USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Willard J. Harris
Died: Saturday, August 23, 2003
Age: 78
Willard J. Harris, 78, of Wilmington, died 7:29 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 23, 2003) at Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, due to complications with chronic leukemia. He is survived by his wife, Delpherine Fay Harris. They were married for 53 years.
Mr. Harris was born Nov. 20, 1924, in Crookston, Neb., son of the late Earl and Caroline Wisenberger Harris. He worked as an operating engineer during his adult life, helping to build many of the major highways in the Midwest. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and the VFW. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and served during World War II.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Kenneth J. Harris of Wilmington; three daughters, Pauline (Thomas) Lorenzetti of Bristol, Conn., Raedine Hartman of Terrace Park and Gaylene (Cortez) Hamilton of Wilmington; a sister, Caroline Wise of Omaha, Neb.; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Randall J. Harris; two brothers, Douglas Harris and Calvin Harris; and two sisters, Frieda LaHaye and Vada Buell.
Services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at REYNOLDS-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 327 N. South St., Wilmington, with burial in Sugar Grove Cemetery, Wilmington, where military honors will be accorded by the American Legion 49 Memorial Squad. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 105 W. Fourth St., Suite 400, Cincinnati, 45202.
Helen M. Kirk
Died: Saturday, August 23, 2003
Age: 88
Helen M. Kirk, 88, formerly of Blanchester, died Saturday (Aug. 23, 2003) at her residence.
She was born Oct. 17, 1914, in Blanchester, daughter of the late Emery and Bertha Moon Kirk. She was a member of the Blanchester Church of Christ.
She is survived by a son, Jack (Lynda) Ertel of Maineville; five grandchildren, Rick Ertel of Blanchester, Jackie Shepherd of Lebanon, Kirk Ertel of Morrow, Christine Barnes of Blanchester and Anette Jackson of Florida; 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Larry Ertel; and a brother, Maynard Kirk.
Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at TUFTS SCHILDMEYER FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 120 W. Main St., Blanchester, Pastor Jim Goebel officiating, with interment in Blanchester I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. For more information,
Fred Raizk
Died: Saturday, August 23, 2003
Age: 89
Fred Raizk, 89, of Wilmington, died Saturday evening (Aug. 23, 2003) at Clinton Memorial Hospital. His wife of 52 years, Wadad Massad Raizk, died in 1992. They were married Aug. 18, 1940, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Mr. Raizk was born Aug. 25, 1913, in Fort Wayne, Ind., one of nine children of the late Isaac and Emmaline Coury Raizk. A 1931 graduate of Wilmington High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from Wilmington College in 1936. He received a master’s degree from Ohio State University and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Wilmington College. He began his teaching and coaching career at Clarksville High School. He also coached at Clossen High School in Oklahoma City, Okla., and Tecumseh High School in Tecumseh, Mich. He returned to his alma mater and, in 1947, began his long and distinguished career as a college coach of six sports (football, basketball, baseball, track, soccer and golf), a health and physical education teacher and athletics administrator. In addition to coaching, Raizk served as Wilmington’s athletic director for 25 years, dean of men and as a member of the college faculty from 1946 through 1990. He was also commissioner of NAIA District 22 and served as president of the Mid Ohio and Hoosier Buckeye conferences. He retired from active coaching - at the age of 86 - of the Wilmington College golf team in 1999.
He served as president of Wilmington City Council and was a candidate for mayor. He was instrumental in establishing and directing the Wilmington City Recreation program. He was a past member of the Wilmington Rotary Club and Wilmington Masonic Lodge. He was a member of Gamma Phi Gamma and St. Anthony’s Episcopal Church.
He is survived by a daughter, Shirley Raizk (Dr. Jon) Ellis; two sons, Frederick I. (Deanna) Raizk and David L. (Mary Ann) Raizk; seven grandchildren, Dr. Bryan J. (Ann) Ellis, Dr. Brett F. (Dr. Suzanne) Ellis, Elizabeth Anne Ellis, Maria (Gary) Steppling, Marlo (Gregg) Trott, Lauren Raizk and Leyla Raizk; four great-grandchildren, Sarah and Sally Steppling, Katie Trott and Isabelle Ellis; a brother, Alexander (Marilyn) Raizk; two sisters, Adele (Robert) King and Yvonne (Phillip) Haynes; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by an uncle, Anton Coury; a brother, Lincoln Raizk; and four sisters, Mary Fulton, Sarah Tabet, Rosie Bond and Libby Simmons.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in the McCoy Room at Kelly Center on the Wilmington College campus. Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the REYNOLDS-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 327 N. South St., Wilmington; and from 10 a.m. until time of the services Wednesday in the McCoy Room. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Fred and Wadad Raizk Memorial Fund, c/o Wilmington College, Pyle Center Box 1313, Wilmington, 45177; or St. Anthony’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 224, Wilmington, 45177.
