Obituaries for the Week of October 2, 2002

Daniel S. Parkinson
Daniel S. Parkinson, professor emeritus of educational leadership, died Sept. 16 at his home in Oxford. He was 72. He was born Jan. 16, 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisc., the son of George Ambrose Parkinson and Mildred Jane (Smith) Parkinson. He was educated in the Milwaukee Public Schools and earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at the University of Wisconsin receiving the doctor of philosophy degree in June 1959. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War and taught for a time in the department of mathematics and science at Custer High School in Milwaukee. He married Charlene Phyllis (Pat) Pedro on Jan. 24, 1959. Before joining the Miami faculty in 1961, Parkinson taught at Wooster College. He left Miami in 1965 to teach at the University of Wisconsin and returned to Miami the following year. He retired in 1987. His research interest was in the local educational history of the Oxford area. He was co-author of The College-Preparatory Function of Wisconsin High Schools; Education, Man and Society; and Readings in the Cultural Foundations of Education. He is survived by two sons, Charles (Pam), of Camden and Marc, of Denver, Colo.; two daughters, Laura (John) Klaine, of Independence, Ky., and Michele (Andrew) Travis, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; one sister; a stepmother; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene "Pat" Parkinson in 1999. Memorial contributions may be made to Cobblestone Community Church, 152 Ryan Dr., Oxford 45056. Visitation was held Thursday, Sept. 19, at Smith & Ogle Funeral Home in Oxford, with funeral service on Friday at the funeral home.

Claudia Jane Clark
Claudia Clark, formerly of Lawrenceville, N.J. died Sept. 20 at the Hospice of Washington, D.C. Born in Mount Holly, N.J. May 19, 1953, she was the daughter of Herbert H. Clark and the late Celeste Grubbs Clark. A graduate of Rider University, she was Clark was awarded a N.J. State fellowship for post graduate work at Rutgers, where she earned her doctoral degree in history. Dr. Clark was an associate professor at Central Michigan University. While on a sabbatical at Miami University, she was diagnosed with cancer. Her most noted work was a book, "The Radium Girls," which traced the industrial poisoning of hundreds of girls in the 1920s and 30s who handled radium used in watches and dials. This work won her the Visaltear Award for the most significant work in public health in 1997. She is survived by her stepdaughter, Ella Watson-Stryker of Washington, D.C.; her father Herbert, and wife, Joan, of New Bern, N.C.; a sister, Nancy Clark and husband, John Weidmann, of Upper Montclair, N.J.; brother, David, of Boise, Idaho; and many special friends who loved and cared for her. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, 2687 Main Street. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Washington Hospice, 3720 Upton St., N.W., Washington D.C. 20216-2299.

Obituaries for the Week of January 1, 2003

Rose Burns
Rose Burns, 61, of Reily Township, died Wednesday, Dec. 4. She was born in Farler, Ky., the daughter of Joseph and Linda (Kilburn) Farler. Burns was employed as a cook at Miami University for 15 years, retiring in 1998. She was a member of Stahlheber Baptist Church. She married her husband, Vernon Burns, Aug. 15, 1964 in College Corner. She is survived by her husband; one son, Vernon Burns Jr. (Dawn) of Hamilton; three daughters, Julia (Robert) Baker of Darrtown, Sheila Burns of Oxford and Shari Burns of Darrtown; three brothers, Ken (Louise) Farler of Oxford, Clay (Velta) Farler of Morning Sun and Bill (Francis) Farler of Oxford; three sisters, Nola Numberg of Oxford, Eliza (Lee) Numberg of West Haven, Conn., and Carol (Ted) Slone of Oxford; two grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Nannie Faye Farler and Debbie Farler; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Frank and Lewis Farler, and one sister, Sarah Collier. The funeral service was Monday, Dec. 9, at Stahlheber Baptist Church, with Pastor Harold Thompson officiating. Burial followed at Rose Hill Burial Park. Brown-Dawson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Irey Basham
Irey Basham, 71, of Dayton, died Tuesday morning, Dec. 3, at Grandview Hospital in Dayton. He was born on March 29, 1931 in Estill County, Ky., to Thad and Rose Warford Basham. He had lived in Dayton for 35 years moving there from Liberty, Ind. He had worked as a mechanic in his younger years and had been working as a handy-man doing odd jobs. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, David E. and Joan Basham of Liberty, Ind.; daughter, Carmen Ashley of Hamilton; sister, Ruth Shepler of Liberty, Ind.; brother, Willie Basham of Piqua; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Sudie Hazel Hobbs. Private funeral services were conducted at the convenience of the family with burial in West Point Cemetery, Liberty, Ind. Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Baker-Fosdick Chapel, Liberty, Ind., was in charge of the arrangements. Obituaries for the Week of February 17, 2003

