James LaRoche
James LaRoche, 82, of Centerville, Pa., died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001 at his home. Born May 29, 1918 in Cleveland, he was the son of Samuel and Rosetta (Kopkey) LaRoche. He had lived in Streetsboro for 50 years before moving to Tryonville, Pa. 18 years ago. Mr. LaRoche was a heavy equipment operator for Beck Sand and Gravel in Streetsboro. He was a member of Tryonville Methodist Church and was a former Streetsboro Volunteer Fireman. Survivors include sons, Raymond (Beverly) of Ravenna, Ralph (Joyce) of Mantua, Robert (Gloria) of Geneva and Ronald (Donna) of Centerville; daughters, Roseann (Barre) DeCapito and Ragna (Doug) Summers, both of Ravenna; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. His wife, Freda Mae, died in March of 1999. A son, Ross; daughters, Raelynne and Rachelle; and one sister died previously. Calling hours will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Shorts Funeral Home, Streetsboro Chapel. A private graveside service will be held Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Streetsboro, with the Rev. Norma Bates officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice.

Paul Warrington
Paul Warrington, 88, of 29357 Salem-Alliance Road, Salem, died Sun., Jan. 21, 2001 in Fort Collins, Colo. Born Jan. 13, 1913 in Damascus, he was the son of Thomas C. and Sara Mabel (Hall) Warrington. Mr. Warrington was a farmer his entire life and moved to Colorado in 1999. He was a 1933 graduate of Olney Boarding School in Barnesville and was a member of Damascus Friends Meeting House. Survivors include his wife, Rachel (Pollard); sons, Gordon of Ft. Collins, Colo. and Wayne of Mesa, Ariz.; two grandchildren; brothers, Walter of Ravenna and Lawrence of Santa Monica, Calif.; and sister, Clara Esther Hartley of Salem. Services are being held today at Damascus Friends Meeting House. Burial will be in Wilbur Friends Cemetery in Damascus. Arrangements were handled by Stark Memorial Funeral Home in Salem. Memorials can be made to the Damascus Historical Society, 28959 S.R. 62, Damasscus, OH 44619.

John H. Thomas
PARIS - John H. Thomas, 78, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2001 at Altercare of Ravenna. Born June 17, 1922 in Red Springs, N.C., he was the son of Henry G. and Effie (Boysworth) Thomas. He lived in Shalersville for 28 years before moving to Wayland in 1979. Mr. Thomas was a truck driver. He was a member of the Ravenna Eagles. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include his sisters, Frances, Ethel and Annette Goff, all of North Carolina; and companion, Dolores Anderson of Rootstown. His wife, Eleanor, died in 1981. There will be no calling hours or services. Cremation has taken place. Burial will be in Red Springs Cemetery in Red Springs, N.C. Arrangements were handled by Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.

John G. Kmetz
SHALERSVILLE - John G. Kmetz, 67, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at home. Born Dec. 25, 1933 in Buffington, Pa., he was the son of John A. and Mary (Velkey) Kmetz. He had lived in Maple Heights for 33 years before moving to Shalersville in 1995. Mr. Kmetz was an accountant for Ford Motor Co. until he retired in 1980. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include his wife, Wilma (Doyle), whom he married Feb. 5, 1955; sons, John A. (Christine) of Shalersville, William A. (Connie) of Ravenna and David of Broadview Heights; daughter, Debra (Jeff) Wisniewski of Mantua; six grandchildren; and sister, Bernadine Rable of Warren. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 p.m. until services at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Shorts Funeral Home, Streetsboro Chapel, with Msgr. Frederick Slaven officiating. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Ray Clark
SHALERSVILLE - Ray Clark, 57, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001 at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital. Born Jan. 24, 1944 in Ravenna, he was the son of Austin and Jessie (Kendel) Clark. He had lived in Windham before moving to Shalersville 17 years ago. Survivors include his wife, Judith (Galbert), to whom he was married for 36 years; sons, Scott and Brian, both of Ravenna, and Shane and Ray, both of Shalersville; daughters, Christine Campbell and Sarah, both of Shalersville, and Susan Nicholas of Ravenna; four grandchildren; his mother, Jessie of Ravenna; brother, Ernie of Brady Lake; and sister, Ethel Nemeth of Brady Lake. A daughter, Sondra, died in 1985. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Shalersville.

