George W. Velte
George W. Velte, 61, of Olivet, Mich., formerly of Middletown, died after a short illness on Monday, April 6, 1998, at the Ingham Regional Medical Center, Greenlawn Campus, Lansing, Mich. George was born in Middletown, Ohio, the son of Hubert R. and Frances (Sharpf) Velte. He was a 1955 graduate of Middletown High School and had served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1959. He was employed by the U.S. Postal Service, having served as postmaster of the Loveland, Ohio, post office from where he retired in 1990 after 34 years of service. He was currently serving as an Olivet City Council member, as board chairman of EATRAN, and was a member of the Olivet Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Velte also held memberships in the Kalamazoo Corvette Club, the Moose Lodge, the DIA and was a retired past president of the Ohio Postmasters Association. Surviving are three sons, Chad (Lyn) Velte of Franklin, Ohio, Derek (DaLisa) Velte of Snow Flake, Ariz., and Craig (Elizabeth) Velte of Aurora, Ohio; seven grandchildren; a brother, David Velte of Dayton; and a dear friend, Becky Perry of Olivet. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Wilson-Schramm-Spaulding Funeral Home. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Olivet (Mich.) Memorial Tree Fund.

Foster Vaughn
Foster Vaughn, 70, of Miamisburg, passed away Thursday, May 14, 1998 at Hospice of Dayton. He was retired and had worked at Miami Foundry for 35 years. He had also served as president of union Local No. 45. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Miamisburg and part owner of Sara Jane's Restaurants in Miamisburg and Monroe and the Pennzoil Pitstop and Miamisburg Stor-All. He is survived by his wife if 53 years, Annabelle; a son, Jerry, and his wife, Sandy, of Miamisburg; a daughter, Patricia Ann Hembree, and her husband, Jim, of Carlisle; seven sisters, Geneva Prewitt, of Richmond, Ky., Alma Williams, of Miamisburg, Jennie Cates, of Paint Lick, Ky., Georgia Grant and Mary Williams, both of Miamisburg, Anna Mae Combs, of Anniville, Ky., and Catherine Cable, of Leeco, Ky.; three grandchildren, Jimmy Hembree, Beth Hitte, and Sara Vaughn; and two great-grandchildren, Aaron and Micah Trent. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Gebhart-Schmidt-Parramore Funeral Home in Miamisburg. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Miamisburg with the Revs. Stephen Spurgin, Walter Miller, and Robert Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Memorial Cemetery. Memorials contributions can be made to the Hospice of Dayton.

Thomas Venable
Thomas Cornish Venable, 95, of Middletown, died Monday morning, June 1, 1998, at Barbara Parke 1/2 nvalescent Center. He was born on June 15, 1902, in Galena, Ill., the son of Charles W. Venable and Jenny Cornish Venable. Mr. Venable was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was managing director of the Middletown United Way and a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. He is survived by a nephew, Charles Henry Venable of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Venable was preceded in death by his wife, Olive S. Venable, on June 14, 1997. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Walter Mycoff Jr. officiating. Entombment will be at Woodside Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the funeral home.

