Gary A. Barauskas
WADSWORTH TWP. -- Gary A. Barauskas, 51, died Tuesday, March 31, 1998, at his residence, after a six-month illness. Mr. Barauskas was born in Akron and resided in the Wadsworth area 27 years. He was a driver-salesman in the Medina area for the House of LaRose for 27 years. Mr. Barauskas was involved with youth football for 28 years, currently serving as league commissioner. He was a former member of the Wadsworth Jaycees and a former Union Steward of Teamsters Local 348. He enjoyed his family, friends, and sports. Mr. Barauskas is survived by wife, Garnette (nee Landrum); son, Keith A. of Wadsworth; daughter, Lori A. of Stow; parents, Anthony and Betty; sister, Wendy Givens; brother, George, all of Springfield Township; and brother, Mark of Ellet. The family will receive friends Friday, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Hilliard Cox Mullaney Funeral Home, 174 N. Lyman St., Wadsworth, where services will be held Saturday, 11 a.m., Rev. Stephen E. McMaster officiating. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. (Hilliard Cox Mullaney, 334-1501.)

JoAnne E. Barlow
DOYLESTOWN -- JoAnne E. Barlow 66, died April 4, 1998. Born on Barberton she had lived in Stow and Doylestown. Surviving are husband, Dick; sons, Jeffrey and Dick; grandchildren, Heather, Benny, Courtney, Ashten, Jacob; great-grandson Hunter; brothers, James and Jerry Wagner; and sister, Joyce Miller. Funeral services Wednesday 1 PM at the Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home. Burial Greenlawn cemetery. Visitation Tuesday 5 to 9 PM. (Campfield-Hickman-Collier, 745-3161)

Edward R. Barncord
MOGADORE -- Edward R. Barncord, 73, passed away April 7, 1998. Born in McKeesport, Pa., he was a longtime Akron resident, and retired from the Terex Division of General Motors as a steel fabricator. He also was a proud Navy veteran of World War II and a member of American Legion Post 209 since 1960. Preceded in death by wife, Alice, he is survived by daughters, Deborah (Roger) Huffman of Doylestown, and Rebecca Barncord and Max Jones; grandson, Jeffrey Huffman; good friends, Karen Petrovic and Lauren Petush; sisters, Midge Myers of Pennsylvania, Beatrice Cummins of Pennsylvania, and Donna Smith of Maryland; brother, James Barncord of Florida; and several nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral services Friday, 1 p.m., at the Eckard-Baldwin Funeral Chapel, 760 E. Market St., Rev. Ronald Slonaker officiating. Interment at Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna, where a veterans service will be held. Friends may call at the funeral home TODAY, 5 to 7 p.m. (Eckard-Baldwin Funeral Home & Chapel, 535-7141.)

Jon Michael Barrett
Jon Michael ``Uncle Mikie'' Barrett, 50, died Sunday, April 5, 1998 after a sudden illness. A lifetime resident, Jon was a member of Holy Family Parish and was also employed by the parish to care for maintenance to the church, school and property. At one time he donated his time as a volunteer for Good Neighbors in Cuyahoga Falls. He was a Viet Nam Veteran. His survivors include wife, Jo Ann; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Joseph Waldeck of Stow; son, Dave Caplinger of Kent; grandchildren, Nicholas, and Joli; sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris and Jack Prochnow of Stow, Pat and Jack Clark of Munroe Falls, Barbara Smith of Newport Ritchy, Fla.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Colette of Munroe Falls, Larry and Betsy Meadows of Cuyahoga Falls; 20 nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 on Tuesday at the Dunn-Quigley Ciriello & Carr Stow Chapel (Kent Rd. at Rt. 91). Mass of the Christian Burial will be on Wednesday at 10:30 at Holy Family Church. Memorial donations may be made to Good Neighbors of Cuyahoga Falls (1809 Munroe Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221). (Dunn-Quigley Ciriello & Carr, Stow, 688-3866.)

