USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Ward Davenny
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Ward Davenny, 86, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at his home in New Haven.
He was born July 28, 1916, in Ashtabula.
Mr. Davenny was a pianist, administrator and professor emeritus of piano at the School of Music at Yale University. After retiring, he had remained active, performing, organizing concerts and teaching.
He attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, graduating with a bachelor's degree when he was 17. He studied at Yale University, earning a bachelor's degree in music in 1936 and a master's degree in music in 1937.
After a year's residency at the American Academy in Rome, Italy, he joined the Yale faculty in 1939. He left for a tour of duty in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946.
Mr. Davenny served as the director of the Hartford School of Music until 1954, when he became director of the Cleveland Institute. While there, he performed extensively, including as a member of a piano duo with Arthur Loesser that appeared several times with the Cleveland Orchestra.
He returned to Yale in 1960 as chairman of the piano department. Though he appeared regularly as a recitalist and performed 36 piano concertos, he was particularly known for his work in chamber music, regularly performing at the university and at the Yale Summer School of Music and Art in Norfolk, Conn. Some of the ensembles he performed with there include the Yale, Guarneri, Tokyo, Fine Arts, Muir and Berkshire String Quartets.
After retiring in 1987, Mr. Davenny was a visiting professor at the University of Illinois from 1989 to 1991.
Survivors include daughters Susan D. Wyner of Medford, Mass., and Katherine Davenny of Cedar Grove, Md.; a son Ward L. Davenny of Carlisle, Pa.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Reinhold Knuebel
DELAND, Fla. - Reinhold Knuebel, 96, died Sunday, May 26, 2002, at his home.
Born in Wolcottsville, N.Y., he moved in 1997 to Deland from Ashtabula.
He was the former owner of the Ronnie-Dick Motel, Ashtabula Township, retiring in 1972.
Mr. Knuebel was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church, Deland.
Survivors include two sons, Richard of Deland, and Ronald of Tampa, Fla.; a daughter, Virginia Knuebel; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betsy.
Carpenter-Curry Funeral Home, Deland, Fla., has charge of the arrangements.
Patricia E. Kibbee
HOUSTON, Texas - Patricia E. Kibbee, 65, died Thursday, July 26, 2001, at her home.
Her heart was damaged because of a previous illness she incurred and subsequently caused her death.
She was born May 19, 1936, in Ashtabula, the daughter of E. Leroy and Lois Ellen Tracy Kibbee. She moved to Houston in 1977.
She was a 1954 Ashtabula High School graduate and became a member of the West Ashtabula congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in March 1973. She left her employment at Cabot to take up the full-time pioneer ministry for one year before moving to Houston. In Houston, she worked for the Enron Corp. for 18 years until her retirement. She was then able to devote more time to her ministry, which was first in her life, as a member of the ECST Congregation. She reached out to help many members of her family when in need.
She loved cats, her plants, and was an avid believer in health and nutrition.
Survivors include four brothers, Donald, Kenneth and Randall, all of Florida, and James, of Houston; and three sisters, Bevra Young of Houston, Texas, Betty Trent of Ashtabula and Lois Dubach of Geneva.
She was preceded in death by her father, in 1972; and her mother, in 1984.
Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Monday at the Houston-Freeway Manor Congregation, Houston, Texas. She will be cremated.
The Southpark Funeral Home, Houston, Texas, has charge of the arrangements.
Mollie Safcik
MELBOURNE, Fla. - Mollie Safcik, 87, formerly of Ashtabula, died May 27, 2001, at her home in The Sterling House in Melbourne, Fla.
She was born June 25, 1913, the daughter of Michael and Mary (Kobezda) Profant.
She married Ladiemer Safcik on July 14, 1932.
Prior to moving to Florida, she lived in Ashtabula and Painesville.
Survivors include one daughter, Sylvia Sholtis of Rockledge, Fla.; a son, Robert Safcik of Austinburg; four grandchildren, Scott Safcik, Sandra Ellis, David and Dale Sholtis; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother Sam; and two sisters, Elizabeth Profant and Eleanor Baker.
An Ashtabula service will be held at the first Presbyterian Church, 4317 Park Ave., Ashtabula, at a later date. The Rev. Stephen Long will officiate.
Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, Fla., handled the arrangements.
Jean Elizabeth Stafford
WINTER PARK, Fla. - Jean Elizabeth Stafford, 84, former Ashtabula resident, died Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at Winter Park Vilas Hospice.
She was born Nov. 28, 1916, in Ashtabula, the daughter of Harvey G. and Mary M. (Cowden) Brownlee.
Survivors include two daughters, Brenda Quickel of Longwood, Fla., and Karen Stafford of Winter Springs, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Michael Quickel of Alexandria, Va., and Jill Quickle of Newton, Mass.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Raymond in 1979.
A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Ridgeview Cemetery, Ashtabula Township, with the Rev. Kevin Horrigan of Prospect Presbyterian Church officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to Prospect Presbyterian Church.
Ross-Billman Funeral Home, 526 W. Prospect Road, Ashtabula, is in charge of arrangements.
Grady D. Henton
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Grady D. Henton, 78, died March 23, 2001.
The son of Emmitt and Caroline Henton, Mr. Henton was born Dec. 22, 1922 in Louisville, Miss.
He lived in Ashtabula with his family prior to moving to Rochester. While in Ashtabula, he attended Union Missionary Baptist Church.
Henton was a construction worker. He enjoyed playing checkers, fishing, hunting, baseball, listening to music and repairing automobiles.
Survivors include five sons, Lester D., Dolphus J. and Perkey L. all of Rochester, Randy B. and Ray D. both of Ashtabula; one daughter, Ann J. Johnson of Lyons, N.Y.; one sister, Connie Haynes of Cleveland; 20 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife Areana Coleman Henton; four brothers, Will, Robert, Randolph, and G.B.; two sisters, Georgia Bates and Edna Coleman; and one grandson, Ralik E. Henton.
Services were March 27 at the Calvary Spiritual Church in Rochester.
