Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Carol Jean Reffert
Died: Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Age: 70
Carol jean Reffert, age 70 of Fairborn passed away Tuesday October 7, 2z003 in Dayspring Health Care Center. She was born December 5, 1932 in Ashland, Ohio the daughter of Harry and Jean (Potter) Ewing.
Carol served her country for 4 years in the U.S. Air Force and she retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base after 32 years of faithful service. She was a member of the Friends of Air Force Museum and was a dedicated volunteer at the museum since 1998.
She is survived by two daughters, Laura Wilson of Dayton, Ohio and Jane Reffert and Garry Adkins of Dayton, Ohio, a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Pat Ewing of Ashland, Ohio, two grandchildren, Jason Vaughen and his wife Erika of Fairborn, Carrie Pence and her husband Chris Newman of Fairborn, two great-grandchildren, Chase Vaughen and Lucas Newman, three nephews, Jeff Ewing, Craig Ewing and Scott Ewing. She was preceded in death by her parents, a grandson, Robert John Edie, a brother, William Ewing and his wife Elizabeth Ewing and their son Tim Ewing. No visitation will be observed. Graveside services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Byron Cemetery.
The family is being served by Burcham Funeral Home, 119 E. Main St., Fairborn, OH. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Carol’s memory may be made to the Air Force Museum Foundation, PO Box 33624, WPAFB, OH., 45433.
Alton Davenport
Died: Monday, October 06, 2003
Age: 88
Alton Alexander "Snook" Davenport, 88, of Wilberforce, passed away on Monday, Oct. 6, 2003, at Greene Memorial Hospital. He was born April 3, 1915, in Birmingham, Ala., the son of Alton and Beatrice (Hart) Davenport.
Mr. Davenport served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a dedicated teacher and band director in Tuskegee, Ala., and Texas College.
He then moved to Xenia in 1958 where he continued his teaching and directing at Central State University, then for Xenia City Schools from which he retired. He was a supportive member of Christ Episcopal Church in Xenia and was involved in the Omega Psi Phy Fraternity and the Xenia Kiwanis.
"Snookie" was a noted jazz musician playing all around the country and was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame. He was a kind, loving man who was considerate to everyone he came into contact with and would without hesitation go the extra mile.
Although he had no children of his own, he was a devoted family man, opening his home often to extended family members. He will always be remembered for his unwavering devotion to his wife, Pinkie, whom he married
in July 1942, and up until her passing in 1997 he remained focused on her and her well-being.
He is survived by many cousins, aunts, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Pinkie Davenport.
A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 10, at 11:30 a.m. at McColaugh Funeral Home, 826 N. Detroit St., Xenia. The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Valley View Memorial Garden, Xenia.
Marsha J. Hieber
Died: Saturday, July 26, 2003
Age: 66
Marsha J. Hieber, 66, of Kettering, formerly of Bellbrook, passed away suddenly Saturday July 26, 2003 at her home.
She was a 1955 graduate of Central High School, Xenia.
Marsha attended Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Wright State University and graduated from Ohio State University in 1987 where she earned her Masters Degree in Social Work.
Marsha was a licensed social worker at Miami Valley Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital.
She retired in October 2002 from Miami Valley Hospital.
Preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Hilma Strome, her first husband, Owen J. "Jerry" McPherson.
Marsha is survived by her beloved son, Mark A. McPherson of Daytona Beach, FL; beloved daughter, Beth Anne Owens; and special friend, Thomas A. Misenko of Bellbrook; former husband, Raymond Hieber of Bellbrook; step-son, Officer Jeffrey C. Hieber of Dayton; two step-daughters, Karen A. Rase and her husband, Jeffrey of Dayton, Pia L. Heiber-Hall and her husband, Dave of North Carolina; nine special and beloved grandchildren, Rachel, Matt, Connor, Katie, Joey, Abby, Aiden, Kelly, and Kristopher; sister, Dolores Strous and her husband, Richard of Xenia; special niece, Nancy Wellman; nephews, Rick Strous and Tom and Angela Strous and their families; beloved cousins, Joe and Bonnita Cibere of Thousand Oaks, CA and John Cibere of Seattle, WA; long-time friend, Marcia Grace of Cincinnati; and many other close and special friends.
The family will receive friends from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday July 30 at Tobias-Conner & Koch Funeral Home, 92 W. Franklin St. (S.R. 725), Bellbrook.
Memorial services will follow at 6 p.m.
Interment in Woodland Cemetery, Dayton.
In lieu of flowers, Marsha had asked that those who would wish, to plant a tree in her memory, or contribute to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help a child have a memorable special event.
Marsha was a very special person and will be sorely missed by her beloved family and many friends.
