Lucius Lyman, 87
Lucius Bierce Lyman Jr. was an action-oriented businessman who was a firm believer in hard work and the power of positive thinking. That philosophy paid off handsomely for Mr. Lyman, who began selling cars with his father in Kent in the 1930s as the area was recovering from the Depression and helped to build their Chevrolet agency into the largest passenger car dealership in Portage County. But Mr. Lyman, who died Thursday, Aug. 19, 1999, at his Kent home at the age of 87, was more than a successful businessman. He also gave generously of his time, talents and wealth to a host of community organizations, doing so in the belief that he had a responsibility to set an example and "give back" to the community where he had prospered. "The world has a lot of problems that we can sit around and talk about or do something about," he commented in 1994, when the Robinson Memorial Foundation recognized him for his $100,000 gift underwriting health care services. Robinson Memorial was far from the only beneficiary of his civic-minded activities, which spanned seven decades. He also was active in the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, the Portage County Republican Party, the United Church of Christ of Kent, the United Way, Boy Scouts and the Red Cross, among others. Born Nov. 11, 1911 in Akron, he was the son of Lucius and Laverne (Bishop) Lyman. He graduated from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Philips Exeter Academy and Harvard University. His father, Lucius Sr., established the Lyman Chevrolet Co. in Kent in 1933, in the depths of the Depression, opening a one-car showroom and used car lot at 300 N. River St., now Gougler Avenue. "Lu," as he was known throughout his life, joined his father in 1936. Lyman Chevrolet Co. sold fewer than 100 cars during its initial year of business, but the aggressive marketing of the father and son team built the firm into one of Portage County's most successful dealerships. As their business grew, it became apparent that the agency needed more room than what was available on Gougler Avenue. When Mr. Lyman rejoined the firm after serving overseas during World War II, the Lymans' foresight led them to move the dealership to the west side of Kent during the suburban growth boom that transformed that area. In 1947, the firm became the first car dealership to locate on West Main Street in what is now known as Kent's "auto mile." Lyman Chevrolet remained in business for 42 years until Mr. Lyman sold it in 1975 to pursue other interests. He remained active in Transystems, a car and truck rental business, and later operated Recliners Outlet before he retired. He enjoyed the fellowship of his former employees and looked forward to hosting a Christmas party for them every year. While Mr. Lyman made a name for himself as an automobile dealer, he also had a high profile in the Kent community through his involvement with a number of civic organizations. He championed civic pride, fair housing and civil rights and hoped that his philanthropy would set an example for others to help worthy causes. Active with the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce for several decades, he was known as one of the chamber's most supportive members. He served as president in 1967, the same year the chamber presented him with its highest honor, the Kent Medal for Public Service. He regularly attended the chamber's annual dinner meetings, doing so most recently in 1998 despite his declining health. He loved politics and served as chairman of the Portage County Republican Executive Committee from 1950 to 1954, and again in 1961-62, and also as the GOP's Central Committee chair from 1954 to 1956. While serving as county chairman, he was invited to share the inaugural box with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He also was the GOP nominee for mayor of Kent in 1963. A longtime member of the United Church of Christ in Kent, he was one of the denomination's leading laymen in Northeastern Ohio. In addition to serving the Kent congregation in a number of capacities, including serving as moderator and heading the church's building fund when its East Main Street complex was constructed, he also was past state moderator of the Ohio Conference of Congregational Christian Churches in 1968. He and his first wife, the late Maxine Lyman, traveled to Africa on behalf of the church to study UCC mission activities in 1965, and reported on their findings to UCC congregations across the nation. He was a delegate to the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden. He also was chairman of site construction of the Church of Pilgrim Hills. He was past chairman of the United Fund, the Portage County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts of America, Summit and Portage Counties. He also was a past president of the United Christian Fellowship at Kent State University. He also was involved with Kent Citizens for Progress, a good government group active in the 1970s and 1980s. He was involved with the Portage County Soap Box Derby, which the Lyman dealership co-sponsored, for nearly 30 years. He also was a member of the board of directors of The City Bank of Kent and headed the Portage County Automobile Dealers Association. He also was a member of Kent Rotary, Rockton Masonic Lodge No. 316 in Kent, Tadmor Temple, Portage County Shrine Club, the American Legion and Twin Lakes Country Club. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, when he was discharged with the rank of captain. He served in the African and European campaigns for two and a half years and was decorated with the Bronze Star. Survivors include his wife, Ellen "Peg" (Amodio), to whom he was married five years; daughters, Joy Lyman Smith and Anne Lyman McKenzie; and four grandchildren. His first wife, Maxine (Skinner); parents; stepmother, Sarah; and brothers, Richard and Alfred, died previously. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25 at the United Church of Christ in Kent. The family will receive visitors from 1 p.m. until the service. Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel, is handling arrangements.