Vera Baston
GREENTOWN -- Vera Baston, 63, passed away Thursday evening. ``When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory then becomes a treasure.'' Vera was a member of Greentown Garden Club. She is survived by husband of 43 years, Phillip; parents, Russell and Geraldine Robinson of Billington, W. Va.; son and daughter-in-law, Rodney and Annette of Arizona; daughter and son-in-law, Gwen and Ron Simone of Tallmadge; son, Robin; grandchildren, Jason Adams and Phillip Baston; brother, Charles Robinson; sisters, Patricia Nangle and Sue Lewis. Funeral service will be Tuesday, 1 p.m. at Booth Funeral Home in Greentown, where friends may call Monday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Interment Hillside Memorial Park. (Booth, 499-7234.)

Ralph H. Batton
WEST VIRGINIA -- Ralph H. Batton, 71, passed away April 8, 1998. He was a teacher for 25 years with the Nordonia Hills School District, and had served in the Seabees with the U. S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Jane Aspinall Batton; sons, Tim, Jeff, Ben, and Bill Batton; and 15 grandchildren. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Mccullough-Rogers Funeral Home in Pennsboro, W. Va.

Gordon P. Bauer
Gordon P. Bauer, 60, died April 4, 1998. Mr. Bauer was born in Lansing, Michigan and had lived in Bath since 1980. A veteran of the Michigan National Guard, he was an avid runner and golfer. He was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and was a Director of the Cleveland Chapter of the Financial Executives Institute. Mr. Bauer had been the Vice President of Finance and General Manager of Mill Brush Operations for Osborn Manufacturing. He is survived by his wife, Judith of Bath; sons, Michael of Shrewsbury, Mass., James of Akron; daughter-in-law, Debra; granddaughter, Alexandra; sisters, Janice Pardee, Joyce Malatinsky and Betty Gaskill. A memorial service will be held 8 p.m. TUESDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. Friends may call at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until the time of the service. Memorials may be made to the Hospice Care Center, 3358 Ridgewood Rd., Akron, Ohio 44333. (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 867-4141.)

Frances Beach
SPRINGFIELD TWP. -- Frances Beach, 83, passed away April 10, 1998. Born in Independence, La., Mrs. Beach lived most of her life in the Akron area. Preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Stanley Beach, in 1991, she is survived by son, Harry of Hollywood, Fla.; sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Diana of Akron, and Alan and Kathy of Tampa, Fla.; daughters and sons-in-law, Judith and Melvin Sells of Springfield Township, and Sandra and Russell Gill of Randolph; 12 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Sam and Norma Lipari of Uniontown; sister, Esther Leek of Akron; sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and Jack Labbe of Tallmadge; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services Monday, 10:30 a.m., at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Rd., Akron, with Rev. Eloy Pacheco officiating. Burial at Ellet Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday, 6 to 8 p.m.
God looked around His garden
And found an empty place
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face.
He put His arms around you
And He lifted you to rest,
God's garden must be beautiful;
He only takes the best.
God saw that you were getting tired,
And a cure was not to be;
So, He put His arms around you,
And whispered, ``Come home with Me''.
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer;
And saw you fade away
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
A determined spirit was at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.
Love, Your Family
(Hopkins Lawver, Akron, 733-6271.)

Vernon L. Beery
Vernon L. Beery, 70, of Orrville, died Saturday, April 11, 1998. He is survived by wife, Betty Ruth (Eggeman) Beery; three daughters, three sisters, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Auble Funeral Home in Orrville. Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday, 7 to 9 p.m., where the Masonic services will be held at 6:30 p.m. (Auble, 1-330-682-2966.)

Mary A. Bennett
HOUSTON, TEXAS -- Mary A. Bennett, 92, died Saturday, March 28. Friends may call from 12 to 1 p.m. Friday at the Dunn-Quigley, Ciriello & Carr Stow Chapel (Kent Road at Route 91), where Rev. D. Lynn Snider will officate at services at 1 p.m. Interment at Stow Cemetery. (Dunn-Quigley, Ciriello & Carr, Stow, 688-3866.)

Betty Jean Berry
ILLINOIS -- Betty Jean Berry, 78, a longtime resident of Silver Lake, passed away Friday, April 3, 1998, in Lisle, Ill. Preceded in death by husband, Dorral Berry, she is survived by children, Kelly, Timothy, and Michael. Donations may be made to the Church in Silver Lake.

