Robert "Bob" J. Starcher
Robert "Bob" J. Starcher, 82, died Saturday Dec. 23, 2000. Born in Uniontown, he lived in the Akron area all his life. Mr. Starcher was employed by General Tire and Rubber for 36 years. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army who served in France. He was an avid fisherman of Rice Lake, Ontario, Canada. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Thelma; sons, David L. (Lana) of Edinburg and Terry L. (Paula) of Rootstown; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brothers, Ralph, Edward and James Starcher. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home in Akron where services will be held at noon on Thursday. Burial will be in Edinburg Cemetery.

Yvonne E. "Bunny" Giallombardo
Yvonne E. "Bunny" Giallombardo, 71, of Ravenna, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2000. Born Aug. 11, 1929 in Youngstown, she was the daughter of John and Rose Volpe. Mrs. Giallombardo was a bookeeper and librarian at Case Western Reserve University. She was known for the roses she grew at their home. Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Salvadore. There will be no calling hours or services. Arrangements were made by the Adams-Mason Memorial Chapel, 791 E. Market St., Akron.

Irenne Henry
Irenne Henry, 80, of Yacavona Drive, Kent, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2000, at home. Born Jan. 15, 1920, she was the daughter of Alphonse and Catherine (Reckert) Fournier. Mrs. Henry was a member of St. Patrick Church in Kent. Survivors include her sons, Joseph and John, both of Kent; daughters Virginia Maruschak of Chesterland and Jeanne Gusler of Kent; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother Robert Fournier of Toledo; and sisters Lucille Hinkle of Erie, Mich., and Virginia Sczychowski of Toledo. Her husband, John Henry, and sister, Ruth Saxenmeyer, died previously. There will be no calling hours. A service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick Church, with the Rev. Tom Kraszewski officiating. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.

Keith L. "Red" Wilcox
Keith L. "Red" Wilcox, 54, of Ravenna died suddenly Monday, Dec. 25, 2000, at home. Born Nov. 22, 1946 in Auburn, Ind., he was the son of Warren and Dorothy (Gump) Wilcox. He had lived in the Ravenna area for more than 16 years. Mr. Wilcox worked at Hudson Electric for 31 years until he retired. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. In addition to his mother, who lives in Brady Lake, survivors include his wife, Drenda (Pettit); son, Larry of Ravenna; stepchildren, David and Kelly Jacobs of Warren and Georgetta Jacobs of Massillon; seven grandchildren; and sisters, Barb (Ted) Lauck of Brady Lake, Carol Kennedy of Ravenna, Lovina Wright of Ravenna and Loretta (Mike) Veres of Medina. His father died previously. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel (www.legacy.com). Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Grandview Memorial Park Chapel, with the Rev. Ed Peterson officiating.

Malcolm J. Brown
Malcolm J. Brown, 63, of Madison (Lake County) died Friday Dec. 22, 2000, at the Cleveland Clinic following heart surgery. Born June 25, 1937, in Cleveland, he was the son of the late Malcolm and Jessie (Graham) Brown. He lived in Mantua for 51 years before moving to Madison six years ago. Mr. Brown was a meat cutter for Kroger's in Ravenna for 18 years, then for Porter's IGA in Garrettsville. He retired in 1993. He was a member of People's Church/Christian and Missionary Alliance in Geneva where he was active in choir, missions committee and Alliance men. He enjoyed his family, many friends, the church, and debating politics. He took great pride in his Scottish heritage. Surviving are his wife of 11 years, Sharon (Payden); son, Jeffrey of Leesville, La; daughters, Sheri Kirkwood of Fort Wayne, Ind., Lauri (David) Boettler of Ravenna, Terri (Rick) Rousselo of Monroe, Mich.; stepchildren, James (Stefani) Vechery of Cuyahoga Falls, Barbara (Ken) Presler of Mentor, Suzanne (Chris) McGhee of Geneva, Patricia (Tim) Akey of Painesville and Julie (Aaron) Blevins of Bristol, Tenn.; 20 grandchildren; twin brother, Milton of Quito, Ecuador; brothers John (Eleanor) of Montross and James (Sandra) of Streetsboro; a sister, Joan Harmon of Mantua. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 9018 S.R. 44, in Shalersville. His body has been cremated. Memorials may be made to the Malcolm J. Brown Memorial Fund, c/o People's Church, 300 S. Ridge Road, Geneva, Ohio 44041.

Raymond George Price
Raymond George Price, 59, of Braceville Township died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2000, at home. Born July 26, 1941, in Cleveland, he was the son of Ralph G. and Arline (Hecker) Price. He had lived in Bainbridge Township before moving to Leavittsburg in 1978. Mr. Price owned and operated Pin Oak Acres Campground in Leavittsburg. He also was a die cast relief operator with Lester Precision Die Casting in Solon. He was past president of the Train Collectors Association and contributed writings to many train books. He collected Marx Trains and helped start the train club at the Bedford Historical Society. In addition to his parents, who live in Groveland, Fla., survivors include his wife, Eleanore (Golden) Price, to whom he had been married 37 years; daughters, Kelly (Jim) Nethken of Brimfield, Pamela (Brad) Crislip of Ravenna and Amanda (Jamie) Horvath of Lakewood; five grandchildren; and brothers, Richard (Loretta) Price and Robert (Cheryl) Price, both of Mt. Verde, Fla. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Shorts Funeral Home in Ravenna, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, with Deacon Russell Brode officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Theodore Joseph Gedeon
Theodore Joseph Gedeon, 88, of Southington ,died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born Nov. 7, 1912 in Bloomfield, Pa., he was the son of Geza and Helen (Nehelka) Gedeon. He lived in Warren before moving to Southington in 1948. Mr. Gedeon was a Supervisor of Line No. 1 and a munitions inspector for the U.S. Army for 32 years, until he retired in 1972. He founded the APCO at the Ravenna Arsenal. An accomplished archer and marksman, he was a life member of the National Rifle Association and belonged to other sportsmen's and conservation clubs. He was a former member of the Rainbow Riders and the American Quarter Horse Association. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and going to auctions. Survivors include his wife, Winnifred (Jones), whom he married May 12, 1944; sons, Daniel D. of Leavittsburg, Theodore E. of Munson and Edward G. of Preston, Md.; daughters, Mrs. Joe (Edie) Riggle of Southington and Mrs. William (Johanna) Wilson of Nelson; 10 grandchildren; brothers, Rudolph of Warren and A. Ben of Linesville, Pa.; and sisters, Irma Cox of Boardman and Caroline Hipple of Warren. His son, Peter J.; brother, Ernie; and sisters, Mary Wilson and Elizabeth, Betty and Joanna Gedeon, died previously. Visitation will be held from noon until services at 1 p.m. Friday at First Church of God in Newton Falls. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna. Arrangements are being handled by James Funeral Home in Newton Falls. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley.

