Kenneth W. Mitchell
Kenneth William Mitchell, 65, of Edgewater, Fla., died Nov. 23 2004 at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. Born April 30, 1939, in Cleveland, he was a 1958 graduate of Chagrin Falls High School. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in Germany from 1962 to 1964. Mr. Mitchell was a truck driver for R.W. Sidley Co. in Newbury since 1964 and was a member of Teamsters Union No. 436. His hobbies were fishing, shrimping and automobiles. Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife, Jo Ann; son, Douglas, of Phoenix, Ariz.; daughter, Polly Jo, of Chagrin Falls; and sister, Sally (Lars) Larsen, of Chagrin Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Velma (nee Homewood) Mitchell. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 2 at Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, 95 S. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Regina F. Mull
Regina F. Mull (nee Brown), 83, of Newbury, died Nov. 29 2004 at Geauga Regional Hospital. Born Feb. 27, 1921, in Seward, Pa., she lived in Cleveland before moving to Newbury in 1946. Mrs. Mull was an assembler for Meter MFG, formerly API in Chester. She married Charles William Mull on April 18, 1942. He preceded her in death on June 30, 1988. Mrs. Mull attended Newbury United Community Church. She enjoyed gardening and latch hooking. She is survived by her son, William C. (Sharon) Mull, of Newbury; grandchildren, Lisa (Chip) Toth, of Auburn, and Robert (Becky) Mull, of Newbury; great-grandchildren, Matthew, of Auburn, Nicole, of Troy, and Ashley Toth, of Auburn, and R.C. and Tiffany Mull, of Newbury; and one great-great-grandson, Cameron Toth. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Fern (nee Brinker) Brown; two sisters and one brother. Funeral services were held Dec. 2, and burial was in Munn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Newbury Volunteer Fire Department, 11111 Kinsman Road, Newbury 44065, or the American Cancer Society, 7861 Crile Road, Concord 44077.

Cynthia L. Bashian
Cynthia L. Bashian (nee Kliner), 49, of South Russell, died Jan. 28 2005 at her home. Born in Wheeling, W. Va., on Dec. 12, 1955, she was a 1973 graduate of Buckeye West High School and member of Harrisville United Methodist Church. Mrs. Bashian was employed at Cleveland Clinic Foundation for 20 years and served as a supervisor-manager in the medical records and insurance departments. An animal lover, she volunteered at the Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center in Bainbridge. Mrs. Bashian is survived by her husband, Stewart, of South Russell; stepdaughters, Lauren and Michelle Bashian, of South Russell; father, Charles Kliner, of Harrisville; sister, Belinda Wease (Ray Garcia), of Brookfield, Wisc.; brother, Dwaine (Teresa) Kliner, of Harrisville; nieces, Erika (Patrick) Noud, of Burlington, Vt., and Mandy Kliner, of Harrisville; and nephews, Chris Wease, of Alexandria, Va., and Dustin Kliner, of Cuyahoga Falls. She was preceded in death by her mother, Grace Kliner. Funeral services were held Jan. 31, and a private interment followed. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center, 16497 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls 44023.

Richard F. Butler
Richard "Dick" F. Butler, 72, of Solon, died Jan. 29 2005 at his home. Mr. Butler is survived by his wife, Ellen C. (nee Cody); children, Eileen (Alan) Pomiecko, Barbara (Mike) Burko, Theresa Melick, Stephen and Mark (Sue) Butler; grandchildren, Catherine, Carolyn, Kevin, Alyssa, Matthew, Daniel and Ryan; and brothers, William, Robert, Marie, Patricia. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jerome. Funeral Mass was held Feb. 2 at Church of the Resurrection in Solon, and burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Cleveland Clinic, 6801 Brecksville Road, Independence 44131.

