Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Charles Coit Conner
Died: Saturday, July 26, 2003
Age: 72
Charles Coit Conner, age 72, of Midland, died Saturday, July 26, 2003, at his residence. He was born January 17, 1931, in Midland, the son of the late Lester and Kathryn Cramer Conner. He was formerly employed by the 7-UP Bottling Company in Cincinnati; a member of the Midland Methodist Church, a veteran of the United States Army, a member of the Blanchester American Legion Post #179, was currently serving as a Jefferson Township Trustee in Clinton County. He is survived by his wife Charlotte Ann (Baker) Conner; his children, Tammie Kessinger of Fayetville, Steve (Marsha) Conner of Jamestown, allan (Gail) Conner of Washington C.H., Susan Williams of Yellow Springs, and Timothy (Becky) Conner of New Vienna; his brother George (Minnie) Conner of Midland; his sisters Joyce (Jim) Walker of Wilmington and Sara (Lou) Cunningham of Toboso, OH; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at the Westboro Cemetery. The Rev. Paul Crisp will officiate. There will be no visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Clinton County, 61 E. Main St, Wilmington, OH, 45177. The Davis-Turner Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is serving the family.
George J. Wedekind
Died: Friday, July 25, 2003
George J. ("JR") Wedekind Jr. died Friday at his home in Fairborn.
He was the founder, director and executive director of the Dayton Air Fair from 1986 to 1994, now called the Dayton Air Show.
Born in Hamilton in 1923, JR and his family moved to Middletown in 1925, where his father had started the Middletown Municipal Airport, which became Hook Field in 1949.
He soloed at the age of 17 while a junior in high school, having been taught to fly by A. L. Ueltschi, who worked for JR’s father.
JR enrolled in Miami University of Oxford while also enlisting in the Army Air Corps Reserve in 1942. He continued his flying career, receiving a Commercial Pilot Certificate and Instructor rating in 143.
Assigned to Miami University flight school, he taught primary and intermediate flying to Navy cadets. Entering active duty in 144, he was assigned to various bases in the western U.S. as a flight engineer and mechanic until his discharge in 1946.
JR operated a fixed base operation for more than 20 years, served as airport manager for the City of Middletown and was additionally certified as a charter pilot, corporation pilot and airshow pilot.
His accomplishments have been recognized by numerous awards including the FAA Flight Safety Awards, the Air Force Recruiting Service, American Spirit Award, Aviation Trailblazer Award, FAA Lifetime Commitment to Aviation and
Safety Award, Ohio Silver Wings Distinguished Service Award and National Aeronautics Association Certificate of Honor.
His affiliations span both local and national organizations including: Air Force Association, American Aviation Historical Society, Aviation Trail Dayton, Aviation Heritage Federal Commission, Experimental Aircraft Association, Miami Valley Military Affairs Association, National Aviation Hall of Fame, Quiet Birdmen and the Silver Wings Fraternity.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Wilma D. (DeHart) Wedekind; daughters, Susan Waits of Monroe; Jenni Wedekind of Fairborn and Mary (husband Michael) Bogumill of Front Royal, Virginia; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home with Masonic services at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be at the Woodside cemetery with military honors by the American Legion.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Middletown Aviation Club Building Fund P.O. Box 765, Middletown, OH, 45042.
Sandra K. Shaw
Died: Friday, July 25, 2003
Age: 59
Sandra K. Shaw, 59, of Springfield passed away at 10:10 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2003 in Hospice of Dayton. She was born Jan. 28, 1944 in New Burlington, Ohio the daughter of J. Edward Hayslip and Delouis Viola (Smith) Hayslip.
Mrs. Shaw was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene and was employed by Greeneview Local Schools.
Survivors include two daughters, Kathleen K. (Daniel) Phillips, Tipp City, and Carlene Shaw, Springfield; three grandchildren, Jeremy Denton, Courtney Shaw and Hayley Corbitt; her father and step-mother, J. Edward and Carol Hayslip, Columbus; sisters, Peggy Mickle, Tennessee, Phylis (Roy) Adams, Xenia, Becky (Greg) Holliday, Jamestown, Cynthia Hayslip, Xenia; brothers, Michael (Debbie) Hayslip, Kentucky, Richard (Paulette) Hayslip, Xenia; half-brothers and sisters Kevin Hayslip, Xenia, Bridgett Hayslip, Dayton, Susie Hayslip, Xenia, Jason Hayslip, Dayton; step-brother and sister, Leslie Mowen, Columbus, and John Henderson, Xenia; special best friend, Ken Williams; and his grandchildren, Timothy, Daniel and Dylan Wallace; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, sister, Linda Webb and half-brother, Ronald Hayslip.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Jones-Kenney-Zechman Funeral Home. Friends may call for two hours prior to the services.
Burial will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton.
Kathy Joann Boyer
Died: Friday, July 25, 2003
Age: 37
Kathy Joann Boyer, 37, of Elizabethtown, KY, and formerly of Xenia, passed away Friday afternoon at the University of Louisville Hospital following an extended illness. She was born May 2, 1966, in Xenia, the daughter of Don L. and E. Kay (Woods) Boyer. She had been employed as a project manager for the Kellogg, Brown and Root Co. in KY. Kathy was a 1984 graduate of Xenia High School, 1986 graduate of Sinclair with an associate degree in applied sciences.
