USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Charles Grapes
Charles Raymond Grapes, 81, Sunbury, died Saturday (Jan. 22, 2000) at Sunbury Nursing Home.
A graduate of West Virginia University with a bachelor's in pharmacy, he retired after 20 years of service as a pharmacist and manager with Walgreens. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the United States Army in five campaigns: Normandy, northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Air Offensive Europe. He was a member of Maize Road Baptist Church; Pythagoras Lodge No. 128 in Parson, W.Va.; Wheeling Chapter No. 1 RAM; and Knights of Templar.
Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Norma; a daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Ken Bierkortte; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles R. and Diana Grapes; a brother, Robert W. Grapes; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Naomi Christine Phillips and Dorothy A. Talbott.
Calling hours were held at Schoedinger North Chapel, Columbus. Funeral services were held with the Rev. John Kirby officiating. Interment was in Union Cemetery.
Mary C. Gray
Mary C. Gray, 93, of Sunbury, died Thursday (April 23,1998) at Morning View Care Center, Sunbury, following an extended illness.
She was born Dec. 14, 1904, in St. Louis to the late George H. and Mary (Bockhaus) Mathis. She had worked in retail slaes at the Sixs-Baers-Fuller Department Store, and was active in the St. Louis Republican Party. She came to Ohio in 1986.
She is survived by daughters Pat Fletcher of Millersburg and Marilyn Hiltner of Kansas City, Mo.; son and daughter-in-law Dennis and Betty Gray of St. Louis; 19 grandchildren, including Daivd Fletcher of Wooster, Linda Chapman of Centerburg, Tony Fletcher of Orrville, Kimberly Clark of Greentown, and Steven Fletcher and Diana Kirkpatrick of Millersburg; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Gray, in 1954; a son, James; daughter Betty; brothers Alexander and William; and four step-sisters.
Funeral services were at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Sunbury. Interment was in New St. Marcus Cemetery, St. Louis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 3380 Tremont Road, Columbus OH 43221.
Theodore Gray
Theodore B. Gray. 69, Sunbury, died unexpectedly Thursday (April 13, 2000) while working on his farm in Sunbury. Arrangements are pending with DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home.
Lt. Col. William Gregg
Lt. Col. William E. Gregg, 84, Nashville, Tenn., died Friday (May 29, 1999).
He was born and raised near Sunbury and retired from the U.S. Air Force after flying 20,000 hours. He was a distinguished pilot for numerous generals and was the pilot for General MacArthur aboard the "Bataan" to the meeting with President Truman, where MacArthur was relieved of his command.
He is survived by his wife Bonnie; son, Mike; daughter, Mary Anne; brother and sister-in-law, Milton and Virginia Gregg, formerly of Sunbury and now of Bradenton, Fla.; nephews, Ted and Bob Gregg; and a niece, Marilyn DeFranco.
Arrangements were handled by Mount Olivet Funeral Home and Cemetery, Nashville, Tenn.
Pearl V. Green
Pearl V. Green, 91, Croton, died Sunday, April 22, 2001, at her residence. Green was born May 25, 1909 in Paynesville, West Virginia to the late David and Cosby Lester Vance.
She was a member of Croton Church of Christ and Seventh Day Adventist Church, Gahanna.
Green is survived by 15 children, Donna Green and Rick (Marion) Green of Croton, Wanda Green and Pam (Dick) Evener of Johnstown, John (Terry) Green of Alexandria, Anna Jean Searles of Bolivar, Tennessee, Sandy (Rich) Moore and Beverly (Randy) Weekly of Hebron, Joyce Evener of Westerville, Beulah Marie (Jim) Stewart) of Galena, Audrey Seymour Horn, Norma Harper, Helen Clark and Carol (John) Martin of Columbus and Pastor Ben (Naomi) Green of Walla Walla, Washington.
She is also survived by 36 grandchildren, Joe Evener , Ernie Seymour, Larry Seymour, Karen Clark, Cindy Thomas, Benita Wright, Bonnie Werth, Gina Mitchell, Bobbi Miller, Dave Stewart, Bob Stewart, Kathy Herald, Jim Stewart, Jeff Stewart, Vicki Williams, Debbie Carmack, Paul Harper, Jim Harper, Lisa Clark, Larry Searles, Susan Lavine, Wanda Searles, Dave Evener, Kelly Tutorow, Paul Maisenbacher Jr., Lori Davis, Kevin Moore, Angie Skinner, Kim Iuvara, Kelsy Gazer, Rick Green, Ryan Green, Jason Green, Jarod Green and Jeremy and Kyle Weekly; 52 great-grandchildren; 28 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Fred N. Green ,who died December 23, 1967, and Arthur Horn, who died May 5, 1926; one granddaughter, Ruth Ann Cumbow; one great-grandson, Danny Blesedell Jr.; one great-great grandson, Joshua Berry; and by brothers and sisters, Louise Steele, Elizabeth Wyatt, Magdelene York, Oma Keene, Linnie Mullins, Daniel, Floyd, Tilda, Dave, Nanny, Harrison, Alexander, Steward, William, Wade, Columbus, Lewis and Jim Wyatt Vance.
