Wathen W. Adams
Wathen W. "Woody'' Adams, 60, of 6032 Hamilton-Middletown Road, died Thursday morning, April 23, 1998, at University Hospital in Cincinnati. He was born in London, Ky., on Sept. 5, 1937, a son of Lee and Nellie (Harris) Adams and moved to this area at the age of 16. Mr. Adams worked for Armco/AK Steel Co. for more than 37 years in the basic oxygen furnace and the caster, before retiring in 1994. He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Clark) Adams; a daughter, Denise Isaacs of Cincinnati; three sons, Kevin "Bear'' Adams of Atlanta, Ga., and Kerry and Keith Adams, both of Middletown; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild; four sisters, Ruby Boyd, Thelma Gilley and Maggie Ward, all of Middletown, and Lena Miller of Gratis; and two brothers, Charles Adams of London, Ky., and James Adams of Middletown. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lovina Jackson. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Adam Hays officiating. Burial will be at Elk Creek Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

James R. Alfrey
Former Middletown resident James R. "Jim" Alfrey, 73, of San Mateo, Calif., passed away on Thursday, April 9, 1998, at Stanford University Medical Center following a lengthy illness. Jim was born in Middletown on April 14, 1921, and attended elementary and junior high schools here. He graduated from Middletown High School with the class of 1941. Before entering the service during World War II, he was employed by Shartle Brothers where he helped the company earn the Army/Navy ``E'' Flag. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1942 and served until his discharge in March 1945. During his tenure with the Army, he and his wife, Rose, fell in love with California and the Redwood forests. They returned to the area in 1946 after the war and made their home there. He is survived by his wife, Rose M. Alfrey; a son, Anthony J. ``Tony'' Alfrey, and his wife, Julie, of San Mateo, Calif.; a brother, William Alfrey Jr. of Excello; a sister, Bernice Moore of Middletown; and a niece and three nephews. Private services were concluded in San Mateo.

Dr. Milford E. Ater
Dr. Milford E. Ater, 82, a resident of Otterbein-Lebanon Retirement Community, passed away unexpectedly Monday, April 20, 1998. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Gary Peters of Bellbrook; grandsons Andrew and Matthew; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Carol Staten of White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; and several nieces and nephews. He was a graduate of Otterbein and Antioch colleges and the United Theological Seminary. He served as minister of Antioch Church in Brookville, Ohio, and was founding pastor of Normandy United Methodist Church (1955-1975). He served as director of the drug and alcohol rehab department at Springfield Community Hospital and also served as a trustee on several area boards and businesses. Dr. Ater was a member of St. Andrew's Lodge 619, Free & Accepted Masons, in Springfield, Ohio, Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton, and was past grand chaplain for the state of Ohio. He was a 33rd-degree Mason. Musically, he sang with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, the Scottish Rite Choir and several Lebanon area choral groups. He was an avid golfer and artist. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at Normandy United Methodist Church, 450 West Alex-Bell Road, Centerville, Ohio. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. today at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Normandy United Methodist Church endowment fund in Milford's memory. Arrangements were entrusted to Tobias Funeral Home, Far Hills Chapel in Dayton.

Lelia Belle Adams
Lelia Belle Adams, 88, formerly of Kensington Street, Middletown, died Monday, June 1, 1998, at Willow Knoll Nursing Center where she had resided for 2 1/2 years. She was born on Nov. 5, 1909, in Yale, Ky., in Menifee County, and had lived here since 1923. She worked as a cabinet maker for Miami Carey for 32 years. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Middletown. Survivors include a grandson and his wife, Phil and Linda Adams of Middletown; a granddaughter, Debbie Thomas of Palmyra, Ind.; four great-grandchildren, Chris and Amanda Adams of Middletown, Lorrie Watson of Palmyra, Ind., and Sheila Kinslow, and her husband, Mike, of Palmyra; and two great-great-grandchildren, Nina and Katlynn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Boone and Maggie (Phipps) Reed; a son, Philmore Adams; two twin sisters, Oldie Reed, and Goldie Roberson in 1997; and two brothers, Ledman and Paul Reed. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Herr-Riggs Funeral Home, 210 S. Main St., with Dr. Howard Sears officiating. Interment will be at Grace Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Grace Baptist Church in Middletown. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Oliver Adams
Oliver Raymond Adams, 77, of 5013 Roosevelt Ave., died Monday, June 29, 1998, at Sycamore Hospital in Miamisburg. He was born on July 1, 1920, in Nelma, Wis., the son of Jett Adams and Nannie (Kelly) Adams. He was a member of Amanda Community Church and the Armco Rock and Fossil Club. Mr. Adams was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps. He retired in 1983 from the YMCA where he had worked as the building supervisor for 34 years. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth (Ratliff) Adams; a daughter, Belva Meyer of Monroe; a daughter-in-law, Sue Brown of Middletown; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and David Brown; and a step-grandson, John Byrd of Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Charles Brown, in 1997; a twin brother, Orville D. Adams, in 1990; and two sisters, Mavis Cyrus and Eula Plummer. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with Pastor Bob Manley officiating. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Zora Applegate
Mrs. Zora Applegate, 83, of Monroe, died Wednesday, June 10, 1998, at Mount Pleasant Retirement Village. She was born on March 13, 1915, in Ary, Ky., the daughter of James and Melda Williams. Mrs. Applegate came to the Middletown area in 1936. She worked as a production operator at Raymond Bag Co. and was a member of South Middletown Church of God. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Wilson Applegate, in 1972; her parents; seven brothers, Adam, Harrison, Taulbee, Fernando, Tommie, Mitchel and the Rev. Bill Williams; four sisters, her twin, Zona Lawson Ferguson, Virgie Williams, Rushie Engle and Leona Lawson. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ed Cloninger officiating. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown, 45044.

