USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Wayne R. Yoder
Wayne R. Yoder, 83, of 1604 Winsted Drive, Goshen, Ind., died at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2002, in Greencroft Health Care, Goshen.
He was born in West Liberty on July 4, 1918, a son of the late John Irvin and Anna Katherine Yoder Yoder.
On Aug. 4, 1950, he married the former Mildred M. Yoder in Goshen and she survives.
A 1937 graduate of West Liberty High School, he attended Goshen College for two years and was a member of the College Mennonite Church in Goshen. He performed relief work with the Civilian Public Service from 1941 to 1945 and the Mennonite Central Committee in China from 1946 to 1949.
He worked in the recreational vehicle business for more than 30 years and was last employed as a codes and standards representative with Carriage Inc. of Millersburg, Ind., for 10 years.
Also surviving are one son, Dr. Michael Phillip (Mary) Yoder of Goshen; three granddaughters, Kathryn Yoder, Anna Yoder and Rachel Yoder, all of Goshen; three sisters, Mary Vaughn Smith, Wilma Yoder and Marjory Rohrer all of West Liberty; and two brothers, Gail Hubert Yoder of West Liberty and John Mark Yoder of Fort Collins, Colo.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, his twin Wanda Mae, who died at age 1-1/2, and Luella Ulrich; and two brothers, Howard Yoder at age 2 and Dwight V. Yoder.
Charlotte Winters Coons
Former Bellefontaine resident Charlotte Winters Coons, 80, died Monday, April 29, 2002, at Green Hills Center in West Liberty following an extended illness.
She was born in Mt. Victory on Oct. 5, 1921, a daughter of the late Overton and Lena Jolliff Winters.
On April 12, 1941, she married Kenneth L. Coons in West Mansfield and he preceded her in death Feb. 5, 1998. She also was preceded in death by an infant son.
The 1939 graduate of York Center High School was a member of the girl's basketball team. A loving homemaker, she was formerly employed by Jolliff's Grocery in Byhalia and served as a cottage guard at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville.She enjoyed fishing with family in Florida, Canada and Michigan, and the 22 winters spent in Naples, Fla., with her husband.
She is survived by two sons, Charles (Mary "Susie") Coons of West Liberty and Thomas L. Coons of Bellefontaine; a grandson, Bradley James (Kyle) Coons; one great-granddaughter, Alix Nicole Coons; one sister, Katherine Taukert of Onaway, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Mary Coons of Bellefontaine; and one brother-in-law, Charles E. "Red" Coons of Bellefontaine.
Robert Conrad 'Bob' Cowan
Robert Conrad "Bob" Cowan, 86, of West Mansfield, died Tuesday, April 30, 2002, at Hardin Hills Nursing Home, Kenton, following an extended illness.
He was born in Bloomington, Ill., on Dec. 6, 1915, a son of the late Adair and Ida Conrad Cowan.
On Jan. 23, 1941, he married the former Rebecca Bushong in Cincinnati, just prior to his departure for the military. She survives.
Raised in Horton, he lived his entire life in Logan County. He owned and operated Bushong and Cowan Plumbing and Heating with his father-in-law for nearly 30 years and was the third generation to be engaged in the well-drilling, plumbing and heating business.
Upon his retirement in the mid-1970s, he became a plumbing instructor with Ohio Hi-Point Joint Vocational School, where he taught until 1982.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa from 1941-1946, achieving the rank of captain with the Signal Corps and receiving the Bronze Star.
A dedicated citizen of West Mansfield, he gave 18 years of service as a village council member and was a former mayor. He was past commander and adjutant of the West Mansfield American Legion Post 603, a member of the West Mansfield United Methodist Church and was a charter member of the West
Mansfield Lions Club.
He was a former member of the West Mansfield Conservation Club, an original member of the Bokescreek Volunteer Fire Department and was an avid HAM radio operator with the call letters of KE8FB.
He enjoyed fishing and hosting fish fries for family and friends at his summer cottage at Indian Lake. He and his wife traveled throughout the country and especially enjoyed taking trips with other local couples on chartered bus tours. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing and his family.
Along with his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Penninah (Jim) Smith of Kenton, and Melody (Donald) Warman and Connie (Bill) Troop, both of Bonita Springs, Fla.; a son, Jack (Judy Crawford) Cowan of Lima; five grandchildren, Laura Croutwater, Kyle (Lisa) Croutwater, Kellie Smith, Teresa Smith and Ashley Cowan; one great-granddaughter, Nicole Croutwater; a sister, Helen (Jonathan) Elliott of West Mansfield; a brother, Richard (Mildred) Cowan of Bellefontaine; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Donnabelle Jacobs and Nellie Vernon, and a brother, Dale Cowan.
M. Richard Dorsey
M. Richard Dorsey, 73, of 106 Canby St., Quincy, died at 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2002, in Wilson Memorial Hospital in Sidney.
Born on Sept. 11, 1928, in Green Township, Shelby County, he was a son of Clarence D. and Gladys E. Martin Dorsey. He married Carolyn Stickley on June 27, 1954, in Quincy, and she survives. He was a loving father and grandfather who was proud of his kids and grandkids.