James Crafts, 86
James Spray Crafts, 86, of Sedona, Ariz. died Monday, August 2, 1999, at his home. Born in Mantua, he was the son of James Griffen and Jessie Spray Crafts. His mother was a correspondent with the Mantua Record and Record Courier. He was a Arizona resident since 1984. He attended local schools and graduated from Oberlin College in 1934 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts. He received a master's degree in fine arts from Teachers' College, Columbia University in New York and master's and doctorate degrees in education from Yale University. Mr. Crafts taught at California State University, Long Beach from 1957 to 1979 and served as art department chairman for six years. Retiring in 1979, the title of emeritus was conferred on him in 1981. He taught art in Wyoming, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and California. He served in the U.S. Navy during world War II. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and many art organizations. While in the Navy, his commanding officer saw the watercolor paintings of New Caledonia, Fiji and Australia that Crafts had completed during off hours. New orders were issued for him to do watercolor paintings of fleet post offices throughout the South Pacific to document how mail was sent to and from armed personnel in the Navy. Half of these paintings have been kept in the Naval Archives in Washington D.C. While teaching in college, during a sabbatical, Crafts returned to Portage County to do watercolor paintings of Ohio rural scenes. One of these paintings, The Mantua Railroad Station, is displayed at Hiram College. Later, after moving to Arizona, he was a juried member of the Northern Arizona Watercolor Society. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Louise Evenden Crafts of Sedona, Ariz.; son, Edward J. of Budapest, Hungary; daughter, Anita Crafts-Lighty of Staines, England; one grandson; and sister, Ada-Ann Crafts Webb of Ravenna. His brother, Captain Claude Crafts; and sister, Dr. Virginia Crafts died previously. Memorial services will be held Saturday, Sept. 4, at 2 p.m. at the Hilltop Christian Church in Mantua. Memorials may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., 116 John Street, New York, N.Y. 10034. The Wood-Kortright Funeral Home handled arrangements.

John Crozier, 69
WINDHAM - John Crozier, 69, died Friday, Aug. 20, 1999, at his home following a long illness. Born Jan. 12, 1930, in Pipe Creek, Ohio, he was the son of John and Mary (Warner) Crozier. Mr. Crozier retired from the Ohio Turnpike as a maintenance employee after 30 years of service. He served in the U.S. Army for 21 years and was a sergeant in the Korean War. He also enjoyed woodworking. Survivors include his wife, Janice (Duncan), whom he married Sept. 15, 1956; sons, Johnny and Ricky, both of Jacobsburg, Ohio; daughter, Joyce Quanida of Windham; one grandchild; mother, Mary of Jacobsburg; brothers, Charles (Virginia) and Gary (Chris), both of Jacobsburg; and sisters Bertie (Ross) Buskirk of Peoria, Ill., Helen Porter of Shadyside, Ohio and Geneva (Donnie) Galaher of Jacobsburg. His son, Jeffrey, died May 15, 1979. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home in Garrettsville and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Bauknecht Funeral Home, 3900 Central Ave., Shadyside, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. John R. Head officiating. Burial will be at Holly Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Grove in Colerain, Ohio.