Ollie K. Alexander
FRANKLIN -- Mrs. Ollie K. Alexander, 92, of Franklin, passed away Monday, Feb. 8, 1999, at Franklin Nursing Home. She was born on Dec. 10, 1906, in Owensville, Ky., to James and Emma Hatton. She had lived in this area for 70 years. Mrs. Alexander was a homemaker and a member of Meadowlawn Church of God. She leaves three daughters, Virginia Agee and Barbara Pelfrey, both of Middletown, and Ada Brooks, and her husband, Eugin, of Franklin; two sons, Bill Rawlins, and his wife, Dorothy, and Sherril Alexander, and his wife, Judi, all of Middletown; 26 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Rachel Dearing and Margie Rawkins, both of Winchester, Ky., and Edith Crawford of Lexington, Ky.; and a brother Wilburn Hatton of Corinth, Ky. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim W. Alexander; her parents; a son, James Robert Rawlins; a daughter, Zula Turvey; and two grandsons, Jacky Rawlins and Lloyd Edward Turvey.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home in Middletown, with the Rev. Clifford Jack Lawson officiating. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Matilda May Abrams
FRANKLIN -- Mrs. Matilda May Abrams, 85, of 5929 N. Union Road, died at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, March 4, 1999, at her residence. She was born on July 29, 1913, in Franklin, Ohio, the daughter of Walter and Nellie Malott Foster. She was preceded in death by her husband, William T. Abrams, in 1974; and a daughter, Linda, in 1981. Mrs. Abrams is survived by her daughters, Nellie Pitts and Wilma Lee, both of Franklin; a sister, Lillian Waller of Franklin; and five grandchildren, Wayne Abrams, Teresa Toppins, Amy Workman of Franklin, Julie Delph of Miamisburg and Sherie Little of Lebanon.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Unglesby-Anderson Funeral Home, 1357 E. Second St., Franklin, with the Rev. Dale Chambers officiating. Burial will be in Springboro Cemetery. Visitation is today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Middletown, 4414 Lewis St., Middletown 45044.

Arthur Edwin Adams
Arthur Edwin Adams, 63, of Middletown, died Friday, Feb. 26, 1999, at Middletown Regional Hospital. The Middletown native and lifelong resident was born on Dec. 18, 1935, to Arthur and Grace Adams. Mr. Adams had worked as a jeweler at Edwin's Jewelry in Franklin for 20 years. Among his survivors are two sons, Drew Adams of Springboro and Brian Adams of Germantown; a daughter, Cindy Ferguson of Lebanon; four grandchildren, Bo, Chad, Ashley and Jesse Adams; and three sisters, Lois Murphy, Phyllis Proffitt and Eleanor Gillie, all of Middletown. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Lillian Stubbs.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 1, at Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home, with the Rev. Eric Newell officiating. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Homer B. Adams
Homer Brent Adams, 66, formerly of Middletown, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 1999 at Middletown Regional Hospital. He had lived for several years at Carlisle Manor. He formerly worked for General Electric in Evendale as a welder and was an Army veteran who served in Korea. He is survived by his daughters, Debbie and her husband Danny Murphy, Connie South, Diane Adams and Jeanette and her husband Brett Hamilton, all of Middletown. He is also survived by his former wife, Alta Adams, of Middletown; brothers, Raleigh and Paul Adams, of Middletown; a sister, Marie Kimberlin, of Middletown; and grandchildren Catherine South, Rachel Adams, Jason and his wife Angel and Derrick Murphy; and great-grandchild Hannah Murphy.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be Tuesday at 12 p.m. at the Eaton-Anderson Funeral Home, 121 E. 2nd St., Franklin. The Rev. Doug Sczerba will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and last until the service.