Georgina Silliman
Georgina Silliman, professor emerita of teacher education at Miami University, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Westover Retirement Community in Hamilton. She was 96. Silliman joined the faculty in 1945 and retired in 1972 after 48 years as an educator, the last 27 at Miami. She previously taught at public schools in Arkansas and New Mexico, Highland University in New Mexico, Monmouth College of Education in Oregon, University of Dubuque in Iowa, Austin Peay State University in Tennessee and Fairmont State University in West Virginia. She was named Oxford's Citizen of the Year in 1962 and The Cincinnati Enquirer's Woman of the Year in 1977. She was inducted into Ohio Seniors Hall of Fame in 1987. Silliman was a member of the Oxford City Council from 1973-77 and was the council's representative to the city planning commission as well as the representative on the OKI (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana) Regional Council of Governments. An active participant in community organizations, she was president of the Society of Miami University Emeriti, the Oxford Federation of Clubs and the Miami Group of the Ohio Education Association, among others. As president of the Des Fleurs Garden Club, she led the beautification project during which more than 1,000 seedling trees were distributed and the Inloes City Park was established. She was a trustee for the Area I Council on Aging, the Butler County Council on Aging and the Oxford Methodist Church. In 1965 she helped start the annual Hueston Woods arts and crafts show. For six years she served on the American Association of Retired Persons Legislative Committee, traveling widely in Ohio to help the committee promote legislation benefiting older Americans. In 1985 she was appointed as Ohio Coordinator for AARP's Citizen Representation program. She was successful on two major projects: compiling a bulletin, "Serving on Boards and Commissions," and getting House Bill 123 passed through the legislature. That year she was also appointed by Governor Richard Celeste to a five-year term on the Ohio Optical Dispensers Board, which licenses and controls all Ohio opticians. She is survived by three sisters, Lucille Brislan of Frankfort, Ky., Imogene Clemons of Hammond, La., and Carol Maloney of Tupelo, Miss.; one brother, John Silliman, of Camden, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation was held with the funeral service immediately following on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Miami's Sesquicentennial Chapel. Interment was in Camden, Ark. Memorials may be made to the Georgina Silliman Scholarship Fund, Miami University, Advancement Services Building, 926 Chestnut Lane, Oxford 45056 or to the charity of one's choice. Smith & Ogle Funeral Home, Oxford, was in charge of arrangements.

Robert A. Ratterman Sr.
Robert A. Ratterman Sr., 83, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Mercy Franciscan Hospital in Cincinnati. Born April 8, 1919, he was the son of John Clarence and Adele Ratterman in Cincinnati. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the South Pacific. He married Phyllis Davidson in 1946 and they lived in Cincinnati for all of their married life, except for a short time they lived in Louisville, Ky. He worked for over 50 years for Instantwhip, retiring as sales manager, and also worked part-time for Bill and Bob Bigner Appliances. He was a long-time gun enthusiast and member of the National Rifle Association as well as active in the Hamilton County MRDD program and the Franks Center Parent Group. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Ratterman; four sons, Robert (Emilie) Ratterman Jr., of Oxford, Charles W. (Debi) Ratterman, Richard J. (Jennifer) Ratterman and Edward F. Ratterman, all of Cincinnati; eight grandchildren; and a sister, Rita Heyl, of Cincinnati. Funeral services were held Friday evening, Jan. 24, at St. Antoninus Church in Cincinnati, with burial Saturday in old St. Joseph's Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Franks Center Parent Group, 5884 Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati Ohio 45248.

Cora Laverne Moak
Cora Laverne Moak, 95, of Collinsville, died Saturday, Jan. 25, at Mercy Hospital in Fairfield. She was born May 1, 1907 in Collinsville, the daughter of Frank and Clara Lambert. On June 23, 1928 she married Charles A. Moak in Xenia. She was a laborer for Harding-Jones Paper Company in Middletown, retiring after 15 years. She was a member of the Collinsville Presbyterian Church. She is survived by one daughter, Norinne (Ben) Hubbard, of Hamilton; eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Visitation was held Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Nein-Thompson Funeral Home, Camden, with funeral services immediately following at the funeral home with the Rev. Paul Hurst officiating. Interment was in Somerville Cemetery.

Thelma Raeburn Helms Bowers
Thelma Raeburn Helms "Granny" Bowers, 90, of 304 Harrison St., Liberty, Ind., died Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital. She was born on Dec. 14, 1912 in Blue Spring Run in Allegheny County, Va., the 10th of 11 children born to Josiah and Mary Emaline Bess Helms. Although she never worked outside her home, she worked long and hard hours to care for her family and home. She was an accomplished seamstress, and, until her failing eyesight prohibited the activity, she spent many of her leisure hours piecing quilts. She enjoyed cooking for her family and others and growing flowers. Many friends and neighbors knew her as "Granny." She and her husband, John Herman Bowers, moved to Indiana in 1949 from Craig County, Va., where they were married on July 2, 1930. She is survived by six children including Melvin Bowers from Harrison, Ohio, Robert J. Bowers in Liberty, Ind., Dale Bowers in Preble County, and daughter Gaynelle Friedley in Hamilton, Ohio. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 27, at the Showalter-Blackwell-Long Funeral Home, Baker Fosdick Chapel, Liberty, Ind. Burial was in West Point Cemetery, Liberty, Ind. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the "Granny" Bowers Fund for educational purposes in the Union County-College Corner Joint Schools through the Heritage Community Bank in Liberty, Ind.