Visitations were at Crouse-Kauber-Sammons Funeral Home, Johnstown, and at Alexandria Baptist Church, Alexandria where services were held with the Rev. Mickey McManus officiating. Interment was in Maple Wood Cemetery, New Albany.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Licking County Aging Program, Inc., 745 East Main Street, Newark Ohio (43055); Hospice of Central Ohio, 1435-B West Main Street, Newark, Ohio (43055-9630); or to the Hartford Volunteer Fire Department, 2 North High Street, Croton, Ohio (43013).
Kurt W. Griffin
Kurt W. Griffin, 46, died Wednesday, January 2, 2002, at Edgewood Manor of Westerville. Kurt went to his rest after a nine-year struggle to overcome complications from an accident suffered in 1992.
Kurt graduated from Westerville South High School in 1973. He was employed by Griffin Insurance Agency of Dublin.
He is survived by his parents, Bill and Wilma Griffin of Westerville; two brothers, Mark (Bridget) of Bristol, Indiana, and Bart (Daphne) of Columbus; one sister, Lori Lyon of Sunbury; and by several nieces and nephews who loved their "Uncle Kurt."
Kurt was a member of Central College Presbyterian Church and a member of the "Sons of the American Legion" which he helped establish at Post 239 in Worthington.
Memorial services were held Saturday, January 5, 2002 at the Central College Presbyterian Church Chapel, Westerville with Dr. Richard Ellsworth officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation, 50 Morris Avenue, Springfield, New Jersey 07081.
Arrangements were by the Moreland Funeral Home, Westerville.
C. Neilson Griffith
C. Neilson Griffith, 83, of Sunbury, died Monday (Aug. 28, 2000) at the Forum in Columbus.
He was born Sept. 18, 1916, in Berlin Township, to Mary Harter (Neilson) Griffith and Floyd Griffith. A Berlin High School alumnus, he graduated from Ohio State University in 1938 with a bachelor of science in agricultural education. He was a recipient of the OSU College of Agriculture Centennial Award for Distinguished Service and a Centennial Award from the OSU Department of Agricultural Education. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity, Gamma Sigma Delta honorary agriculture society and Kappa Kappa Psi honorary music fraternity.
He retired in 1981 as vice president of the Landmark Farmers Cooperative in Columbus. During his 23 years with the organization, he made nearly 1,600 speeches, heard by thousands of people. Mr. Griffith was assistant to the Ohio Director of Agriculture from 1955-56. He received the Cooperative Educational Award from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation of America, an honorary Farmers Degree from the Future Farmers of America and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster Award.
He was an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Delaware, belonged to the Ohio State University Presidents Club, OSU Alumni Association, Delaware Rotary Club, and the Benjamin Franklin Chapter SAR. Mr. Griffith served on the Fidelity Federal Savings and Loan association board of directors.
Mr. Griffith's Masonic honors included the Legion of Honor of the DeMolay and the coveted Honorary 33rd degree of the Supreme Council Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He was elected Most Illustrious Grand Master, Royal and Select Masons of Ohio. He was past master of Hiram Lodge No. 18 F&AM; Delaware chapter 54 RAM; past master of the Sidney Moore Council No. 84; and member of the Marion Commandry No. 36, George L. Behrens No. 504 Eastern Star, and Aladdin Shrine Temple. He was grand master of the Grand Council of Ohio 1970-1971, and past commander-in-chief of the Scioto Consistory, Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus, and Red Cross of Constantine.
In 1994, he received the Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International through the local Rotary Club for humanitarian efforts. In September 1999, he received a Hiram Masonic Lodge Community Recognition Award.
Mr. Griffith is survived by his wife of 61 years, Geraldine M. Griffith; three daughters and sons-in-law, Claudia and Jay McDaniel of Milford, Debbie and Tom Albright of Westerville and Georgia and Van Shirey of Powell; six grandchildren; a sister, Pauline Marty of Cincinnati; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Floyd.
Visiting hours were at Robinson Funeral Home, where a Masonic service were held. Funeral services were at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Paul Randall officiating. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Ohio Parkinsons Association, Redding Road, Columbus; the United Parkinson Foundation, 360 W. Superior St., Chicago 60610; or First Presbyterian Church, 73 W. Winter St., Delaware 43015.