Josephine Carmosino
Josephine "Jo" Carmosino (nee Farinacci), 104, of Painesville, died Jan. 27 2005 at Lake Hospital Systems in Painesville. Born Aug. 1, 1900, in Cleveland, she resided in South Euclid before moving to Painesville 14 years ago. A graduate of Chardon High School Class of 1918, she attended Dyke Business School in Cleveland for two years. She married Joseph Carmosino in the Church of St. Mary of Chardon on April 28, 1951. He preceded her in death on Feb. 20, 1978. Mrs. Carmosino worked in the Cleveland Standard Building for Central Petroleum for 43 years before retiring in 1963. She was a member of St. Mary Church in Painesville. Mrs. Carmosino is survived by her sisters, Sally Gourlay, of Painesville, Tressa "Trixi" Richards, of Middlefield, and Frances Tiffany, of Perry; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Frances (nee Vitale) Farinacci; sister, Molly Vaccariello; and brothers, Nat, Don and Michael J. Farinacci. Funeral Mass was held Feb. 1 at Church of St. Mary in Chardon, and burial was in Chardon Municipal Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Church, 242 N. State St., Painesville 44077.

John D. Foust
John D. Foust, 91, a longtime resident of South Russell, died Jan. 29 2005 at Hillcrest Hospital. He was born May 7, 1913, one of 14 children born to Lawrence and Helen Foust, of Homer City, Pa. He served for six years in the U.S. National Guard before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1940. He served as a staff sergeant in Company B of the 110th Infantry during World War II and earned the American Defense Service Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in the Battle of Normandy. He completed his service in 1945. After the war, Mr. Foust worked at the Chase Bag Co. in Chagrin Falls. During lunch breaks at a small Chagrin restaurant, the Pantry, he met a young waitress who would become his wife and married Joan Heberlein in 1950. He then worked as a grinder for Carlon Plastics in Mantua and retired as group leader 30 years later. An outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping, he and his wife traveled throughout the United States in their motor home. He was an avid gardener and cook. A lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Chagrin Falls and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2629 color guard, he regularly attended national conventions, marched in parades and served one year as grand marshal of Aurora's Memorial Day Parade. Mr. Foust is survived by his wife of 55 years, Joan. Funeral services were held Feb. 3 in Chagrin Falls.

Ruth C. Griffin
Ruth C. Griffin (nee Capelle), 87, of Montville Township, died Jan. 30 2005 at her home. Born April 27, 1917, in Milwaukee, she lived in South Euclid and Chardon before moving to Montville in 1985. Mrs. Griffin was secretary to the junior high school principal with the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Board of Education and the library at Warrensville Heights Junior High School for 10 years, retiring in 1976. She married Stanley Lee Griffin on Aug. 17, 1946, in Milwaukee. He preceded her in death on Dec. 26, 1988. A member of the Pilgrim Christian Church in Chardon, she enjoyed sewing and knitting and volunteered with the Geauga County Senior Center and the Geauga Hospital Auxiliary. Mrs. Griffin is survived by her daughter, Gretchen (Ron) Mihalic, of Montville; son, Robert "Bud" (Eileen) Griffin, of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Betsy (Chris) Zemba, Scott and Kathryn Mihalic, and Brandon, Brittany, Nicole and Taylor Griffin; and great-grandchildren, Alyse and Madelyn Zemba and Tyler Lavelle. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Ida (nee Bendinger) Capelle. Memorial services were held Feb. 1, and burial was in Montville Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of Pilgrim Christian Church, 202 S. Hambden St., Chardon 44024.

Barbara E. Ladd
Barbara E. Ladd, 92, of Claridon Township, died Jan. 28 2005 at Blossom Hill Care Center in Huntsburg. Born Nov. 19, 1912, in Claridon, she spent most of her life there and in surrounding areas. A 1930 graduate of Chardon High School, she attended Kent State University and took business classes at area colleges. She was employed at Chardon Rubber Co. during World War II and served with the American Red Cross in Bari, Italy, where she worked as a recreation aide in an Army hospital in 1944 and '45. When she returned to the States, she was manager of a federal housing project in Muskegon, Mich., and later in Troy, Ohio. She returned to Claridon in the late 1950s and became a special librarian at American Society for Metals until she retired. Ms. Ladd was a volunteer for the Geauga County American Red Cross for many years. She was a lifelong member of the First Congregational Church of Claridon and served on the advisory board of Care Corp. She was a member of the Claridon Study Club and volunteered at Century Village in Burton. Ms. Ladd is survived by her nieces, Carane L. Ladd, of Munson, and Dr. Felicia A. (David) Dixon, of Selma, Ind.; great-nieces, Dr. Diane E. (Adam) Dungan, of Muncie, Ind., and Deirdre N. (James) Fulton, of Port Matilda, Pa.; and great-great-niece, Olivia E. Dungan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur M. and Carrie (nee Osbourne) Ladd; and brother, T. Dwight Ladd. Memorial services were held Jan. 31 at First Congregational Church of Claridon. Burial was in Claridon Center Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross, 121 South St., Chardon 44024, or First Congregational Church of Claridon, 13942 Mayfield Road, Huntsburg 44046.