Robert B. Hill
Robert B. Hill, 77, of LaFollette, Tenn., died Wednesday, Jan. 15, at St. Mary's of Campbell County. He was a member of New Horizon Baptist Church. He also belonged to Oxford Masonic Lodge #67, F&AM, Oxford. Hill's passion was squirrel hunting. He was preceded in death by his parents: John Henry and Minnie Jane Reynolds Hill; brothers, John, J.D. Fletcher, Lawrence and Elmer Hill; and a sister, Ruby Vincent. He is survived by his wife: Carol Hill; a son, Robert Jeffery Hill, both of LaFollette; step-daughters, Kim Garrod, of LaFollette, and Lisa Ogelvie, of Kentucky; three step-grandchildren; a brother, Luther Hill, of LaFollette; sisters, Lillie Phillips and Ruth Carroll, both of LaFollette, and Ethel Prater of Georgia; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Sunday Jan. 19, at Martin Wilson Chapel, LaFollette, with the Rev. Jim Wilcox and the Rev. Ralph Cordell officiating. Burial was at Queener Cemetery. Martin Wilson Funeral Home, of Lafollette, was in charge of arrangements.

Alma Marie Tate Myers
Alma Marie (Wolnitzek) Tate Myers, 90, of Oxford, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Oxford View Nursing Center. She was born Jan. 7, 1913 in Latonia, Ky., the daughter of August and Josephine (Groppengizer) Wolnitzek. She attended school in Cincinnati, McGuffey High School, in Oxford, and was a graduate of Hamilton High School. She then moved with her parents to Toledo. There she met James Joseph Tate, and they were married Oct. 13, 1939. He preceded her in death in 1987. They had one child, James Jeffrey Tate. She worked as a legal secretary for several prominent attorneys in Toledo, but her first love was her family. In 1988 she married Keith L. Myers, of Oxford, whom she had dated while attending McGuffey High School. She moved to Oxford and enjoyed a happy second marriage. She was able to celebrate her 90th birthday on Jan. 7. She was a devoted wife and mother. Her interests included visiting family in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, reading, attending symphonic concerts and live theater. She is survived by her husband, Keith L. Myers, of Oxford; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Sandra W. Tate, of Las Vegas, Nev.; step-daughter Doris Ponder, of Oxford; step-son and daughter-in-law, Calvin and Jill Myers; nephews, Richard Shera and Thomas Troutman, along with numerous cousins and other relatives in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Shera and Louise Troutman. Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Smith & Ogle Funeral Home, Oxford. Burial was Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery. The family has suggested memorial donations be made to The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.

Ruby Byers
Ruby Byers, 98, of Kettering, Ohio, died Thursday, Jan. 16, at Heartland of Oak Ridge in Miamisburg. She was born Feb. 23, 1904 in Oxford, the daughter of W.C. and Mary (Bonesman) Doty. She married Levi Byers on May 29, 1943 in Dayton. She was a homemaker. Preceding her in death were her parents and her husband. Visitation was held Monday, Jan. 20, at Nein-Thompson Funeral Home, Camden.

Gilbert Francis Hampson
Gilbert Francis Hampson, a resident of West Harrison, Ind., was born on April 29, 1929 to Riley Francis and Marjorie Eldon. He was married to Doris L. (Strimple) for 51 years. He is the father of Jerre (Lorraine) Hampson, Robin Hampson, Pamela Hampson, Daniel Hampson; great grandfather of Tyler, Nicholas and Trevor and brother of Phyllis (Albert) Coffey and Francis (Jan) Hampson. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. He was a graduate of Whitewater High School, a basketball player and fan, retired postal carrier, a lifetime farmer, a member of St. Johns United Church of Christ in Harrison, Ohio, member of St. Johns United Church of Christ in Harrison, Ohio, member of the Monday night men's church bowling league for over 40 years, retired member of Drewersburg Volunteer Fire Department and a charter member of Drewersburg Volunteer Life Squad. He died on Jan. 9, in Harrison, Ohio. Funeral services were held at St. John United church of Christ on Monday, Jan. 13. Burial was in Miamitown Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the church or Drewersburg Volunteer Fire Department and Life Squad through the John C. Brater Funeral Home, 201 S. Vine St., Harrison, Ohio 45030.