Donovan D. Griffith
Donovan D. Griffith, 67, Sunbury, died Sunday (April 29, 2001) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, Illinois following a two-year illness.
He was born on August 12, 1933 in Marshallville, Ohio to Karl and Roberta (Williams) Griffith. He lived in Marion for 20 years before moving to the Sunbury area in 1991. Donovan was the plant manager for the former Marion Power Shovel and Marion Dresser Company.
He was a member of the Sunbury United Methodist Church, past president and charter member of the Sertoma Club, member of American Foundryman Society and a sponsor for Marion Junior Achievement.
Donovan was an avid golfer who enjoyed the outdoors, wildlife, bird watching, wood carving and collecting duck decoys.
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Louise (Smucker) Griffith; two sons, Michael (Renee) Griffith of Westerville and Daniel (Brenda) Griffith of Sunbury; a daughter, Kelly (David) Hensel of Pickerington; six grandchildren; his mother, Roberta Griffith of Orrville; a brother, Max Griffith of Marshallville; and two sisters, Bertie L. Beliczky of Wickliffe and Karla Hershberger of Wooster.
Donovan was preceded in death by his father, Karl Griffith.
Funeral services were held at Sunbury United Methodist Church with the Reverend Brian Smith officiating. Visitation was one hour prior to the services. Graveside committal services was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Orrville.
Arrangements were in care of DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Frances E. Griffith
Frances E. Griffith, 83, Marengo, died Saturday evening, Dec. 24, 2000 in the Extended Care Unit of Morrow County Hospital.
She was born on Dec. 12, 1917 in Richlands, Va. to the late C.T. and Marie (Blankenship) Underwood. The homemaker moved to the Sparta/Marengo area in 1950.
Griffith is survived by sons Fred (Geneva) Griffith and James T. (Connie) Griffith of Marengo; four grandchildren Julie Long, James A. and Jon Griffith and Justina Keckler; great-grandchildren Danny and Ashley Long, But Allen Hamilton, Cassandra Griffith and Rachel Keckler.
She was preceded in death by her husband Herman Griffith in 1978, a son Robert H. Griffith in 1941, brothers Carson T. and Gordon Underwood; and by sisters Ercille Hall and Irene Anderson.
Visitation was at DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home, Marengo, where services followed with the Elder Durward Edwards officiating.
Graveside services were held at the Hankins Cemetery, Richlands, Va.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Extended Care Unit of Morrow County Hospital.
Glenn Harold "Griff" Griffith
Glenn Howard "Griff" Griffith, 83, died Thursday, July 26, 2001 at Riverside Hospital's Kobacker House following an extended illness.
Griffith, who was born May 17, 1918 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Education in 1940 and a Masters Degree in Agriculture in 1946 from The Ohio State University.
He began his teaching career in Central Ohio, which spanned 10 years, in various communities, including Bloom-Carroll, Harlem, Johnstown, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, Sunbury and Westerville where he taught until his retirement in 1973.
Griffith is survived by his wife, Ruth, of the home; three daughters, Harriett Ann Deamer (Dr. Richard) of Ventura, California, Rhoda Kay Hall (Ken) of Woodbridge, Virginia, Mary Lee Irwin (Mike) of Kingwood, Texas; a stepdaughter, Pamela Zimmerman Presley; a daughter-in-law, Diana Westfall (Mike); a stepson, Mike Zimmerman (Eileen); 10 grandchildren, Krista Hall Dawson (Jerry), Kellie Deamer, Glenn Hall (Cathy), Julie Deamer (Euen Macdonald), Mindy Griffith (Jason Urban), Gary Hall (Laura), Laura Kettell (Andrew), Heidi Thomas, Jessica Lee Irwin and Matthew Irwin; two great-grandchildren, Rachael Ann Dawson and Drew Dawson; a sister, LaVerne Griffith Roberts; a brother-in-law, Dr. James McOwen; two nieces, Dr. Janice Spagnola (Dr. Nick) and Amy Roberts Miller; a nephew, Scott Roberts; four grandnieces, Rhiannon Roberts, Hanna Roberts, Amanda Miller and Madelyn Miller; step-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Mabel (McOwen) Griffith; a son, Lowell Griffith; and his parents, Rhoda and Austin Griffith.
Griffith was a past president and an active member of the Westerville Lions Club and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Westerville where he served as Head of Session, Elder and Deacon. He was a member of American Legion Post #171.
Visitation was at Hill Funeral Home, Westerville, and Sat the First Presbyterian Church, Westerville, where services were held with the Reverend Mark Gauen officiating. Interment was in Blendon Central Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to the McOwen-Griffith Scholarship Fund at the First Presbyterian Church and the Westerville Lions Club.
