USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
John Robert Beck
Former Bellefontaine Municipal Court Judge John Robert Beck, 80, of Bellefontaine, died at 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, at Logan Acres.
He was born Oct. 2, 1921, in Bloomfield, Ky., a son of the late Jacob and Susan Bacheldor Beck.
Survivors include two sons, retired Command Sgt. Maj. John Jacob (Debi) Beck, of the U.S. Army of San Antonio, Texas, and Master Sgt. Daniel I. (Margaret) Beck of the U.S. Air Force, Dover, Del.; four daughters, Susan M. (Robert Anderson) Beck of Jackson, Wis., Ann E. Beck of Bellefontaine, M. Fran (William Newport) Beck of Columbus and Joan R. (Norbert Wagner) Beck of West Bend, Wis.; one brother, William A. Beck of San Antonio; and one sister, Elizabeth White of Savannah, Ga.
Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death in 1987 by his wife, Marjorie Inman Beck, whom he married May 23, 1942. Also deceased are two brothers, Daniel H. and Jacob Beck; and one sister, Pauline Sterner.
The 1938 graduate of Findlay High school attended Findlay College and earned a law degree from Ohio Northern University in 1948. He came to Bellefontaine that same year and practiced law here until 1998. He was last associated in the practice of law with his daughter, Ann, in the firm Beck, Beck, Hawkins.
Mayor Louis Wren appointed him city solicitor in April 1953. He served in that position until January of 1955 and was sworn in as Municipal Court Judge in February that year. He was the first person to be elected to that position in Logan County and served as judge until December 1963. He was a member of the Ohio State and Logan County Bar Associations.
A veteran of World War II, serving in North Africa and Italy with the 104th Infantry Division, he also was a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and retired colonel with the Army National Guard.
He was a lifetime member of the VFW, American Legion, Elks, Eagles and the Knights of Columbus. A Civil War historian, he often was sought as a speaker for Presidents Day programs in Logan and Champaign County. He also was an ardent lover of the opera.
Doris L. Brown
Doris L. Brown, 73, of Perelandra Oaks, 9440 E. 255th St., Tennessee, Ill., died at 5:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, at her residence.
Born June 9, 1928, in Bellefontaine, she was a daughter of the late Harry and Viola Curl Craig. On Aug. 4, 1951, she married Spencer Brown in Bellefontaine, and he survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Rebecca Lee Brown of rural Tennessee; one sister, Laura Dence of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; one brother, Richard Craig of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three nieces and two nephews.
Reared in Ohio, she also lived in the Chicago and the Champaign-Urbana, Ill., areas with her husband until 1961. She and her husband and daughter resided in Nigeria until 1962 when they moved to the Macomb, Ill., area.
The Moody Bible Institute graduate and chorale member, also was a degree student in English and geography at Western Illinois University. She was a member of the First Regular Baptist Church in Bellefontaine.
Eddie Mefford
Eddie Mefford, 59, of Bellefontaine, passed away Dec. 16, 2001, at Logan Acres.
The son of Arthur and Melba Jackson Mefford was born May 31, 1942, in Clark County.
He was a veteran of the United States Army and worked as a production supervisor for Detroit Aluminum Brass. A quarter master for the Frank D. Castle VFW Post 1080, Bellefontaine, he also was a trustee for the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 2166; a lifetime member of the AMVETS; and member of the American Legion.
An avid sports fan, he enjoyed softball, baseball, football, basketball and golf, and was inducted into the Ohio Softball Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his parents; companion of 18 years, Brenda Huffman of Bellefontaine; four sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Carrie Mefford of Dublin, Chris and Mindy Mefford of Windsor, Ontario, Vern and Dee Huffman and Matt Huffman and Andy Craig, all of Bellefontaine; two daughters and a son-in-law, Lori and Roger Bingham of Connersville, Ind., and Vanessa Salaz of Bowling Green; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard Leaton and Tommie Mefford and Raymond and Becky Mefford, all of Springfield; two sisters and a brother-in-law, June and Dale Warner and Fonda Alltop, all of Springfield; 14 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ronald and Donald Mefford.
Roger Theron Pash
Roger Theron Pash, 66, of Yuma, Ariz., and formerly of Bellefontaine, died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, at the LaMesa Care Center in Yuma.
Born Oct. 12, 1935, in Springfield, he was a son of the late Walter and Myrtle Nolan Pash.
He worked as a truck driver most of his life.
Survivors include three children, Kurt Leach, Ellen Marie Pash and Tana Ash, all of Pontiac, Mich.; one brother, Glenn Pash of Bellefontaine; and one sister, Caroline Pash Berends of Burton, Mich.; and numerous nieces and nephews in the Logan County area.
One brother, Carl Pash, preceded him in death.
Ercile E. Portner
Former Zanesfield resident Ercile E. Portner, 88, of Norwalk, died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, at Gaymont Nursing Center in Norwalk, following an extended illness.
