, January 10, 2004
Age: 71
Phyllis J. Barrett Bales, 71, of Greenfield, formerly of Leesburg, died 1 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 10, 2004) at the Greenfield Area Medical Center, Greenfield. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roscoe Bales, on March 17, 2000.
Mrs. Bales was born Sept. 3, 1932 in Highland County, daughter of the late Benjamin L. and Bessie M. Wright Barrett. She was a graduate of McClain High School in 1950 and was a former employee of Candle-Lite Corp. of Leesburg for 21 years.
She is survived by four sons, Michael (Linda) Bales of New Vienna, David Bales of Hillsboro, Daniel (Ellen) Bales of Hillsboro and Roger (Diana) Bales of Lynchburg; three daughters, Rebecca (Stephen) Baldwin of Leesburg, Lisa (Ancel) Hines of Wilmington and Vicki (Mark) Free of Greenfield; three sisters, Dorothy Lucas of Leesburg, Janice (Gene) Morrow of Leesburg and Joyce (Doug) Prichard of Marion; two sisters-in-law, Geneva Chrisman of Leesburg and Helen Bales of Springfield; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Janelle Free; a sister, Eleanor Barrett; and six brothers-in-law.
Services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at MURRAY-FETTRO FUNERAL HOME, 380 Jefferson St., Greenfield, with burial following in Hardin’s Creek (Bridges) Cemetery, Leesburg, Pastor Tony Tompkins officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to Hardin’s Creek Friend’s Meeting, c/o Ann Campbell, 10484 Hardin’s Creek Road, Leesburg, 45135, or Hearth & Care at Greenfield, 238 S. Washington St., Greenfield, 45123.