Earl Agnor
Earl Agnor, 86, of Middletown, died Tuesday, March 9, 1999, at Middletown Regional Hospital. Arrangements are incomplete at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home.

Donald Ballinger
Donald Ballinger, 55, of Middletown, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at Middletown Regional Hospital. He was born on Feb. 26, 1944, and spent his entire life in Middletown. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War and received an honorable discharge. He worked at Jefferson Smurfitt for 29 years before retiring in 1995. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Rhoda Ballinger. He is survived by his wife of eight years, Rosie Ballinger; a son, Christopher Ballinger, of New York; a daughter, Helen Ballinger, of Middletown; four step-daughters, Gayla Gilbert, of Kentucky, Lisa Geno, of Columbus, Patricia Geno, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Sheri Geno, of Kentucky; 12 grandchildren; a brother, Phillip Ballinger, and his wife, Kathy, of Middletown; three sisters, Donna McCorkle, of Middletown, Betty Chippendale, of Florida, and Correne Flipen, of Arizona.
ARRANGEMENTS: Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Joseph Baker-Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Chris Tannreuther officiating. There will be military rites by the American Legion Post 218 Color Guard. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery.

Charles E. Allen Sr.
Charles E. Allen Sr., 94, of Middletown, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1999. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Corrine Allen; three children, Charles (Lubirda) Allen Jr., Vernon (Tajuana) Allen Sr., and Betty (Dr. Jerry H.) Davis; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, loved ones and friends.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1000 Yankee Road, with the Rev. Leon Wilkinson officiating. Interment will be at Woodside Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. Saturday until time of service at the church. Arrangements are by Hall-Jordan Memorial Chapel.

Farmer Amis
FRANKLIN -- Farmer Amis, 85, of 811 South Ave., died Monday, Feb. 22, 1999, at Sycamore Hospital in Miamisburg. He was born in Buckhorn, Ky., on Feb. 19, 1914, the son of Robert and Martha Deaton Amis. He served in the U.S. Navy for three years during World War II as a gunner's mate on the U.S.S. Roper. Mr. Amis was employed by the Miami Paper Co. in West Carrollton for more than 20 years and retired in 1976. He was a member of the Johnson United Baptist Church in Buckhorn, Ky., and the 60 Plus or Minus Club. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Mitchell, Willie and Vernus Amis; and three sisters, Callie and Bessie Riley and Nellie Deaton. Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Charlene Deaton Amis; four sons, Damon Amis, and his wife, Karen, of Monroe, Jerry and David Amis, both of Middletown and Roger Amis, and his wife, Lisa, of Middletown; two daughters, Sharon, and her husband, William Kestermann, of Middletown, and Sheri, and husband, Mark Engert, of Blacklick, Ohio; a brother, Dan Amis of Buckhorn, Ky.; a sister, Clara Combs of Farmersville, Ohio; and eight grandchildren, Brian, Christopher and Brittany Amis, Amber and Ashley Engert, and Betsy, Brandy and Zachary Amis.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services are set for 2 p.m. Friday at the Breathitt Funeral Home in Jackson, Ky. Burial will be in Amis Cemetery in Buckhorn, Ky. Visitation will be Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Unglesby-Anderson Funeral Home, 1357 E. Second St., in Franklin, Ohio; and also from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the Breathitt Funeral Home in Jackson, Ky.
MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or the Alzheimer's Association.

Violet Arthur
Violet (Vi) Arthur, 77, died at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 14, 1999, at Middletown Regional Hospital after a short illness. She was born Feb. 17, 1922 in Middletown. She was employed by the Raymond Bag Co. and Dohn's Hardware. She married Earl Arthur Nov. 18, 1946. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Arthur taught hat designing classes at the YMCA and enjoyed writing poetry and children's stories. She was active in cub scouts, serving as a den mother. She has been a longtime member of First Baptist Church. Devoted husband Earl; loving son Steve and his wife, Iva, and adoring grandson Adam survive her. Also surviving are a brother, Charles Terrell of Hamilton, and a sister, Myra Norton of Port Charlotte, Fla. Her mother, Mabel Jackson, a brother, Mitchell Terrell, and a sister, Ada Wireman, preceded her in death.
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral services will be on Wednesday at Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home with the Rev. Roland Marcus officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. and the funeral will follow at 3 p.m. Burial will be at Woodside Cemetery.
MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association in lieu of flowers.