She was born in Urbana on Sept. 22, 1913, a daughter of the late Otis and Hazel Ritter Lockwood.
A schoolteacher, she began her career in Zanesfield and moved to Norwalk in 1940. She taught kindergarten in the Monroeville Public Schools until her retirement in 1978. She enjoyed traveling, music and family.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Norwalk, its Loyalty Sunday School Class and the church choir.
She also held memberships with the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, Huron County Retired Teachers Association, National Hikers and Campers Association and the Norwalk Area Christian Women's Club.
She is survived by one son, Roland (Floetta) Portner of Norwalk; one daughter, Rita (Noel III) Arnold of Canal Winchester; one brother, Lloyd Lockwood of West Liberty; one brother-in-law, Otis Turner of Huron; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Charles "Bert" Mead
Charles "Bert" Mead, 80, of Richwood, died early Tuesday morning at Marion General Hospital.
He was born in Marion on June 5, 1921, a son of the late Jesse J. and Starling D. White Mead.
He married the former Phyllis A. Skidmore at the Richwood United Methodist Church on June 26, 1955, and she survives.
Along with his wife, he is survived by one son, John (Pam) Mead of Richwood; one daughter, Lisa Robinson of Richwood; one brother, Richard C. (Lois) Mead of Morristown, N.J.; two grandchildren, Brooke and Joseph Mead; two stepgrandchildren, Mindy (Chad) Fitch and Meagan Patrick; and three great-stepgrandchildren, Bryce, Blake and Brittany Fitch.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mabel Elliott, whom he married in 1944.
A 1939 graduate of Richwood High School, he was an Army veteran of World War II. He was retired from Boise Cascade Company of Marion and a member of the
Richwood First United Methodist Church.
He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans in Marysville; a life member and past commander of the Richwood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 870; a member and past commander of the Baccarat American Legion Post 40; the International Paper Workers Union 1313; and a member of the former Richwood Lions Club.
The former Richwood councilman retired after years of service on the Richwood Fire Department. He had also served on the Richwood Police Department, the Union County Sheriff's Department and the Richwood Fair Board. He was active with the Claiborne PTA, and after his retirement, worked at the Parish Thomasson Hardware Store in Richwood.
James Robert 'Bob' Bishop
James Robert "Bob" Bishop, 53, of Belle Center, passed away at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001, at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Kenton.
He was born in Bellefontaine on Dec. 19, 1947, a son of Jim and Frances Wortman Bishop of Huntsville.
An Army veteran, he was a member of the Roundhead Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8832 and a former Roundhead Fire Department volunteer. He was retired from Nash Finch Company and formerly owned and operated A and B Excavating.
Along with his parents, he is survived by two daughters, Jennifer (Matthew) Bell of Bellefontaine and Jessica Bishop of Covington; five grandchildren, Cody and Megan Bell and Shelby, Logan and Hunter England; one stepson, Dennis (Geanna) England of Belle Center; one brother, G. Bruce Bishop of Huntsville; and one sister, Treva Hagedorn of Belle Center.
One brother, Daniel L. Bishop, preceded him in death.
Sherri 'Katie' Ray
Sherri "Katie" Ray, 42, of Bellefontaine, died at 11:25 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001, in Mary Rutan Hospital.
Born on July 13, 1959, in Columbus, she was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Jeffrey D. Ray, whom she married Dec. 23, 1976, in Columbus; a daughter, Gloria (Matthew) Smith of Bellefontaine; her father, James Smith of Plano, Texas; a brother, James Smith of Alabama; a sister, Cynthia (Gary) Shaffer of Kentucky; and two grandchildren, Dean and Riley Smith.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Gloria Blevins Smith, and her twin brother, Jerry Smith.
Clarence "J.R." Kiesewetter
Clarence "J.R." Kiesewetter, 77, of Lakeview, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001. He was the owner of Mr. R. Seafood and Meats in Lakeview.
Betty J. Leppert
Betty J. Loy Leppert, 74, of Crestwood, Ill., and formerly of Midlothian, Ill., died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at the South Suburban Hospital, Hazel Crest, Ill.
Born in Springfield, Ohio, on Aug. 7, 1927, she retired as a registered nurse from the Oak Forest Hospital, Oak Forest, Ill.
She was preceded in death in 1983 by her husband, Milton E. Leppert.
Survivors include two daughters, Marci (Jeff) Rigdon of New Lenox, Ill., and Lori (Joe) Wazny of Crestwood; four sons, Joseph (Janet) Leppert of Omaha, Neb., Timothy (Mary) Leppert of Clarendon Hills, Ill., Milton E. (Juliet) Leppert of Manhattan, Ill., and Greg (Brenda) Leppert of Midlothian; and 17 grandchildren.
Also surviving are three brothers, Jack Loy of Evansville, Ill., Richard Loy of Tucson, Ariz., and James Loy of Springfield; and several relatives in the Logan County area.