Also surviving are two sons, Thomas (Lori) Dorsey of Quincy and Doug Dorsey of Washington, D.C.; three daughters, Jeanie (Matt) Cooper and Brenda (Reino) Kauppinen, both of Quincy; and Shelley (John) Leighty of Sidney; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Bernice J. (Carl) Newman of DeGraff; and a sister-in-law, Rosemary Dorsey of Sidney.
He was preceded in death by a brother, C. Wayne Dorsey; and a sister, Phyllis A. Rose.
A 20-year Miami Township Trustee, he worked for 25 years at Weiskittle Sand & Gravel. He owned and operated Dorsey's Service Station for 14 years and Dorsey's Service for 15 years. He was a 1946 graduate of Quincy High School and was a member of the Quincy United Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Linda Kay Brown Duncan
Linda Kay Brown Duncan, 52, of the Raymond-York Center area, died Tuesday evening, April 30, 2002, in her own home surrounded by family following a four-month battle with a rare cancer known as uterine sarcoma.
She was born in Kenton on Jan. 17, 1950, a daughter of Leona L. Laughrey Brown, who survives in Byhalia and the late Ralph Brown.
On Oct. 13, 1967, she married David L. Duncan at Grace Chapel in Byhalia and he survives.
The North Union High School graduate was a member of the Grace Chapel in Byhalia. She was a 20-year associate with the production staff of Honda of America, maintaining perfect attendance during her tenure. She was formerly employed with Ranco in Plain City.
She took great pride in her home and enjoyed mowing her yard and planting flowers. She and her husband enjoyed vacations to Hawaii, Cancun, the Bahamas, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. Affectionately known as "Nana," her greatest joy came from spending time with her family and grandchildren.
A granddaughter, Kay Lee Hughes, preceded her in death.
She is also survived by a daughter, Diane L. (Charles Rognon) Stenger of Raymond; two sons, David S. (Kerri) Duncan of Byhalia and Brent R. (Amber Fleming) Duncan of Raymond; three grandchildren, Bradley Robert Stenger, Kenton Hughes and Josie Duncan; a sister, Judy (Lloyd) Collins of Montrose, Colo.; three brothers, Charles E. (Kathy) Brown of Willard, Ronald E. (Gay) Brown of Julian, Calif., and Steven (Becky) Brown of Richwood; several brothers- and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.
Wilma R. Dytom
Wilma R. Dytom, 78, of Ft. Myers, Fla., died Friday, April 5, 2002.
She was born in Bellefontaine on July 9, 1923, a daughter of the late Robert F. and Tina Bidwell.
A noted equestrian, she started the first 4-H horse club in Logan County.
She moved to Ft. Myers from Bellefontaine in 1982 and was a member of the Baptist church.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, C. Wilson Dytom of Ft. Myers; two daughters, Sondra A. Kuhn of Bellefontaine and Suzanne E. Johns of Alva, Fla.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Asenth Frazee.
Mary Katherine Smith
Mary Katherine Smith, 80, of Bellefontaine and formerly of DeGraff, died at 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002, at Mary Rutan Hospital.
She was born March 6, 1922, in Bellefontaine, a daughter of Emory Lloyd and Bessie Mae Holt Arthur.
On May 19, 1945, she married Hollis Therrel Smith at Parris Island, S.C., and he preceded her in death July 5, 1992.
A 1940 graduate of DeGraff High School and a homemaker, she was a member of the Homemakers Club, Rum Creek United Methodist Church, Extension Club and was a 50-year member of the Pleasant Township Grange.
Survivors include one son, Steven Smith of Leonardtown, Md.; one daughter, Vicki Wayman of Bellefontaine; three grandchildren; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Dianna and Merle King of Florida and Barbara and Edsel Hounchell of Urbana.
One son, Robert Randall "Randy" Smith, and one brother, George Arthur, are deceased.
Harley Floyd Skidmore Jr.
Harley Floyd Skidmore Jr., 80, of West Mansfield, died Monday, Aug. 12, 2002, at Heartland of Bellefontaine following a short illness.
He was born in Hardin County on March 5, 1922, a son of the late Harley Floyd Sr. and Ottie Leota James Skidmore.
On Nov. 14, 1946, he married the former Dorothy Fleece in Lima and she survives, along with three sons: Steven (Joan) Skidmore of Blanchester and Dwight (Sondra) Skidmore, DVM, and Robert Skidmore, both of West Mansfield; a daughter, Cheryl Ann (Robert) Losey of Kent; seven grandchildren, Jacquie (Michael) Blair, Jennifer, Jill and Brittany Skidmore, and Bradley, Troy and Chad Losey; one great-granddaughter; two sisters, Anna Belle Kritzler of Ada and Frances Kipker of Bellefontaine; two sisters-in-law, Martha Skidmore and Charlene Skidmore, both of Belle Center; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Norman Floyd Skidmore in 1983; and three brothers: Cyril, Wayne and Kenneth Skidmore.
Since 1976, the lifelong farmer operated a dairy farm at the family home south of West Mansfield. He was a member of the North Greenfield United Methodist Church, the National Holstein Association, the Ohio Holstein Association and the Ohio Farm Bureau.
He served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the East Liberty American Legion.
A 1939 graduate of Belle Center High School, he took great pride in his family, farming and milking cows and will be remembered as a hard-working man.