Keith A. Vance
GRATIS -- Keith A. Vance, 65, of Gratis, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 1999, at Middletown Regional Hospital. He was born on July 29, 1933, in Eaton, Ohio, to the late Donald and Juanita (Smith) Vance. Mr. Vance retired in 1989 after 36 years working in operations and maintenance for DESC, Dayton, Ohio. Survivors include his wife, Helen L. (Smith) Vance, whom he married in December 1952; a son and his wife, Michael K. and Linda Vance of Trenton; a daughter and her husband, Brenda and Marty Zavakos of Huber Heights; three grandchildren; a brother, Bill Vance of Gratis; a sister, Karen Paxson of Belle Center, Ohio; and nieces and nephews.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, 226 W. Main St., Eaton, Ohio, with the Rev. Robert Shannon officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Gratis. Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Margaret Verity
Mrs. Margaret "Peggy" Burnley Wymond Verity, 81, of Beaufort, S.C., formerly of Middletown, died at her residence early Wednesday morning, Jan. 20, 1999. She was born on June 5, 1917, in Louisville, Ky., the daughter of the late William Ingram Wymond and the late Maria Crittenden Wymond. She was a graduate of the Collegiate School in Louisville, Ky., and then attended Miss Potter's in Farmington, Conn. For the past 12 years, Mrs. Verity was a resident of Beaufort, S.C., where she was a member of St. Helena's Episcopal Church, serving as an administrative assistant and on the Altar Guild. She was a member of the Sea Island Garden Club, the Dataw Club, the Country Club of Beaufort, the Spring Island Club, and the Boys and Girls Club of Beaufort. She was a volunteer with Friends of Caroline Hospice and was a commissioner of the Technical College of the Lowcountry. She enjoyed gardening and was an avid tennis player. As a resident of Middletown, Mrs. Verity was a member of the Church of the Ascension, Middletown Garden Club, Brown's Run Country Club, Bulls Run Arboretum, Middletown Tennis Club and the Women's Exchange in Cincinnati, and was a founder of Hospice of Middletown. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, C. William Verity; a daughter, Peggy "Happy" Wymond Power, and her husband, J.P. Power, of Edwards, Colo.; two sons, Jonathan George Verity, and his wife, Victoria Verity, of Evanston, Ill., and William Wymond Verity, and his wife, Paula Verity, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and seven grandchildren, William Verity Power, and his wife, Kate, Jonathan Warfield Power, Jonathan Edward Verity, Victoria Heye Verity, Elizabeth Wymond Verity, George Murray Verity and Hannah Bakewell Verity.
ARRANGEMENTS: Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Church of the Ascension, with the Revs. Frank Limehouse and Walter J. Mycoff Jr. officiating. Private burial services will be conducted at Woodside Cemetery by Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home.
MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown, 45044; or the Middletown Community Foundation, 29 City Centre Plaza, Middletown, 45042.

Georgia Waddell
CARLISLE - Georgia (Birch) Waddell, 55, of Carlisle, went to be with the Lord on May 8, 1998, at her residence. She was born Jan. 29, 1943, in Middletown, the daughter of Guy and Hazel (Pullen) Birch. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Gary Waddell, of Carlisle; two sons, Guy "Gene" Murphy and wife Lynda, of Middletown, and Billy Joe Murphy and wife Missy, also of Middletown; two daughters, Gayle Webb and husband Eddie, of Middletown, and Gerry Lynne Nunamaker, of Trenton; two sisters, Nancy Poffenbarger and husband Darrell, of Middletown, and Becky Jewell and husband Russell, of Florida; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Joseph Goodlow officiating. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown, 45044.

Elbert Wallace
FRANKLIN - Elbert C. "Bud'' Wallace, 73, of 748 Tibbals St., passed away Thursday, April 23, 1998, at Grandview Hospital in Dayton. He was born in Franklin, Ohio, on Aug. 30, 1924, the son of Charles and Emma (Sheets) Wallace. He was a truck driver for more than 40 years, retiring from Victory in 1983. Mr. Wallace was an honored veteran of World War II, receiving the Purple Heart, five Bronze Stars, the American Theater and European-African Middle Eastern service medals. He was wounded on Dec. 16, 1944. He was a lifelong member of American Legion Post 149, AMVETS Post 120 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3809. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Myrtle; and a sister, Phyllis Carles of Middletown. He was the father of Linda (Rick) Hendricks of San Diego, Calif., Brenda Wallace of Dayton and Josephine (Gary) Boatman of Hillsboro. He was the dad to Penny (Duane) Slusser, Carrol (Paul) Burns and Leda (Eddie) Deaton, all of Franklin, and Donna (Don) Grau of West Chester. He is also survived by six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, 18 step-grandchildren and 10 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Sandy; a stepson, Larry Slusser; and a sister, Margaret Camnetar. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Unglesby-Anderson Funeral Home, 1357 E. Second St., Franklin, with the Rev. Chuck Wolfinbarger officiating. Burial will be in Springboro Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Frankie Watkins
Frankie Lovera Watkins, 59, of 1514 Woodlawn Ave., died Tuesday, May 12, 1998, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. She was born Feb. 26, 1939, in Portales, N.M., the daughter of Franklin Curtis and Mary (Martin) Curtis. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Joe Watkins; three daughters, Frankie and Jeff Powers of Middletown, Becky and Gregory Fite of Alaska and April and Patches Moore of Carlisle; son Joe Watkins Jr. of Middletown; her mother, Mary Curtis of Texas; brother Burelle Curtis of Florida; two sisters, Rosie Simms and Frances Goodwin, both of Arkansas; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her father; daughter Noami Watkins; sister Pearl Bailey; brother Woody Curtis; and grandson Jeffery Powers. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Harvest Church of God, 602 E. State St., Trenton, with the Rev. Randell L. Baugus officiating. Visitation will be from noon until time of service Friday at the church. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery. Arrangments are by Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home.