George W. Morris
George W. Morris, 49, of Lake Milton, died Jan. 31 2005 at his home. Born June 19, 1955, in Union, W.Va., he resided in Newbury before moving to Lake Milton 20 years ago. Mr. Morris was a laborer for General Motors in Lordstown for 30 years. He married Sharon McCumbers on Nov. 3, 2004, after having been together for 33 years. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in Germany. He enjoyed flea markets and collecting old Chevy pickup trucks. Mr. Morris is survived by his wife, Sharon; mother, Pearl (nee Vance) Morris, of Newbury; sisters, Phyllis (David) Runyon, of Burton, and Betty Evans, of Newbury; son, Jason Morris; granddaughter, Savannah Fortier; stepson, Toby (Leslie) Ward, of West Virginia; and step-grandson, Dylan Ward. He was preceded in death by his father, George D. Morris. Funeral services were held Feb. 3, and burial was in Munn Cemetery.

Joseph B. Olenik
Joseph B. Olenik, 88, of Solon, died Feb. 1 2005 at University Hospitals of Bedford. He was a member of Valley Council Knights of Columbus 4893. Mr. Olenik is survived by his sons, J. Michael (Judy Jurkovic), of Walton Hills, Thomas C., of Solon, and Charles A. (Michelle), of Lyndhurst; and grandchildren, Michael, Melissa and Matthew. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 4 at St. Rita Catholic Church in Solon, and burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. There will be no vistation.

Arthur J. Pelander
Arthur J. Pelander, 83, of Bainbridge and formerly of South Euclid, died Jan. 28 2005 at his home of an apparent heart failure. Born in Lorain, he was a 1942 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was a sergeant serving in England. Following the war, he worked for Standard Oil Co., Sohio, and retired after 39 years as the associate manager of employee compensation. He received a degree in law in 1950 from Cleveland Marshall Law School while working at Sohio. The past president of the Cleveland Compensation Association, Mr. Pelander served on the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Board of Education for over 20 years and as its president for two terms. He was a past member of the board of directors of the School Management Institute and was active in the Baldwin-Wallace Alumni organization. He helped organize a local chapter of the Institute for Learning in Retirement and was one of the founding members of the B-W sponsored adult education program. In 1999, he returned to Baldwin-Wallace to take classes. During his retirement, through the South Euclid Veterans of Foreign Wars, he organized the local annual edition of the "Voice of Democracy" contest conducted with Beachwood, Brush and Regina high school students. He was a founding member of the Wesley Fellowship adult Sunday school at Church of the Saviour United Methodist Church in Cleveland Heights, a program in existence for over 40 years. He also volunteered in the church's thrift shop, the Treasure Chest. Mr. Pelander loved to sing and was a member of the church choir and South Euclid-Lyndhurst Recreation choir for over 20 years, where he also served as a past president. He enjoyed playing tennis every Monday night, including the week before his passing, at the Mayfield Racquet Club, and was a regular golfer at the Tanglewood Country Club. He also loved to travel, visiting Europe and the United Kingdom with his wife as recently as 2003. Mr. Pelander is survived by his wife, Carol Daniel (nee Parken); children, Barbara E. (Glenn) Hanniford, of Kent, and Bonnie P. (Thomas) Mack, of Cincinnati, John (Mary), of Tucson, Ariz., and Eric R. Pelander (Evalyn Gates), of Chicago; stepchildren, Thomas (Bridget) Goodridge, of Bainbridge, Stephen D. (Jennifer), of Springfield, Va., and Kimberly D. (David) Neff, of Philippi, W.Va.; 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and brother, Robert C. (Susie) Pelander, of Green Valley, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia (nee Rupert). Memorial services were held Feb. 1 at Church of the Savior. Memorial contributions may be made to Baldwin-Wallace College, 275 Eastland Road, Berea 44017, or Church of the Savior Foundation, 2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights 44118.