Jenell Elaine Downing
Died: Saturday, August 23, 2003
Age: 34
Jenell Elaine Downing, 34, of Vandalia, formerly of Wilmington, died unexpectedly Aug. 23, 2003, at Grandview Hospital.
She was born Oct. 10, 1968, at Clinton Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, daughter of John and Jewell Adkins Downing.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by a brother, Jeffrey (Sandy) Downing; and a niece, Nicole.
Mass of Christian Burial was held last Wednesday, and interment was in Sugar Grove Cemetery, Wilmington.
Elouisa Nichols Bailey
Died: Friday, August 22, 2003
Age: 82
Elouisa Nichols Bailey, 82, of Cape May Retirement Village, Wilmington, died 8:50 a.m. Friday (Aug. 22, 2003) at Clinton Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Donald “Bill” Bailey, who died Aug. 5, 2000. They were married July 28, 1939.
Mrs. Bailey was born Sept. 18, 1920, in Wilmington, daughter of the late Corwin C. and Nina Hendrick Nichols. She graduated from Wilmington High School and attended Wilmington College for a year.
She is survived by a son, Jim “Dugan” (Ann) Bailey of San Diego, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Lois Nichols of Cincinnati; two grandchildren, Sarah (Matt) Oberlies of Denver, Colo., and Jennifer (Mike) Bjornstad of San Diego, Calif.; and four great-grandchildren, Bailey Bjornstad, Patrick Bjornstad, John Miller Oberlies and Ann Elouisa Oberlies.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Clinton H. Nichols; a sister, Mary Gerstner; and a brother-in-law, John Gerstner.
Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at REYNOLDS-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 327 N. South St., Wilmington, with burial in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Clinton County, 61 E. Main St., Wilmington, 45177.
Jean E. Kitsmiller Winkle
Died: Thursday, August 21, 2003
Jean E. Kitsmiller Winkle, 82, of Centerville, formerly of Cincinnati, died Thursday (Aug. 21, 2003) at her residence. She is survived by her husband, LaVerne Winkle of Centerville.
Mrs. Winkle was born Sept. 15, 1920, in Calmer, Iowa, daughter of the late Dr. Verle R. Kitsmiller and Dr. Oleen K. Ellingsen Kitsmiller. She was a member of the North College Hill United Methodist Church.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Dr. Roger A. (Lynn) Winkle of Palo Alto, Calif.; two daughters, Pamela S. (Robert) Passmore of Centerville and Deborah J. Powell of Tavares, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Brooke Winkle, Bryce Winkle, Kevin Passmore, Katie Passmore, Kimberly Passmore, Brian Powell and Jennifer Rathmell; and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Carter H. Ashcraft, and a brother, Verle “Duke” Kitsmiller.
Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday at the FISHER-EDGINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 97 W. Locust St., Wilmington, the Rev. Dean Feldmeyer officiating, with burial in the Dayton National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, 45420-1885.
Jessie L. Neanover
Died: Thursday, August 21, 2003
Age: 67
Jessie L. Neanover Sr., 67, of Wilmington, died Thursday (Aug. 21, 2003) as a result of an auto accident.
Mr. Neanover was born Nov. 24, 1935, in Oxford, son of the late Robert S. and Mary Norton Neanover. He was a well known expert heavy equipment operator with Miller Brothers Construction. He also was an avid restorer of antique John Deere tractors. He was a member of the Wilmington Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Sabina Moose Lodge, the Clinton County Antique Power Club and the Greene County Antique Tractor Club.
He is survived by a special friend, Beverly Neanover of Wilmington; three sons, Robert (Kathy) Brannon of Wilmington, Harry T. Neanover of New Vienna, Joe P. (Kathy) Neanover of Sabina; two daughters, Mary L. Neanover (Chuck) Price of Cynthiana, Ky., and Rose M. (Larry) Smedley of Wilmington; his former wife, Phoebe Neanover of Wilmington; three brothers, Virgil Neanover of Sabina, Pat Neanover of Lynchburg and Albert Neanover of Bloomington; a sister, Dorothy Killion of Seymour, Ind.; several grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Jess “Hop” Neanover Jr., and a brother, Harry Frances Neanover.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at FISHER-EDGINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 97 W. Locust St., Wilmington, Pastor Lawrence E. Barker officiating, with burial in New Antioch Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Helen Elizabeth Haines Neffner
Died: Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Age: 97
Helen Elizabeth Haines Neffner, 97, formerly of Delray Beach, Fla., died Tuesday (Aug. 19, 2003). She was preceded in death by her husband, George M. Neffner Jr. They were married for 69 years.
Mrs. Neffner was born in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington College.
She is survived by three daughters, Ann (Lars) Karlstrom, Mary Neffner and Virginia (Michael) Misch; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in New Vienna. Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Pleasant Retirement Village in Monroe or to Wilmington College. Arrangements are under the direction of BREITENBACH-McCOY-LEFFLER FUNERAL HOME, Middletown.