Dana A. Watts
Dana A. Watts, 49, of Middletown, died Monday, April 20, 1998, at Middletown Regional Hospital. He was born here on Dec. 11, 1948, and was a lifelong Middletown resident. Mr. Watts had been employed at AK Steel Co. since 1970. Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Nancy; a son, James C. Watts of Monroe; a daughter, Tiffany M. (Paul J. Jr.) Ireton of Middletown; a granddaughter, Kaleigh Marie Ireton of Middletown; a brother, Martin J. Watts of Middletown; a sister, Barbara A. Brown of Harrison, Alaska; and his parents, Curtis J. and Patricia J. (Allen) Watts of Harrison, Alaska. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Lee and Dorothy Allen; and paternal grandparents, Frederick Watts and Mary Watts Kerr. Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, with the Rev. Kenneth W. Howard officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 105 McKnight Drive, Middletown, 45044.

Jewel Watts
FRANKLIN - Mrs. Jewel (Gross) Watts, 65, of 6666 Weidner Road, died Sunday, May 10, 1998, at her residence. She was born in Breathitt County, Ky., on Oct. 14, 1932, and had lived in this area for 38 years. Mrs. Watts was a homemaker and a member of Dixie Highway Christian Center. Surviving are four daughters, Christine Hall, and her husband, Bill, of Franklin, Sheila Watts of Springboro, Esther Williamson, and her husband, Ray, of Waynesville, and Pamela Lucas, and her husband, Manuel, of Jackson, Ky.; two sons, William B. Watts, and his wife, Sheila, of Mason, Ohio, and James R. Watts, and his wife, Shari, of Middletown; eight grandchildren; five brothers, James, Oscar and David Gross, all of Jackson, Ky., Ernie Gross of Washington, D.C., and Johnnie Gross of Lexington, Ky.; and two sisters, Juanita Elder and Faye Wycoff, both of White Plains, Md. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Watts, on Nov. 12, 1996; her parents, James and Delphia (Shepherd) Gross; two sisters, Kathleen Lovins and Judith Gross; a brother, Abner Gross Jr.; and a granddaughter, Julie Lucas. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, with Pastor Dave Bowling officiating. Interment will be at Woodhill Cemetery in Franklin. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown, 45044.