Gerald Bodnar
Gerald Bodnar, 58, of Lorain, passed away Sunday, April 12, 1998, at his home, after a 2 1/2-year illness. He was born in Clinton, living in the Lorain County area most of his life. He was a member of the Beacon Baptist Church in Lorain for many years, and was employed by the Ford Motor Co. in Lorain as a paint sprayer for 28 years before retiring in 1995. Mr. Bodnar enjoyed fishing and bowling. Preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Julia Bodnar, he is survived by his wife of 25 years, Dawn; son, Patrolman Gerald Wayne Bodnar of the Akron Police Department; daughter, Jeannie Marie Bodnar of Lorain; brother, Michael Bodnar of Avon; sisters, Mary Louise Fee of Vermilion and Marlene Davis of Akron. There will be no visitation, as a memorial service will be held Tuesday evening at 7 for family and friends, at the Beacon Baptist Church, 3407 W. Eire Ave., Lorain, with Rev. Aaron E. Webb, pastor, officiating. Burial will be held at a later date. The family suggests that memorials be made to the family. Arrangements were handled by the Blackburn Funeral Home, 1021 Main St., Grafton, Ohio.

Michael C. Borovitz
Michael C. Borovitz, 39, loving brother, uncle, and friend, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 5, 1998, in Boone, N. C. Services will be held Monday, April 13, 1998, at 6:30 p.m., at St. Sebastian's Church in Akron, with Father Neil Walters officiating.

Ethel J. Brown
Ethel J. Brown, 89, of Akron, passed away April 8, 1998. She was an area resident most of her life, and had been employed in the dietary department of Akron General Hospital, retiring in 1973. Preceded in death by her lifetime companion, John Siringer, she is survived by her son, L. D. Brown; grandson, David Brown; granddaughter, Sonya D. Witt, all of Tuscumbia, Ala.; sister, Bertha Phillips of Hayesville, N. C.; goddaughter, Deborah Marshall of Salem, Va.; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services at 2 p.m. TODAY at the Dunn-Quigley-Ciriello & Carr Funeral Home, 811 Grant St. Rev. Dallas R. Billington officiating. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until service time TODAY. (Dunn-Quigley-Ciriello & Carr, Akron, Grant Street, 253-8121.)

Thomas M. Buehrle
GREENVILLE, S. C. -- Thomas M. Buehrle, 46, died Monday, March 30, 1998, at Greenville Memorial Hospital, after a courageous battle with renal cell carcinoma. Born in Akron, he attended St. Paul School, graduated from Hoban High School in 1969, and Akron University in 1973. He was employed as an electrical engineer at B. F. Goodrich in Akron, then with Uniroyal-Goodrich in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and for the past four years with Michelin in Greenville. He was a member of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Simpsonville, S. C., and the Knights of Columbus in Tuscaloosa and Greenville. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying running, hiking and, especially sailing. He was a member of the Western Carolina Sail Club and often competed in races on Lake Hartwell. Mr. Buehrle is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 21 years, Katalin; children, Thomas, Julie Ann, and Katie Marie; parents, Robert and Irene Buehrle of Akron; brothers, Jim (Judy) and Kenneth of Akron, Bob (Mary) of Medina, and Ralph (Barbara) of Williamsburg, Va.; sisters, Roberta Lynn of Warren, Karen (Dennis) Merz of Alaska, Diana (Bob) Callen of Peach Tree, Ga., and Elaine (Rod) Kalbus of Uniontown; mother and father-in-law, Joseph and Anna Borbely of Akron; many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Saturday, 9:30 a.m., at Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Funeral Home; and at 10 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, 5 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home, where parish wake services will be held Friday, 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Thomas M. Buehrle Children's Trust Fund at B. F. Goodrich Federal Credit Union, 445 S. Main St., Akron 44311. (Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz, 724-1281.)