Lotus A. Harner
Died: Saturday, July 26, 2003
Age: 898
Harner, Lotus A. (Ashworth), age 89, of Englewood, passed away July 26, 2003. She was preceded in death by husbands, Haffelt Gillingham, John Harner, and her son, Richard Gillingham. She is survived by her beloved Bunny, grandson, Brian Gillingham and family, daughter-in-law, Judy Gillingham, four sisters and one brother. Lotus was a member of Oldtown Methodist Church and worked as a nurse manager at GM for more than 35 years. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at Valleyview Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at Newcomer Farley Funeral Home, 3940 Kettering Blvd., Kettering, OH.
Darrell E. Yerian
Died: Saturday, July 26, 2003
Age: 53
Yerian, Darrell E., age 53, of Beavercreek, went to be with his Lord and friend Saturday, July 26, 2003, at his residence.
Darrell was born on June 24, 1950, in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to Edward and Betty Jean (Hilderbrand) Yerian.
He was a member of the Hillsboro Church of God and retired after 25 years with the Dayton Power and Light Company.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Joseph Yerian.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Wanda; three children, Tracey Yerian-Hacker and her husband, Brian, of Fairborn, Brad and his wife, Chris, of Leesburg, Ohio, and Jessica Mills of W. Carrollton; six grandchildren Mackenzi, Mikaela, Ashley, Austin, and Alyssa Yerian and Taylor Hacker; three sisters, Barbara Crase, Joy Barney and Sandra Yerian; and a brother, Larry Yerian.
Funeral service 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at the Tobias Funeral Home - Beavercreek Chapel, 3970 Dayton-Xenia Rd. Pastor John Maggard officiating. Interment Valley View Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at the funeral home.
Darrell’s greatest loves in life were hunting, fishing, family, and serving Jesus Christ his Savior.
Loretta Faye Funk Abell
Died: Saturday, July 26, 2003
Age: 53
Loretta Faye Funk Abell, 53, of Xenia, passed away Saturday morning at Kettering Medical Center.
She was born in Fort Gay, WV, the daughter of Bill and Opal Marie (Lyons) Stevens.
She is survived by her father Bill Stevens of Miamisburg, husband Donny Abell, daughter Tammy (Chet) Lemaster and son Billy Ballard, all of Xenia, son Claude M. Funk and fiancee Jenny Nickelson of Blue Ash, three grandchildren, Dustin and Brett Shull and Zachary Darner; sisters, Barbara Kolb of Kettering, Bonnie Halstead of London, Brenda Wallace of Xenia, Teresa (Joe) Forinash of Xenia, sister-in-law Charlotte Stevens of Kettering, brother-in-law James (Tina) Abell of Xenia and several nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother Opal Lyons Stevens and a brother William Stevens.
Services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Powers Funeral Home in Jamestown, where friends may call Tuesday from 5 until 8 p.m.
Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bowersville.
Frances M. Bradley
Died: Saturday, July 26, 2003
Age: 94
Frances M. Bradley, of Xenia, passed away Saturday morning at the Greene Oaks Health Center in Xenia, 10 days shy of her 95th birthday. She was born August 7, 1908, at the family home on Monroe Street in Xenia, the daughter of George L. and Mary (Patterson) Bradley.
Miss Bradley graduated from Cedarville College in 1930 and began a teaching career that would span the next 62 years. She taught for years at Spring Hill Elementary School in Xenia and concluded her vocation at Faith Community United Methodist Pre-School. She recently was honored with a standing ovation at the Faith Community United Methodist Church as the member with longest membership, 84 years. Her grandparents were charter members of the Trinity Methodist Church in Xenia. She began teaching Sunday School at the age of 17, was Superintendent of the Children’s Department, on the official board and the building committee; organized Daily Vacation Bible School and was its administrator; was a member of Senior Focus, the Historical Society, the UVS, where she was a Maggie Award winner; the 4-H Club for 14 years, the Greene Memorial Auxiliary Volunteers, the Greene County and Ohio Teacher’s Assoc., active with PTA’s and Mother’s Groups, did home tutoring, worked with Head Start and the 7th grade remedial reading. In her spare time, she loved her flower gardens.
She is survived by a sister, Ruth Bradley Dunn of Dearborn, MI; nieces and nephews, Carol Voss, and Michael (Patricia) Griffith, Cincinnati, Ronald (Marjorie) Griffith, Knoxville, TN, William B. (Judy) Dunn, Troy, MI, Marilyn (Wm) Dunn, Chicago, IL. A cousin, Louise Hutchison, Xenia, many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters and brothers-in-law, Esther and Robert Griffith, Ernest Dunn, Lois and John Newell and a sister and brother in infancy.
A private funeral service at McColaugh Funeral Home, 826 N. Detroit St., Xenia, will be held at the convenience of her family with Rev. Robert McDowell officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery. A public Memorial Service will be held at a later date at the Faith Community United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the church, 100 Country Club Drive to go toward a memorial flower garden that will be constructed in her honor.
