Helen Kirkland, 85
Helen V. Kirkland, 85, of Warren, died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999 at the Cleveland Clinic. Born Aug. 5, 1914 in Bellaire, she was the daughter of Charles B. and Elvia M. (Diday) Hart. Formerly of Braceville, she had moved to Newton Falls in 1958. Most recently, she resided at Community Skilled Nursing Home in Warren. Mrs. Kirkland was a member of the First Christian Church in Newton Falls and was a charter member of the Newton Falls Hobby Hunters. She enjoyed doing crafts and word search puzzles. Survivors include her sons, Gerald E. of Cortland, Edwin C. of Lordstown and Dennis of Newton Falls; daughter, Shirley (Ronald) Maiese of Braceville; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Howard R., died July 15, 1977. Her son, Ernest H., also died previously. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at James Funeral Home, 8 E. Broad St., Newton Falls, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Braceville Cemetery.

Grace Bennett, 85
Grace M. Bennett, 85, of Ravenna, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at Maplewood Care Center following declining health. Born Aug. 20, 1914 in Dott, W.Va., she was the daughter of Riley and Cozettie (Akers) Shrewsbury. Mrs. Bennett was a homemaker. She was a member of Ravenna Freewill Baptist Church and attended Family of Jesus Fellowship. Survivors include her sons, Jack (Theresa) of Kent, Ronald (Patricia) of Columbus, Fallie (Donna), Bob (Carol) and Ricky (Denise), all of Ravenna and Henry (Joyce) of Georgia; daughters, Rita (Edward) Phillips of Alabama, Yvonne (Clayton) of Rennessee and Patricia Griffith of Paris Township; 26 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; brother Lynniel Shrewsbury of West Virginia; and sister Evelyn Thompson of West Virginia. Her husband George died in 1979. Several grandchildren, brothers and sisters also died previously. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel where services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in the Charlestown Cemetery.

Kathryn Coit, 75
Kathryn S. "Kay" Coit, 75, of Kent, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at the Hospice Care Center following a six-month illness. Born Feb. 19, 1924, in Kent, she was the daughter of Karl and LaRilla (Overholt) Suek. She was a lifetime Kent resident. Mrs. Coit worked at the Ravenna Arsenal and for Twin Coach and TranSystems. She was a member of the Kent American Legion Auxillary. Survivors include her son, Thomas (Cynthia) of Shalersville; daughter, Lorraine (William) Schwartz of Kent; two grandsons; and brothers, William Suek of Silver Lake and Roy Suek of Florida. Her husband, Earl, whom she married March 25, 1948, died in 1993. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home where services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Mantua. Memorials may be made to the Kent Fire Department or to the charity of one's choice.

Grace Berg, 86
Grace H. Berg, 86, of Stow, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital following a short illness. Born July 4, 1913 in Rootstown, she was the daughter of John and Frances (Knapp) Guthier. She lived in Stow for five years, prior to which she lived in Kent. Mrs. Berg retired from Huber-Wise Electric in Kent. Survivors include her sons, James Maldinger of Florida, Wiliam of Stow and Robert of Arizona; daughter, Mary Ann Bland of Akron; step-sons, Richard of Deerfield and Kenneth of Lodi; step-daughter, Nancy Jackson of Warren; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sisters, Agnes Vogelsong of Arizona and Alice Cipriano of Florida. Her husband, William H. Berg Sr., died in 1993. Graveside services will be held at noon Tuesday at Grandview Memorial Park chapel with Rev. Bob Brubaker officiating. Arrangements are being handled by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.

Pearl Deuley, 91
DEERFIELD - Pearl Deuley, 91, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at Alliance Community Hospital following declining health. Born Aug. 30, 1908 in West Virginia, she was the daughter of Waitman and Alice (Gibsons) Jones. Mrs. Deuley was a homemaker. She was a member of the Alliance Baptist Temple. Survivors include her sons, Denzil (Effie) and Dave (Parthina), both of Deerfield; daughters, Virginia Hazel Kirkpatrick of Canton and Lynda (Lee) Hall of Alliance; 20 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and brotehr, Paul Jones of Craigsville, West Virginia. Her husband, Colonel, died in 1993, her son, Glen, died in 1992 and granddaughter, Tracy, died in 1994. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Atwater Chapel where services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Park in Beloit.