LeRoy Weller
LeRoy Weller, 80, of Middletown, died Thursday, April 16, 1998 at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. Weller was born Dec. 30, 1917 in Dayton, the son of Roy D. and Lucile Weller. He was a member of the United States Air Force during World War II and worked for 20 years as a supervisor for General Motors before retiring in 1983. He was a member of Breiel Boulevard First Church of God, where he served in the church men's group. He also was a member of the Middletown Kiwanis. He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Carolyn Evans in 1978; a brother, David Weller; and a sister, Phyllis Erbaugh. Weller is survived by his devoted wife, Atha Weller of Middletown; a daughter, Elaine Sebastian of Middletown; three grandchildren, Susan McKee of Middletown, Thomas Evans and wife, Jennifer, of Middletown, and Robert Evans and wife, Wendy, of Kennesaw, Ga.; six great-grandchildren, Roxanne Bryant of Cincinnati, Nols Evans, Kyle Lawson and Kelly Lawson, all of Kennesaw, Ga., and Kyle Evans, Samuel Evans and Joseph Evans, all of Middletown; a brother, Charles B. Weller, of Dayton; and two sisters, Betty J. Adkins and Mary Kessling, both of Dayton. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Vernon Maddox officiating. Burial will take place at Woodside Cemetery Mausoleum with military rites by the American Legion Post 218 Color Guard at graveside. Memorial contributions can be made to the Breiel Boulevard First Church of God, 2000 N. Breiel Blvd., Middletown, Ohio, 45042 or to the charity of one's choice.

Paul Wells
Paul "Deacon'' Wells, 82, of Middletown, passed away Monday, April 27, 1998, at Veterans Administration Hospital in Dayton. The Denniston, Ky., native was born on Aug. 19, 1915, and had served in the Army during World War II. He was formerly employed as a core maker for Mosler Safe Co. in Hamilton where he worked for 15 years before retiring in the 1980s. Mr. Wells was also a musician. He was a member of a musical group called the Cimmeron Trio which played in Renfro Valley for many years. He was a member of American Legion Post 218 in Middletown. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Roy Moore of Franklin; a grandson, Gary Moore; three great-grandchildren, Gary Lee Moore, Jason Moore and Deanna Land; three great-great-grandchildren; three aunts, Callie Wells and Glenna Ricketts, both of Middletown, and Mattie Walters of Hope, Ky.; and an uncle, Oscar Wells of Means, Ky. A brother, Otis Wells, preceded him in death. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted at graveside by the American Legion Post 218 Color Guard. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Dorothy L. Wilson
Dorothy L. Wilson, 66, of Corydon, Ky., died at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 1998, at Community Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Ky. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bud Wilson, on Dec. 27, 1995. Her survivors include four daughters, Janie Overby, of Sebree, Ky., Debbie Shockey, of Middletown, Nancy Nally, of Uniontown, and Karen Nunn, of Henderson, Ky.; five sons, Bobby Wilson, of Corydon, Ky., Russell and Buddy Wilson, both of Sebree, Ky., Ben Wilson, of Princeton, Ky., and Mike Wilson, of Madisonville, Ky.; four sisters, Sue Ballard, of Spottsville, Ky., Georgia Floyd, of Dixon, Ky., Judy Osborne and Oneta Greenfield, both of Sebree, Ky.; six brothers, Billy Wayne, George, Larry, Doug and Howard Shelton, all of Sebree, Ky., and James Shelton, of Slaughters, Ky.; 16 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Tapp Funeral Home, 223 Third St., Henderson, Ky., with Gary Puryear officiating. Burial will be in Shady Grove Cemetery in Poole, Ky. The visitation was held Friday.

Everett N. Wolf
Everett N. Wolf, 75, of 3209 Glencoe St., Middletown, died Monday, April 27, 1998, at his residence. He was born on May 2, 1922, in Lebanon, Ohio, the son of Eldron and Sarah Wolf. He was retired from Armco Steel Co. where he had worked in maintenance. Mr. Wolf was a member of Old Pathway Pentecostal Church of God in Dayton and served as secretary and bookkeeper for the church. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. Survivors include his wife of seven years, Lurlene Catherine (Ferguson) Wolf; a daughter, Diane Jutte of Middletown; a son, David Wolf of Glouster, Ohio; a stepdaughter, Pastor Mary Combs of Miamisburg; a stepson, the Rev. Wayne Gifford of Morehead, Ky.; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Clara Jackson of Sardinia, Ohio; and a brother, Burt Wolf of Eaton, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters; and three brothers. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert Johnson and pastors Billy Wilson and Jack Wilson officiating. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the American Legion Post 218 Color Guard. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.