She had been an avid collector of Boyds Bears and enjoyed crafting.
She is survived by her parents, Don and Kay Boyer of Xenia, a sister, Kim (Pat) Orians, Elida, OH, niece Abby and nephew Logan, aunts and uncles, Wardella and Wm. Mount, Washington C.H., OH, Lois Boyer, Sabina, Dale and Nancy Boyer, Beavercreek, several cousins, other extended family members and many friends. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Donald R. and Mildred Wilson, Ward and Celeste Boyer, uncles and aunts Dolores and William Randolph and Kenneth boyer and a nephew Conner Orians.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at McColaugh Funeral Home, 826 N. Detroit St., Xenia. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Burial is in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bowersville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, 120 Zeigler Street, Dayton, 45402.
Joe Ivory Fite
Died: Monday, September 29, 2003
Age: 58
Joe Ivory Fite, age 58, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, September 29, 2003. He was born on January 10, 1945, in Beckville, Texas, to Monroe and Ollie (Sheppard) Fite.
Mr. Fite retired from General Motors after 30 years of service. He was a trustee of Bethel Apostolic Church in Springfield and was an honorably discharged Air Force Vietnam Veteran that toured Cambodia. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Cynthia (Stillgess) Fite of Xenia, Ohio; one son, Luther McCormick; four daughters, Lisa (Kevin) Jackson of Springfield, Lori (Curtis) Easley of Auburn Hills, Mich., Lynnene (Jeffrey) Smith of Huntsville, Ala., and Joie (Gary) Collins of Ohio; one step-daughter, Janea (Edwin) Wirts, all of Xenia; one sister, Monnie Faye Ross of Las Vegas; 18 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Frances Majors, and one brother, Steven Horton.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2003, at 10 a.m. until time of service at 12 p.m. with family present at 11 a.m. at the First United Christian Church, 626 N. Columbus Ave., Xenia, with Elder Garfield Parker of Bethel Apostolic Church in Springfield officiating.
Lt. Col. Stephe M. Nehez
Died: Monday, September 29, 2003
Age: 84
Lt. Col. Stephen M. Nehez, age 84, passed away Monday, September 29, 2003, at Greene Memorial Hospital. He was born in East St. Louis, Missouri, on August 19, 1919, the son of the late Stephen and Anna Nehez.
Following his birth, his family moved to McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Waynesburg College and taught classes at McKeesport High School in Pennsylvania up until 1941, when he was drafted into service. In 1943, he was sent to the Montana Bases at Great Falls, where the 390th Bombardment Group was activated. Following the training, he was transferred to Suffolk, England, until the end of the war in 1945. Following the war, he earned an engineering degree at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was offered a job at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron.
He was a member of St. Stephen’s Hungarian Roman Catholic Church in McKeesport, where he met his wife, Helen, whom he married
on June 10, 1950. In 1951, he was recalled into service as a Korean Retread and stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he also joined the Reserves. He continued to work at the base until his retirement in 1979. He enjoyed teaching at Clark State in Springfield, Ohio. He had received numerous achievement awards during his tenure at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
He is survived by his wife, Helen; his daughter, Loretta of Ukiah, California; his son Paul and his fiancée, Marty Reed of Yellow Springs; his brother, Alex of Michigan; and numerous nieces, nephews and relatives.
He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen M. Nehez Jr.; his parents; three brothers, Joseph and sister-in-law, Margaret; James and sister-in-law, Valborg; Nicholas and sister-in-law, Eva; cousins, James, Anna, Casper and Mary.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2003 in the Jackson Lytle & Ingling Williams Funeral Home, Yellow Springs, A Dignity Memorial Provider. At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, people are invited to share with the family their memories and stories of Steve. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Paul’s Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Friday, October 3, 2003, with Father Joseph Raudabaugh officiating. Interment will follow in St. Paul’s Catholic Cemetery.
Immediately following will be a reception at St. Paul’s Church. In memory of Steve, contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 308 Phillips Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387.
Joe Ivory Fite
Died: Monday, September 29, 2003
Age: 58
Joe Ivory Fite, age 58, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, September 29, 2003. He was born on January 10, 1945, in Beckville, Texas, to Monroe and Ollie (Sheppard) Fite.
Mr. Fite retired from General Motors after 30 years of service. He was a trustee of Bethel Apostolic Church in Springfield and was an honorably discharged Air Force Vietnam Veteran that toured Cambodia. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Cynthia (Stillgess) Fite of Xenia, Ohio; one son, Luther McCormick; four daughters, Lisa (Kevin) Jackson of Springfield, Lori (Curtis) Easley of Auburn Hills, Mich., Lynnene (Jeffrey) Smith of Huntsville, Ala., and Joie (Gary) Collins of Ohio; one step-daughter, Janea (Edwin) Wirts, all of Xenia; one sister, Monnie Faye Ross of Las Vegas; 18 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Frances Majors, and one brother, Steven Horton.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2003, at 10 a.m. until time of service at 12 p.m. with family present at 11 a.m. at the First United Christian Church, 626 N. Columbus Ave., Xenia, with Elder Garfield Parker of Bethel Apostolic Church in Springfield officiating.