Henry P. Lock
EDINBURG - Henry P. Lock, 80, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001. Arrangements will be announced by Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.

George G. Yost
Former Streetsboro resident George G. Yost, Jr., 70, of Newbury Township, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at the Hospice of Western Reserve in Euclid. Born Feb. 26, 1930, in Bedford, he was the son of George G., Sr. and Maxine R. (Stancliff) Yost. Formerly of Streetsboro and Bentleyville, he had been a Newbury resident for one year. Mr. Yost was manager of Cleveland Metro Parks System, South Chagrin Reservation until he retired. He had worked part-time as a patrol officer for the Bentleyville Police Department. He was a Korean War veteran of the U.S. Army. Survivors include his wife, Hazel (McAtee), to whom he was married 50 years; sons, Nelson E. (Noni) of Mesopotamia, William G. (Gail) of Burton and George III of Newbury; daughters, Linda (Richard) Jablonski of Burton, Susan Blumer of Nelson and Elaine M. (Ken) Taphous of Elyria; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sister, Wilma Hull of Florida. Three brothers and a sister died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Shorts Funeral Home, Streetsboro Chapel, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, with the Rev. Nelson Yost officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Streetsboro. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Western Reserve, 300 E. 185th St., in Euclid.

Thelma F. Wilson
Thelma F. Wilson, 87, of Elyria, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at Altercare of Ravenna. Born Oct. 24, 1913, in Wellsville, Ohio, she was the daughter of Harry G. and Lillie (Stevens) McCuen. She formerly lived in Ravenna. Mrs. Wilson retired in the 1970s from the housekeeping department of Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. She was a member of the Community Bible Church of Rootstown, Christian Women of Portage County, and she was a former vice president of the Ravenna 60-Plus Club. She was a public speaker throughout the area. Survivors include her daughter, Beverly Wilson of Elyria; and two grandchildren. Her husband, Carsie A., died in 1968. Her daughter, Sarah Wilson; and tstepdaughters, Helen Taylor, Rhetta Walker and Ruth Battle, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, with the Rev. Roy Kelsey and the Rev. Marvin Morris officiating. Burial will be in Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Howard Allison
Attorney Howard Allison, 57, who practiced law in Kent during the 1970s and was a former Kent resident, died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001, after an illness of more than a year. Mr. Allison and his law partner, Bruce Miller, had a practice in Kent from 1971 to 1979, then practiced law in Akron. His cases frequently involved First Amendment issues and the fireworks industry. He was a member of the Akron Bar Association, Portage County Bar Association, Stark County Bar Association, Ohio Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Pyrotechnics Association, National Pyrotechnics Association and Ohio State Pyrotechnics Association. He also served as chairman of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1976. He was a 1969 graduate of the University of Akron School of Law. Survivors include his son, Scott of Akron; brothers, Sandford (Marie) of Las Vegas, Nev., and Edward (Joanna) of Munroe Falls; and fiancee, Carolyn Smith of Akron. His wife, Sandra Leslie, died previously. Services were held Monday at Gordon Memorial Home in Akron. Burial was in Sherbondy Hill Cemetery in Akron.

George H. Brenneman
SUFFIELD - George H. Brenneman, 55, died unexpectedly Monday, Jan. 29, 2001. Born Feb. 7, 1945, in Akron, he was the son of George and Margaret Brenneman. He had been a Suffield resident for 25 years. Mr. Brenneman was employed by Concept Freight for 37 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Survivors include his wife, Deloris, to whom he was married 31 years; sons, Brian and Randy, both at home; daughter, Michelle (Michael) Fenske of Mogadore; sisters, Betty (Will-iam) Cox of Stow and Joyce (Robert) Longbottom of Suffield; mother-in-law, Vesta Arnold of West Virginia; and sister-in-law, Charlotte Brenneman of Copley. A brother, Robert, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.Thursday at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home in Mogadore, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. Joel Cochran officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Hillside Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Suffield E.M.S., 1256 Waterloo Road, Mogadore 44260.