Joseph Geiger Jr., 54
Joseph A. Geiger Jr., 54, died Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 at Southwest Medical Center in Middleberg Heights. Born Aug. 28, 1945, he was the son of Joseph and Alice Geiger. Mr. Geiger was a chief radiographer for more than 30 years. He also was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Survivors include sisters, Shirley Doll Minor and Sandra Manzell, both of Streetsboro, Jeannette (Robert) Maggard of Sheffield Lake and Jeanne (Ralph) Dilla of Oregon. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Busch Family Chapel, 7501 Ridge Road, Parma, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Streetsboro.

Dale Yonker, 68
Dale E. Yonker, 68, of Ravenna, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, at home. Born March 3, 1931 in Shalersville, he was the son of Marcus E. Yonker and Martha L. Miller. He had been a Ravenna resident since 1956. Mr. Yonker retired from the transportation department of Ravenna schools. He was a member of the U.S. Air Force. Survivors include his sons, Terry L. of Hudson, Kenny L. (Theresa) of Mogadore, and Dennis E. (Debbie) of Kent; daughter, Sherry McClements of Steward, Fla.; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Francis of Texas; sister, Betty Devine of Ravenna; and Margaret Dusek. Two brothers died previously. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday will be held, with the Rev. David Bittinger officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Rolland Newcomb, 81
GARRETTSVILLE - Rolland E. "Rocky" Newcomb, 81, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999 at home after a long illness. Born Feb. 14, 1918, in Youngstown, he was the son of Seymour and Ethel (Knowlton) Newcomb. He was a lifetime resident of the Garrettsville-Nelson area and graduated in 1934 from Nelson High School in the 11th grade. He graduated in 1935 from Garrettsville High School, receiving a 12th-grade diploma. Mr. Newcomb worked for the Sears-Roebuck Company for 40 years as a retail manager, working at the downtown Warren and Eastwood Mall stores. He retired in 1980. He served at the Ravenna Arsenal in the munitions shipping department and also worked at the Rootstown Ordinance Depot during World War II. He was a former 12-year member of the James A. Garfield Board of Education. He was an active lifetime member of the Nelson United Methodist Church, an avid reader and enjoyed gardening and the outdoors. Survivors include his wife, Vera (Bell), whom he married June 24, 1939, and with whom he had celebrated a 60th wedding anniversary in 1999; sons, Robert (Debi) of Garrettsville, Donald (Tami) of Mansfield and Thomas (Kathy) of Parkman; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and sister, Marian Walters of Deerfield. His brother, Walter, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Green's Funeral Home in Mantua. Services will be held at noon Friday at the Nelson United Methodist Church, 9367 S.R. 305 in Nelson, with Dr. Andrew N. Mabiala officiating and assisted by the Revs. Paul White, Lorry Mabiala and Gerald Sanders. Burial will follow at Harrington Cemetery in Nelson Township. Memorials may be made to the Nelson United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 210, Garrettsville, Ohio, 44231.