Jean Rinkoski
Jean Rinkoski (nee Kotis), 82, of South Russell, died Dec. 10 2005. She was a member of the Federated Church for 45 years. Mrs. Rinkoski is survived by her husband of 60 years, Don; children, Bruce (Linda), Dale (Nancy) and Douglas (Terri); grandchildren, Mary (Jon) Sterenberg, Emily and Holly; and brother, Richard (Jeanne) Kotis, of Kent. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Anna (nee Plantner) Kotis. Interment was at Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg. Memorial donations may be made to the Federated Church, 76 Bell St., P.O. Box 60, Chagrin Falls 44022-0060, or Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 E. 185th St., Cleveland 44119-1330.

Jean M. Bolton
Jean Marie Bolton, 82, of Chagrin Falls, died Sept. 16 2005. Born in Cincinnati, she was a 1941 graduate of Greenhills High School in Cincinnati and attended business school in Cleveland. She married Theodore Bolton in 1942, and they resided in Shaker Heights before moving to the home they designed in Chagrin Falls in 1951. He preceded her in death. Her great joys were music and dancing, which she shared with her husband and a large circle of friends. An accomplished pianist, she played piano for the church's Sunday school program for many years. Her other interests were flower and home garden, golf, card games and crossword puzzles, arts and crafts. She volunteered her bookkeeping skills to various organizations, including the Sassy Cat in Chagrin Falls.Later in life, she enjoyed traveling. Mrs. Bolton is survived by her sons, Bradley, a musician in Kent, and Gary (Cathy), an architect and university professor in Philadelphia. Memorial services were held Sept. 21 at the Federated Church in Chagrin Falls. Interment was private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Federated Church Elderlife Program, 76 Bell St., Chagrin Falls 44022, or Make-a-Wish Foundation, 24100 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 125, Cleveland 44122.

Clem Fischer
Clem Fischer, 96, of Thompson, died Sept. 15 2005 at Chardon Nursing Center. Born Dec. 9, 1908, in Eckhart, Md., he was owner operator of a trucking business for many years and was employed with Summit Lumber and Frazee Lumber companies. He served as a charter member of Wharton Furnace Union Church, which he helped build, and taught Sunday school for many years at Chalk Hill United Methodist Church in Chalk Hill, Pa. Mr. Fischer is survived by his wife of 72 years, Edna Mae Fischer (nee Lake); sons, Ronald (Pat), of Thompson, and Gerald (Ann) Fischer, of Darin Center, N.Y.; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Bertha Felton, of Breezewood, Pa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Cleveland and Malinda Jane (nee Deneen) Fischer; brothers, Elwood, Lewis, James and Arthur Fischer; and sisters, Virgie Decker and Grace Lynch. Funeral and burial was Sept. 19 in Pennsylvania. Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Pennsylvania Alzheimer Association, 100 Station Square, Pittsburgh PA 15219.

Rick Lloyd
Rick Lloyd, 63, of Munson Township, died Sept. 17 2005 at his home. Born Sept. 8, 1942, in East Cleveland, he was raised in Willoughby and had lived in Geauga County since 1979. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served two tours of duty in Vietnam, he was a retired truck driver and heavy-machine operator for several area companies and a lifelong horseman and cowboy. Mr. Lloyd is survived by his wife of 30 years, Susan E. (nee Channing) Lloyd; children, Glenn, Missy and Kimberly; brother, William (Pat) Lloyd; and sisters, Sandra (Al) Brownell and Christine Grenig; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Edith (nee Reichert) Lloyd. A celebration of life was held Sept. 20. The family suggests memorial contributions to the USEF Hurricane Relief Fund, 4047 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington KY 40511-8483.