Georgia Hodges, 82
Georgia Hodges, 82, of Ravenna, died Friday, August 20, 1999, at the Portage County Nursing Home. Born April 11, 1917, in Holmes County, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Anderson and Gertrude (Burks) Hicks. She had been a resident of Ravenna since 1991, having lived in Cleveland before that. She was a homemaker, and was a member of the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. She is survived by her daughter, Debra Allen of Cleveland; sister, Rosie McCall of Ravenna; and four grandchildren. Her husband, the Rev. Joseph Hodges, died in 1985. Five brothers also died previously. Services will be held at noon Monday at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, where friends will be received one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Issiah Moss will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna. Arrangements were made by the Shorts Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel.

Grace Sibbio, 73
A memorial service for Grace Sibbio, 73, of Kent, who died Saturday, May 29, 1999, will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1625 Athena Drive, Kent. The Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel, is handling the arrangements.

Joseph Mancino
Former Ravenna resident Joseph Mancino, 75, 266 Sherman Ave., Jersey City, N.J., died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1999, in Jersey City, N.J. Born Nov. 16, 1923 in Akron, he lived in the Ravenna area part of his life, and moved to Jersey City, N.J. He was in the Merchant Marines. Survivors include his wife, Ann, to whom he was married 54 years; son, Samuel (Terri) of Middlelon, N.J.; daughters, Elizabeth Ann (Dennis) Flynn, Mary Ann (Walter) Wein and Debra (John) Cossolini, all of Scotch Plains, N.J., and Rosanna (Gene) Conrey of Union, N.J.; 14 grandchildren; brother, John Mancino; and sister, Fran Cooley. Burial took place Saturday in North Arlington, N.J.

Michael Lloyd
WINDHAM - Michael John Lloyd, 49, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna after a brief illness. Born March 1, 1950 in Dearborn, Mich., he was the son of Richard R. and Helen L. (Fowler) Lloyd. Survivors include his wife, Cathy of Tiro, Ohio; daughters, Kelly S. of Warren, and Shannon and Cassandra, both of Tiro; two grandchildren; mother, Helen of Windham; brother, Thomas R. of Fort Myers, Fla.; and Darlene Fletcher of Windham. His father, Richard, died previously. There will no calling hours. Graveside services will be held at noon Thursday at Windham Township Cemetery. Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home in Garrettsville is handling arrangements.

Edith Novak
MANTUA - Edith E. Novak, 85, died Monday, Aug. 30, 1999, at Longmeadow Care Center in Ravenna following a period of failing health. Born Jan. 23, 1914 in Cleveland, she was the daughter of Steven and Mary (Prokoyovich) Novak. A resident of Mantua since 1927, she was a graduate of Mantua High School. She was a graduate of St. John's Hospital School of Nursing in Cleveland, where she became a registered nurse. She was employed for several years at hospitals in the greater Cleveland area as a surgical nurse, retiring from St. Alexis Hospital. In the 1960s. She assisted other nurses and physicians giving physicals and medical care on ships in the Great Lakes. During World War II she did volunteer work for the American Red Cross. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mantua, the Altar and Rosary Society and Infant Jesus of Prague Guild. Survivors include her nieces, Mary (Billy) Bowling of Ormond Beach, Fla. and Ann (Robert) Karpac of Atlanta, Ga.; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.Four brothers and four sisters died previously, including her sister, Mary Ann Novak in 1991. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Green's Funeral Home in Mantua. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mantua with the Rev. Thomas McCarthy officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland. Memorials may be made to Mantua-Shalersville Fire Department Rescue Squad, High Street, Mantua, 44255.

Norma Thompson
ATWATER - Norma (Britton) Thompson, 68, died Monday, Aug. 30, 1999, at the Longmeadow Care Center in Ravenna of natural causes. Born Feb. 2, 1931 in Akron, she was the daughter of Cecil and Clarice (Coffman) Britton. Mrs. Thompson was a housekeeper and was employed at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna for 13 years. She was a member of Rootstown United Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband, James; sons, James (Kathy) of Atwater and Kevin (Tammy) of Atwater; daughters, Jerri (Dennis) Summers of Rootstown, Linda (Lonnie) Pettigrew of Edinburg and Kathy Thompson of Palmyra; six grandchildren; and sisters, Shirley Weideman and Ruthie Fitzgerald, both of Rootstown. Her brother, William, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Services will be held at the Rootstown United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. on Friday with the Rev. Orion Aubihl officiating. Burial will be in Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Association.

