USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Ruth Grillo
Ruth M. Grillo, 93, formerly of Dayton, died at 10:53 a.m. April 14, 2003, at the St. Marys Living Center.
She was born Sept. 22, 1909, in Greene County, to Herbert and Eva Newton Coy. Her husband, Woolfram Walter Grillo, is deceased.
Surviving are two daughters, Antonie (Willard) Might, St. Marys, and Geraldine (Gerald) Klawonn, Brevard, N.C.; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Two brothers, Charlie and Russell Coy, are deceased.
She was a homemaker and a retired employee of Master Electric Co., Dayton. She was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, St. Marys.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Miami Valley Memory Gardens, Centerville, the Rev. Patricia Minnick officiating.
Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, has charge of arrangements. There is no visitation.
Bonnie Walls
Bonnie Jean Walls, 74, 9188 John Brown Road, Van Wert, died at 10 p.m. April 14, 2003, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.
She was born June 1, 1928, in Wells County, Ind., to Rollie Russell Forrest and Elsie Viola Draper Schmidt. On June 7, 1956, she married Paul Eugene Walls who died March 4, 1995.
Surviving are three sons, Kevin Joe (Dawn) of Huntington, Ind., Stephen Douglas (Victoria) of Manapequa, N.Y., and Gregory Eugene (Carmen) of Wellington, Fla.; a daughter, Paula Jean (Joe) Ybarra, Van Wert; two brothers, Robert (Kay) Schmidt and Billie Joe (Janet) Schmidt, both of Van Wert; two sisters, Eva Lou (William) Burd and Joyce (Ted) Gates, both of Celina; a sister-in-law, Luella (Bill) Good, Van Wert; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A daughter died in infancy.
She was a homemaker and a 20-year employee of National Seal (Federal Mogul) in Van Wert. She attended First Church of the Nazarene.
Graveside services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, the Rev. Gerald Baker officiating.
W. H. Dick & Sons Funeral Home, Celina, has charge of arrangements. There is no visitation.
Barbara Casto
Barbara J. Casto, 53, of Cecil, died at 10 a.m. April 13, 2003, at her residence. Death was due to natural causes.
She was born July 10, 1949, in Wheeling, W. Va., to Francis I. and Theresa Pomorski McMahon. They survive in Wheeling. On July 15, 1967, she married John E. Casto who survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Michelle (Michael) Lyons, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Cassandra of Celina; four brothers, Paul (Barbara) McMahon, Francis (Lynn) McMahon, Joseph and Jeffrey McMahon, all of Wheeling; two sisters, Rita (Danny) Mullins, Hicksville, and Diane (Greg) Hinerman, Roan Mountain, Tenn.; and seven grandchildren.
Deceased are the grandparents, Thomas McMahon, Wilda Ridle and Anna and Walter Pomorski.
Services are 7 p.m. today at Den Herder Funeral Home, Paulding, the Rev. Roy Nelson officiating.
Calling is 2-5 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to the Paulding County Area Visiting Nurses/Hospice.
Rev. Bernard Meiring
The Rev. Bernard Meiring, C.PP.S., 73, a Mercer County native, died at 11:10 p.m. April 12, 2003, at the St. Charles Center infirmary, Carthagena.
He was born Aug. 8, 1929, in Sharpsburg, to Bernard and Julia Fiely Meiring.
Surviving are three brothers, the Rev. Arnold of St. Charles Center, Joseph of Fort Recovery, and Daniel of Centerville; four sisters, Verena (Thomas) Humenny, Sacramento, Calif., Lillian (Bernard) Wahrer, Dayton, and Ruth (Wilbert) Gerlach and Esther Hoffpauir, both of Fort Recovery; and a sister-in-law, Peg Meiring, La Habra, Calif.
A brother, William, and a brother-in-law, John Hoffpauir, are deceased.
He entered the Society of the Precious Blood in 1943 at Brunnerdale Seminary, Canton, and was ordained to the priesthood June 11, 1955. He completed a master's degree in education before being assigned to St. Joseph's College, Rensselaer, Ind., and received a doctorate degree in education from the University of California at Berkeley in 1963. He returned to the Rensselaer college later that year, serving as assistant professor and then professor of education, head of the education department, director of student teachers and vice president for academic affairs. He also helped the college receive its first accreditation from the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education and establish an elementary education program.
He was elected to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood Senate in 1970 and earned a degree in accounting and a certified public accountant designation in 1982. He taught accounting at St. Joseph's College and Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Ind., before becoming a professor and board member at Calumet in 1993. In 1994, he became pastor at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Mercer County. In 1998, he became senior associate pastor at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ottawa, a position he held until moving to the Carthagena center in January.
Funeral Mass is 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Center, the Rev. Angelo Anthony officiating and the Rev. Thomas Hemm preaching. Burial will follow at the community cemetery.
Calling is 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. today at St. Charles Center. A vigil service will be held there at 7 p.m.
Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry, has charge of arrangements.
Betty Rockwood
St. Marys native Betty Sanford Rockwood, 61, 6654 Richardson Road, Spring Hope, N.C., died April 12, 2003, at Nash General Hospital in Spring Hope. Death was due to natural causes.
She was born July 15, 1941, in St. Marys, to Francis and Audrey Ferris Sanford. On Feb. 8, 1964, she married Thomas E. Rockwood who died in 1990.