Craig A. Christopher
BRIMFIELD - Craig A. "Screwy" Christopher, 45, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2000, at home after a long illness. Born Aug. 2, 1955 in Berea, he was the son of Frank and Jewell (Sickefoose) Christopher. He was a longtime Brimfield and Portage area resident. Mr. Christopher was the owner of Screwy Louie's in Kent. He was active in the Ravenna chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. He also enjoyed race cars and was an avid jet skier, four-wheeler and snowmobiler. In addition to his parents, who live in Sidney, survivors include his wife, Randi, to whom he had been married eight years; daughter, Kori, at home; and sister, Sherry Watson of Sidney. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel, where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, with Daniel Koorey officiating. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick School in Kent.

Cory Pelfrey
ALLIANCE - Funeral services for Mount Union College freshman Cory Pelfrey, who was killed in an early morning automobile crash Wednesday, will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Murray Funeral Home, 173 S. Main St., Creston. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Anne Catholic Church, 139 S. First St., Rittman. Memorials may be made to the Cory Pelfrey Scholarship, c/o Stebbins National Bank, P.O. Box 1113 Creston 44217.

Christina Heeter
Christina K. Heeter, 17, of Ravenna, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2000, following a long battle with cancer. Services will be announced by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.

Christina Kae Heeter
Christina Kae Heeter quoted her dad Herbert Heeter Jr. in a school paper she recently wrote. "Heeters never give up without a fight. And we always win." Christina fought her battle against cancer and on Thursday, she lost. The 17-year-old Ravenna High School senior died at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna where she had been confined since earlier this month. Her battle started in May 1999, with a chronic cough. Then she discovered a lump near her collarbone. She wrote in the paper about a CAT scan she took at Robinson and her life with cancer. "I'd never had a CAT scan before and it scared me...The machine I laid on moved me into a tunnel. 'Oh God, Please help me. I'm afraid. Please let me be ok. Please.' I prayed like I had never prayed before." Then it became time for a biopsy and surgery was scheduled for the next morning. "I trembled with fear and held onto my mom's hand. I didn't want to let go. 'Be strong, Christina,' I told myself over and over." While at home Christina spent her time on her computer and chatting with friends on the telephone. Christina's mother, Marcia Miley, brought a small porcelain angel holding a kitten to her hospital bed. Christina loved cats. "It was about four inches tall and was holding a kitten. It made me think of me dying and becoming an angel. A single tear rolled down my cheek. I wish this wasn't happening." A week later she was in the oncologist's waiting room when she got the bad news. It was Hodgkin's disease. "I couldn't concentrate on anything but the picture hanging on the wall. It was bright with flowers, lots of colors blurring together from the uncried tears in my eyes. I decided right then and there I would be the strong one. I knew I could do it. I had to, for my family and friends," she wrote. "Over the course of time I faced the most pain I had ever felt. I don't know how I endured the loneliness and fatigue I experienced...I am only sixteen." "Sweet sixteen isn't so sweet for me."
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Christina Kae Heeter, 17, of Ravenna died Thursday at Robinson Memorial Hospital following a long battle with cancer. Born April 3, 1983, in Cuyahoga Falls, she was the daughter of Herb Heeter Jr. and Marcia (Engelhardt) Heeter. Miss Heeter was a senior at Ravenna High School where she was an honor student. She enjoyed drawing, chatting on her computer and she was involved in choir at school. She is survived by her mother, Marcia and step-father, Brad Miley; her father, Herb (Vicky Johnson) Heeter Jr. of Ravenna; sister, Angela (Aaron) Brych of Ravenna; grandparents, Ruth Engelhardt of Ravenna, and Herb and Tina Heeter of Ravenna. Her grandparents, Harry and Gladys Griggy and Francis Engelhardt died previously. Calling hours are 2 to 5 p.m. today at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel (WWW.Dignitymemorial.com) where services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday with Msgr. Robert Sabatino officiating. A private burial will be held for the family at Maple Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family in care of the funeral home to help defray funeral expenses. Any excess proceeds will be given to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Judith A. Labajetta, 56
Judith A. Labajetta, 56, of Kent died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2000. She was an area resident for 32 years and worked as an auditor for the State of Ohio, retiring in 1991. Survivors include son, Michael (Jeri) Bennett; daughter, Jennifer Labajetta; and a granddaughter, all of Kent. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until the time of the service at 3 p.m. Sunday at Dunn-Quigley-Ciriello & Carr Funeral Home, Stow Chapel. Memorials may be made to the family.