Lee Liston
Lee Ralph Liston, 72, of Ravenna, died Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1999, at Akron City Hospital. Born June 9, 1927 in New Martinsville, W.Va., he was the son of Charles and Bessie (McCoy) Liston. He had lived in Ravenna for 58 years. Mr. Liston retired from Sta-Warm Electric in Ravenna where he had been a supervisor. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Ravenna and Ravenna Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1055. Survivors include his wife, Joyce Ilene (Carter); daughters, Mrs. Bruce (Sandra) Longenecker of Wadsworth, Mrs. Cody (Nancy) Myers of Ravenna and Mrs. Gary (Caroyl) Fowler of Windham; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Charles of Ravenna and Frank of New Martinsville, W.Va.; and sister, Lenora Marshall of Ravenna. His brothers, Kenneth and Jack; sister, Shirley Sapp; and granddaughter, Jennifer Speicher, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday.

Francis Thomas Hogan
Francis Thomas Hogan of Margate, Fla. died Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999. Mr. Hogan had been employed as a pilot and trainer for the Goodyear Blimp Operations in Ohio and Florida for more than 30 years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Garrettsville. Survivors include his wife, Alice; sons, Stephen Patrick (Sandra) of Margate and Michael Francis (Wendy) of Westerville; six grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Clifford Andrews of Garrettsville. His sister, June Donnelly, died previously. Services will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at Kraeer Funeral Home in Coral Springs, Fla. with the Rev. Larry Bergstrom officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

Sara Belle King
STOW - Sara Belle King, 68, of Stow, died Friday, Sept. 3, 1999, at her home. Born April 13, 1931, in Mather, Pa., she was the daughter of Glenn S. and Emma (Feller) Newill. A resident of the area for 48 years, Mrs. King retired in 1996 as head teller at Transohio Savings/Star Bank in Cuyahoga Falls. She was an avid bingo player. Survivors include her husband, Ron; sons, Daniel Porubsky and Joseph C. (Mary Jo); daughter, Linda (Dan) Hunter; eight grandchildren; brother, Glenn S. Newill Jr. and sisters, Erma Howdyshell and Betty Shimet. Her daughter, Susan, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Redmon Funeral Home in Stow where services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Crown Hill Burial Park in Twinsburg. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Kenneth E. Hahn
Kenneth E. Hahn, 67, of Seasons Road, Streetsboro, died Friday, Sept. 3, 1999, at his home. Born March 9, 1932, in Kent, he was the son of Roscoe and Ella (Luikart) Hahn. He retired from Hahn's Fine Foods & Bakery. He was a past member of the Rockton Lodge F. & A.M. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Korean War. Survivors include his sister, Kathryn (Keith) Burgess of Streetsboro; many nephews and nieces; and Vernon and Carla Bachtel of Streetsboro. His brother, Frederick, died in October 1996. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Standing Rock Cemetery with the Rev. Elizabeth M. Hazelton officiating. Memorials can be made to the Animal Protective League, P.O. Box 927, Ravenna, 44266. Arrangements are being handled by Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent.

Glen A. Koffel
Glen A. Koffel, 60, of Southington, died Sept. 1, 1999, at Waterbury Hospital in Connecticut. Born Aug. 4, 1939, in Lisbon, Ohio, he was the son of Paul Howard Koffel and Virginia Eels. Mr. Koffel was a truck driver for Sharp Trucking in Cortland. He lived in the Lisbon area for 23 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines, attended the Southington United Methodist Church and was a member of the Ohio Quarter Horse and Ohio Paint Horse Association. Survivors include his wife, Deborah J. Koffel of Southington; son, Jason D. Koffel of Southington; daughter, Dawn M. Koffel of Warren; and brother, Richard J. Koffel of Lisbon. His son, Michael A. Koffel and brother C. Paul Koffel both died previously. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Trumbull County 4-H Endowment, 303 Mahoning Ave., Warren, Ohio 44483. Arrangements were handled by James Funeral Home in Newton Falls.