Donald Richardson, 72
Former Ravenna resident Donald G. Richardson, 72, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., died Monday, Dec. 6, 1999, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Born Sept. 6, 1927, in Wayland, he moved to Florida in 1980 from Ravenna. Before his retirement, Mr. Richardson worked in maintenance for Sea Coast Gardens Condominiums II and III in New Smyrna Beach. Mr. Richardson was an active member of the Christian Life Center in New Smyrna Beach. He had a great sense of humor and would help change a tire or fix a roof and never ask for a penny. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; son, Elwood of Brimfield; stepsons, Lester Chastain of New Smyrna Beach and Timothy Klecon of Port Orange, Fla.; stepdaughters, Latricia Klecon and Darlea Chastain of New Smyrna Beach, Melody Day of Powdersville, S.C. and Nancy Johnson of Battle Creek, Mich.; 17 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brother, William of Floral City, Fla; and sister, Edith Porcase of Covington, La. His stepdaughter, Brenda Vandergrifft, died in 1997. A memorial service was held today at the Christian Life Center in New Smyrna Beach, with the Rev. Dr. Bill M. Sharp officiating. Settle-Wilder Funeral Home, 406 S. Orange St. New Smyrna Beach, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Christian Life Center, 1015 10th St., New Smyrna Beach, Fla., 32168 or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Dennis Stuntz, 50
MANTUA - Dennis A. Stuntz, 50, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999 at home under the care of his wife. He had lung cancer. Born April 13, 1949, in Newcastle, Pa., he was the son of Harold and Philaberta Stuntz. He grew up in the Akron area and had lived in Mantua since the mid-1980s. Mr. Stuntz worked in Chagrin Falls at B.F. Goodrich. He was a Vietnam War veteran and suffered from asthma from exposure to Agent Orange. Survivors include his wife, Patty (Barnard), whom he married in 1988; son, D.J. of Atlanta; daughter, Jennifer L. Stuntz of Mantua; mother, Philaberta; brother, Randall; and sister, Elaine Phillips. His father, Harold, and twin brother, David, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight and 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Kindrich-McHugh-Steinbauer Funeral Home, 33375 Bainbridge Road, Solon, where services will be held at noon Saturday. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Mantua. Memorials may be made to the Robinson Memorial Hospital Foundation, Oncology, P.O. Box 1204, Ravenna, Ohio, 44266.

Gertrude Dezort, 85
SHALERSVILLE - Gertrude L. Dezort, 85, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Born May 14, 1914, in Shalersville, she was the daughter of Rhinholt and Rose (Heritage) Berg. She had lived in Shalersville for most of her life. Mrs. Dezort and her late husband, Charles, had owned and operated the De-Orr Farms, which, at one time, had been the exclusive potato providers for the Dan Dee chip company. Survivors include her brother, John Berg of Mantua; sister, Eva Ban Drosky of Rootstown; nephew, Pete Ban Drosky of Rootstown; nieces, Debbie Ban Drosky of Seattle, Marilyn Baranyai of Ravenna and Janice Abram and Rose Henniger, both of Florida; and step-granddaughter, Charlene Lee of Florida. Her husband, Charles; and brother, Fred Berg, died previously. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Hillside Cemetery in Shalersville, with the Rev. Mark D. Lattimer officiating. Arrangements are being handled by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.

Ira Peck, 90
LEAVITTSBURG - Ira J. Peck, 90, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at home. Born July 22, 1909, in Summerset, Pa., he was the son of William Peck and Elizabeth Fergunson. He had lived in the Braceville area since 1942. Mr. Peck retired in 1975 as a time keeper for Warren Tool after 38 years of service. He was a member of Braceville United Methodist Church and enjoyed gardening and taking care of his yard. Survivors include his son, Harlan E. of Lewisville, N.C.; daughters, Mardelle Games of Braceville and Juanita (Norman) Cassidy of Sycamore; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. His wife, Elizabeth Pritts, whom he married June 4, 1927, died Jan. 4, 1985. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at James Funeral Home, 8 E. Broad St., Newton Falls, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be in Champion Cemetery.

Charles Jones, 47
Charles E. "Charlie" Jones, 47, of Ravenna, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at home. He is survived by many friends. Services will be held at 7 p.m. today at Newcomer-Farley Funeral Home, 131 N. Canton Road, Akron. Memorials may be made to Ravenna Township paramedics or the Portage County Kidney Center.

Robert Eastep, 75
Robert L. Eastep, 75, of Akron, died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at home. Born in Springfield, he was a longtime resident of the Akron area. Mr. Eastep retired from the Summit County Engineer Department. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, and he was a member of the American Legion, St. Martha Church and the Akron Arid Club. Survivors include his wife, Madeline (Ferrante); son, Russ (Sandy) of Ravenna; step-children, Tony (Larry) Norton and Joseph (Beth) Ferrante, all of Florida, Madeline Ferrante of Niles, and Louis (Linda) Ferrante of Akron. His son, Ronald E. Eastep, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at C.M. Rossi Funeral Home, 552 N. Main St., Akron. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Martha Church in Akron. Burial will be in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Canton.