Surviving are a son, Edward of Louisburg, N.C.; a daughter, Barbara Booth, Spring Hope; three brothers, Riley, Sam and Leonard Sanford, all of St. Marys; two sisters, Nita Jump, Fremont, and Bella Grubbs, St. Marys; and five grandchildren.
Deceased are a brother, A.J. Sanford, and a sister, Lorraine Cook.
She was a homemaker and a St. Marys Memorial High School graduate.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Miller Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. Patricia Minnick officiating. Burial will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens near Moulton.
Calling is noon until the time of services Wednesday.
T. Russell Book
T. Russell Book, 86, of Rockford, died at 12:30 a.m. April 13, 2003, at The Laurels of Shane Hill, Rockford.
He was born June 13, 1916, in Vinton County, to Asa L. and Martha L. Raver Book. On March 3, 1946, he married Barbara Inez Kidd who died July 5, 1997.
Surviving are two brothers, the Rev. Rea (Fern) of Van Wert and William G. (Edna) of Ohio City; three sisters, Mae Thomas, Helen (Bill) Hurless and Pauline (Carl) Sell, all of Rockford; and a sister-in-law, Edith Michael, Lima.
Deceased are a brother, John O.; an infant brother; a sister, Olive Leighner; and two infant sisters.
He was a farmer and retired employee of the former Continental Can Company in Van Wert. He was a member of Greenbrier United Brethren Church near Ohio City and a World War II Army veteran.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, the Revs. Robert Loar and John Richardson officiating. Burial will follow at Greenbrier Cemetery, Ohio City.
Calling is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Contributions can be made to Camp Cotubic in Bellefontaine or WTLW Television (Channel 44), Lima.
Alvina Borgerding
Alvina E. Borgerding, 89, formerly of St. Henry, died at 12:20 p.m. April 13, 2003, at Briarwood Manor Nursing Home, Coldwater.
She was born Oct. 15, 1913, in Carthagena, to Henry and Anna Brockman Eyink. On May 30, 1933, she married Ernest Borgerding who died April 16, 1997.
Surviving are a son, Dennis of Portland, Ind.; a daughter, Carol (Robert) Cramer, St. Henry; a sister, Ann Schuh, Coldwater; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Three brothers and three sisters are deceased.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Henry Catholic Church and the Altar-Rosary Sodality, both of St. Henry, and Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella, both of Fort Recovery.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Henry church, the Rev. Larry Wyen officiating. Burial will be at St. Marys Cemetery, Fort Recovery.
Calling is 3-8 p.m. Tuesday and 9-10:15 a.m. Wednesday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry.
Contributions can be made to Mercer/Darke County Hospice.
Velma Brewer
Velma M. Brewer, 84, 325 Middle St., Van Wert, died at 10 p.m. April 12, 2003, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.
She was born Sept. 8, 1918, in Van Wert, to William O. and Ethel Gotts Pontius. On Aug. 30, 1939, she married Ronald G. Brewer who died April 16, 1994.
Surviving are a stepson, Ronald J. (Virginia) of Celina; a brother, Don (Donna) Pontius, Van Wert; three stepgrandchildren and seven stepgreat-grandchildren.
Two brothers, Bert and Burdette, are deceased.
She had worked as bookkeeper for Montgomery Ward for 12 years and Brookside Dairy for 25 years, both of Van Wert. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and the Women's Society of the church, both of Van Wert. She also was a 50-year member of the Van Wert Order of Eastern Star and served on the Van Wert YWCA Board.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, Van Wert, the Revs. Doug-las Stockton and Paul Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert.
Calling is 2:30-4:30 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Othmar Kessens
Othmar H. Kessens, 90, formerly of Burkettsville, died at 12:50 p.m. April 13, 2003, at Briarwood Manor Nursing Home, Coldwater.
He was born Dec. 23, 1912, in Burkettsville, to Henry and Ida Dahlinghaus Kessens.
Surviving are two sisters, Rita (Edward) Keller, Cranberry, and Bernadette Covach, Troy, Mich.; and a sister-in-law, Helen Kessens, Wapakoneta.
Deceased are a brother, Lawrence, and a sister, Marie Zurline.
A retired farmer, he formerly worked at Sheller-Globe, Union City, Ind. He was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church, Burkettsville, and the Catholic Knights of America.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Matt Jozefiak officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Calling is 9-9:45 a.m. Wednesday at Brockman & Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery.
Edna Knapke
Edna A. Knapke, 86, 308 George St., Fort Recovery, died at 8 p.m. April 11, 2003, at her residence.
She was born Sept. 24, 1916, in St. Anthony, to Bernard and Alice Muhlenkamp Koesters. On Sept. 4, 1937, she married William J. Knapke who died March 18, 1987.
Surviving are two daughters, Alice (Dale) Pearson, Portland, Ind., and Joan (Floyd) Bergman, Fort Recovery; a daughter-in-law, Nancy Knapke, Fort Recovery; a sister, Mary Bubp Beyke, Fort Recovery; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Deceased are her adoptive parents, Louis and Rosa Moeller; a son, Richard, and a sister, Lucille Fenstermaker.
She formerly was co-owner of the Fort Recovery Lumber Company. A 1934 graduate of Fort Recovery High School, she was a member of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and the Altar Sodality, both of Fort Recovery.
Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, the Rev. Paul Wohlwend officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. today and after 9 a.m. Tuesday at Brockman & Boeckman Funeral Home, Fort Recovery. A prayer service is planned there at 3:30 p.m. today.
Contributions can be made to Mercer County Hospice.