Joseph S. Ruggie
AURORA - Joseph S. Ruggie, Jr. 62, died Sept. 2, 1999, at home from cancer. Mr. Ruggie was born April 11, 1937 in Cleveland. He was a partner with Thomson Hine & Flory law firm since 1973. He was chair of the firm's labor and employment practice area and served as a member of the firm's management committee for nine years. He also was listed in the publication, "The Best Lawyers in america." He was a co-founder, former president and a board of trustees member of the Shaker Schools Foundation and was actively involved in Cornell Law School's alumni association. He also was a member of the American Ohio State and Cleveland Bar associations, the Defense Research Institute and the American Employment Law Council. Mr. Ruggie also was an avid golfer, a member of Walden Country Club in Aurora and was a model train enthusiast. Survivors include his wife, Carol Ann of Aurora; son, Michael (Julie) Ruggie of Vail, Colo. and Peter Ruggie of Washington D.C.; daughters, Patricia (Gary) Conley of Cincinnati and Susan (William) Thomas of Missoula, Mont.; and stepchildren, Jennifer and Doug Morrison of Silver Lake and Shannon and Brian Conley of Chagrin Falls. Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. today at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, 19000 Van Aiken Blvd., Shaker Heights. Memorials may be made to The Joseph S. Ruggie Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, Cornell Law School, Attention Tammy Babcock, 260 Myron Taylor Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853-4901.

Edward P. Mollohan
Edward P. Mollohan, 70, of 3497 Nelson Mosier Road, Leavittsburg, the father of Sherri Allison of Rootstown, died Monday, Sept. 6, 1999, at his home. Born March 16, 1929 in Marpleton, W.Va., he was the son of Anna (Hutchinson) and Hank Mollohan Sr. Mr. Mollohan retired from the CSX Railroad where he was a brakeman. He was of the Baptist faith. He was a member of the U.S. Air Force. Survivors include his sons, Bruce A. of Southington and Edward B. of Braceville; daughter, Mrs. Sherri Allison of Rootstown; four grandchildren; and brother, Hank, Jr. of Corley, W.Va. His wife, Mary (Hartman), who he married Dec. 5, 1952, died June 30, 1996. His brothers, Charles and H.B.; and sister, Edith Kinder also died previously. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Borowski Funeral Home in Newton Falls, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday. Burial will be held in Braceville Cemetery.

Trent Smith Bunker
SHALERSVILLE - Trent Smith Bunker, 58, of S.R. 44, died Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999, at his home. Born June 3, 1941 in Adrian, Mich., he was the son of Loomis O. and Lenore (Wilcox) Bunker. Mr. Bunker was active on the family farm on Newcomer Road in Kent. Since selling the farm in the late 1980s, he had been a truck driver. Survivors include his brother, Lance C. (Nancy) of Somerset, N.J. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent, with the Rev. Elizabeth M. Hazelton officiating. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg.

Blaise Ferrato Jr.
STOW - Services were held Saturday for Blaise Ferrato, Jr., 47, who died unexpectedly Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1999. Mr. Ferrato was president of Akron's Wayside Furniture, which he and his younger brother, John, took over in 1986 after their father's death. Survived include his wife, Donna; their three children; three children from a previous marriage; mother, Anna Marie Ferrato; and 11 siblings. Services were held at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with the Rev. Joseph Lieberth officiating. Inurnment took place Tuesday at All Saints Cemetery.

Henry Turner
DEERFIELD - Henry M. "Jack" Turner, 81, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, at his home after a short illness. Born Feb. 28, 1918 in Bluefield, W.Va., he was the son of Rice and Henry "Maude" Turner. Mr. Turner retired from Foster and Kaiser Company in 1980 where he worked as a bill poster. Survivors include his wife, Elsie "Hon" (Elzholz), to whom he was married 49 years; sons, David of West Virginia and Jack (Gentia "Nikki" Woodhouse) of Deerfield; and two grandchildren. Calling hours will be held from 6 p.m. until services at 8 p.m. Thursday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Atwater Chapel. Cremation will follow.