Vera A. Hansen
Former Shalersville resident Vera A. Hansen, 84, of Hartsgrove Township, died Dec. 24, 2000, at LakeWest Hospital in Willoughby. She was born March 27, 1916, in Shalersville. Mrs. Hansen was the owner and operator of the Hartsgrove General Store for 25 years. She also was presiding judge of the Hartsgrove election board. She was a member of the Hartsgrove Community Church of Christ, the Lilly Chapter Order of the Eastern Star in Hartsgrove, Hartsgrove Fire Department Auxillary and was a past member of the Hartsgrove Grange. She enjoyed church activities, basketball and playing pinochle. She especially loved her grandchildren. Survivors include her daughters, Peggy Lee (Tom) Dietrich of Chardon and Pamela Jean (Clifford) Hunt of Perry; five grandchildren and a sister, Clarice Cowell of Twinsburg. Her husband, Kenneth E.; her parents and a brother died previously. Services have already taken place. Burial is in Hartsgrove Center Cemetery in Hartsgrove. Memorials may be made to the Hartsgrove Community Church of Christ.

Norman O. Tisher
Norman O. Tisher, 78, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2001. Born June 6, 1922 in Ravenna, he was the son of Sylvester S. and Josephine V. (Burkey) Tisher. Mr. Tisher was employed by the U.S. Army Air Force Exchange in food service. He served in the Merchant Marines for four years. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis V. (Barker), whom he married March 6, 1960; brothers, Warren and Russell; and sister, Eunice Hill. His parents died previously. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements were handled by Shrine of Remembrance in Colorado Springs.

Bernice Frances Matusz
Former Ravenna resident Bernice Frances Matusz, 89, of Texas died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Born May 8, 1911 in Akron, she was the daughter of Roman and Adella (Swerzbin) Kapelczak. She had lived in the Ravenna area for most of her life before moving to Texas in 1997. Mrs. Matusz had been the office manager at the Ravenna Water Department and was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna. She was a member of the Alliance Poles of Ravenna and the Republican Women's Club. She also was a republican precinct chairwoman in Ravenna. Survivors include her daughters, Eleanor Mac Innis of Dallas and Linda (Terrence) Page of Redmond, Wash.; four grandchildren; brothers, Max (Nellie) Kapel of Fairlawn and Edward (Helen) Kapelczak of San Diego, Calif.; and sisters, Helen Kapel of Fairlawn and Lucille Pientka of Charlotte, N.C. Her husband, Frank P., died Sept. 6, 1992. There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Church, with the Rev. David Misbrenner officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Irene S. Disbrow
Irene S. Disbrow, 84, of Ravenna, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2001, at her home. Born Dec. 21, 1917 in Oneonta, N.Y., she was the daughter of Dennis and Edna Sullivan. She had lived in Warrensville Heights before moving to Ravenna. Mrs. Disbrow was a homemaker. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna. Survivors include her husband, Robert E.; daughters, Carol (Peter) Vaughn of Cleveland Heights and Suzanne (David) Sarvadi of Virginia; three grandchildren; and brothers, Francis (Virginia) Sullivan of Afton, N.Y., and Dennis J. Sullivan of Syracuse, N.Y. A brother, Harry Sullivan, died previously. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Thursday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, with the Rev. David Misbrenner officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna.

Lisa Dorian Lathe
STOW - Lisa Dorian Lathe, 44, of Stow, died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001. The Summit County medical examiner's office will rule on the cause of death. Born Dec. 28, 1956, she was the son of Lucile and John H. Lathe Jr. Miss Lathe was a special education teacher for Twinsburg Schools. Survivors include her mother, Lucile of Westlake; and brothers, John III, James and Jeffrey. Her father died previously. A memorial gathering will be announced at a later date. Burial will be private. Arrangements were handled by Jenkins Funeral Chapel in Westlake. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 3601 Green Road, Cleveland, 44122.