Frank Buggs
Frank Buggs, 104, passed away April 2, 1998 at Middlebury Manor Nursing Home. Born in S. Carolina he had lived in this community 95 years. He had been employed as a railroad worker and was a landscaper for Walker Landscaping after retiring in 1973 from V.L. Smith & Sons Construction Co. He was a faithful and joyful member of New Trinity Missionary Baptist Church for 23 years. He is survived by niece, Inez Pettigrew, Cleveland, Ohio; friend, Thomas Kendall, Akron and a host of other friends. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 6, 1998 at Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Samuel Johnson officiating. Friends may call at the chapel on Monday from 9:30 A.M. until 10:00 A.M. (Stewart & Calhoun 535-1543)

Harold W. Burkhardt
Harold W. Burkhardt, 80, died Thursday, April 2, 1998. An Akron native, Mr. Burkhardt was retired from the City of Akron Engineering Department. He was a member of St. Hilary Catholic Church. Preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, he is survived by wife of 23 years, Virginia; son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Marilyn; grandchildren, Dan, Rob, and Patti Mitchell; six great-grandchildren, all of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Ruth Ingham; and brothers, Leonard and Fred, all of Akron. Calling hours will be Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Dunn-Quigley, Ciriello & Carr Fairlawn Chapel (39 S. Miller Rd.) Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Hilary Catholic Church. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Holy Family Home in Parma. (Dunn-Quigley, Ciriello & Carr, Fairlawn Chapel, 867-7306.)

Sherman Harrison ``Smiley'' Burnette
Sherman Harrison ``Smiley'' Burnette, 74, went home to be with the Lord on March 30, 1998. Smiley was born Aug. 27, 1923, in Toccoa, Ga., and moved to Akron in 1942. He retired from Mohawk Rubber in 1976. Preceded in death by his parents, William and Dora Burnette; brothers, Tip and Bruce; and sister, Ruville Thomas, he is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Patricia of Hartville, Chuck and Kelly of Suffield; daughters and sons-in-law, Gloria and Bobby Moore of Tennessee, Sharon and Mike Might of Mogadore, Louise and Dick Norton of Green, Sue and George Obrad of Akron; daughter, Paula Burnette of North Carolina; the mother of his children, Vertie Burnette of Akron; grandchildren, Kristen, Matthew, Ryan, Chad, Jason, Joshua, Tara, Erica, Caitlin, Ashley, Derek, Nikki, and Lauren; great-grandchildren, Callie, Savannah, and Phoebe; brother, Odell of Georgia; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Bea of West Virginia; and sister-in-law, Sara Burnette. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. We will never forget his funny sense of humor and his nicknames, which were always so unique, just as he was. Funeral services will be Friday, 11 a.m., at Harvestime Temple, 136 E. Maple St., Hartville, with Rev. Raymond (Bud) Smith officiating. Burial at Woods Cemetery in Uniontown. Friends may call at the Hopkins Lawver UNIONTOWN Funeral Home, 3553 Northdale St., from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. (Hopkins Lawver, Uniontown, 733-6271.)

Grace T. Burns
Grace T. Burns, 93, of Hartville, and formerly of Ravenna and Kent, passed away unexpectedly Sunday night, April 5, 1998, at Akron City Hospital. Born June 8, 1904, in Gustavus, Ohio, to the late Albert Francis and Livia Lydia Toole, she leaves a memory of an upright woman, a good citizen, and a loyal friend whose life was one of enjoyable contact and abiding influence. Many friends will cherish her memory. Preceded in death by son, Robert Leland Burns, in 1965; brothers, Sherman and Forrest ``Red''; and sister, Chloe, she is survived by her husband of 68 years, Leland H. of Hartville; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy C. and Thomas N. Capps of Hartville; grandchildren, Thomas Jr. and Diane Capps of Maryville, Tenn., Tracey and Dan Spickard of Uniontown, Tammy and Doug Van Keulen of Canton, Terri and Mike Reeves of Uniontown, and Tanya and Mark Wargo of Louisville; and eight great-grandchildren. Friends may call Wednesday, 5 to 8 p.m., and one hour prior to the service Thursday (10 to 11 a.m.) at the Arnold Funeral Home in Hartville. The funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, Dan Spickard officiating. Interment at Hillside Memorial Park. (Arnold, Hartville, 877-9364.)

Ethel M. Busson
DOYLESTOWN -- Ethel M. Busson, 93, died April 13, 1998, in Woodbine, Iowa. Funeral arrangements later. (Zak-Monbarren, 658-2211.)