USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Wapakoneta
RUSSELL H. VALENTI, 74, died at 10:05 p.m. Feb. 6, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center.
He was born June 15, 1928, in Lima to Joseph and Fontella Punches Valenti, who preceded him in death. On June 26, 1946, he married
Mary Lou Morin, who died Feb. 14, 1989.
Mr. Valenti had been a carpenter for Dietrich Floor Covering, Lima. He was a member of UNICO and Carpenters Union Local 372. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a loving and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a friend to many. He was loved and will be missed by many.
Survivors include three sons, Russell G. (Pam) Valenti, Joel A. Valenti and Dani L. Valenti, all of Lima; four daughters, Christine Valenti, Laura M. (Lance) Little, Barb J. (Jerry) Nichols and Courtenay C. (Lance) Burklund, all of Lima; three sisters, Fonda (Floyd) Bitters of Folsom, Calif., Janice (Jim) Gnagy of Hamilton, Ind., and Janet Pope of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Luanne Valenti; six brothers, Joseph, John, Anthony, Robert, James and Bernie Valenti; and two sisters, Pat Chausse and Fran Newland.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville. The Rev. Christopher Vasko will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemani cemetery, Lima, with military rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gerad Cancer Foundation.
Spencerville
JOE M. WRIGHT, 87, of rural Spencerville, died at 1:27 a.m. Feb. 8, 2003, at Roselawn Manor Nursing Home, Spencerville.
He was born May 30, 1915, in Van Wert County to George B. and Stella McClure Wright, who preceded him in death. On April 17, 1941, he married
Mabel Stelzer, who survives.
Mr. Wright was a retired farmer. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Spencerville, and its Together Sunday School Class. He was very active in the church, serving as chairman of various commissions, lay leader, chairman of the official board, organized "The Methodist Men," was on the building committee and teacher of the Sunday school class for many years. He was a 1934 graduate of Spencerville High School and later attended the Veterans Vo Ag School. He was a member of Bowersock Brothers Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6772, Spencerville. He had served as president of the Spencerville Service Association and had been a Spencer Township trustee. He had been a member of Spencerville Grange 2424, the Allen County Farm Bureau and the Black Cat Club, Spencerville. He served in the F Company of the Ohio National Guard in 1938, then enlisted in the Army in 1940, served in the Pacific Theatre until 1945 and then served in the Army Reserve until 1948.
Survivors also include a daughter, Joan (Kenneth) Starr of Lima; a sister-in-law, Myrtle Strahm of Orlando, Fla.; three granddaughters, Julie A. Iiams of Findlay, Kimberly J. (Steve) McGinnis of Columbus and Lisa R. (Kevin) Finn of Lima; four great-grandchildren, Kelci Fleming and Tristan Finn, both of Lima, and Jacob McGinnis and Kayla McGinnis, both of Columbus; and three nephews and six nieces.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Georgia B. Butts.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home, Spencerville. The Rev. Michael Swanton will officiate. Burial will be in Spencerville cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 6772 and American Legion Post 191.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Ottoville
MARIE M. ZERKEL, 84, died at 12:45 p.m. Feb. 7, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center.
She was born Jan. 9, 1919, in Ottoville to Martin and Lucy Rekart Bendele, who preceded her in death. On Oct. 16, 1946, she married
Walter N. Zerkel, who died Oct. 24, 1965.
Mrs. Zerkel retired from Ottoville schools, where she had been a cook, and retired from I&K Distributors. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ottoville, and its Altar Rosary Society. She enjoyed all types of music and playing bingo. She also was an avid birdwatcher and the world's best mother and grandmother.
Survivors include three sons, Michael Zerkel of Delphos, Tim (Jan) Zerkel of Fort Jennings and Jim (Pam) Zerkel of Columbus Grove; a daughter, Kathleen (Kenny) Bott of Columbus Grove; a brother, Richard (Alice) Bendele of Ottoville; two sisters, Catherine Gudakunst and Marty Gerdeman, both of Ottoville; nine grandchildren, Nicole (Greg) McCann, Brent Zerkel, Jeff Howard, Amy Miller, Andrea Zerkel, Jessica Zerkel, Joni Zerkel, Josh Bott and Jesse Bott; and four great-grandchildren, Jordan McCann, Lauryn McCann, Kayla Braun and Jacob Miller.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Jerry Bendele, Carl Bendele and twin infant brothers John and Paul Bendele; and a sister, Salome Bendele.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Jennings. The Rev. Tony Borgia will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic cemetery.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. today at Kolkmeyer-Helmkamp-Orians Funeral Home, Ottoville, where a parish wake service will be held at 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rita's Hospice or the Audubon Society.
Lima
TINA M. BOWERS, 40, of Irving, Texas, formerly of Lima, died Aug, 6, 2003, at her residence.
She was born May 3, 1963, in Lima to Renold and Nicoline Bowers, who preceded her in death.
Miss Bowers was a MIS manager for Kim International Manufacturing Inc.
Survivors include two brothers, Renold J. (Carolyn) Bowers of Cocoa, Fla., and Anthony (Carol) Bowers of Bakersfield, Calif.; two sisters, Patricia Bowers and Lisa (Tony) Westrick, both of Irving, Texas; life long friend, Becky J. Hannon; and several nephews and nieces.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Luke Catholic Church, Irving, Texas.
There will be no visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Irving Humane Society, 1611 W. Irving Blvd., Irving, TX 75061.
Lima
RUSSELL E. BRYAN, 79, died at 10:46 a.m. Aug. 5, 2003, at his residence.
He was born Oct. 16, 1923, in Lima to Edward Bryan and Mable Courtney Bryan. In January 1948, he married
Elda Mae Bielefield, who died in September 1957. On June 14, 1958, in Ohio he married
Mary Lou Stippich, who survives in Lima.
Mr. Bryan was retired as a mail carrier in 1978 from the Lima Post Office. He later worked for the City of Lima in the sewer department in maintenance. He served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific from Oct. 30, 1942, to March 27, 1946, then served in the Navy Reserves, attaining the rank of chief. He was a member of St. Gerard Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society. He was a member of the Lima Eagles 370, a life member of Lima Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275 and the American Legion Post 96.
He was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, for which he served as president for 20 years. He was the president emeritus of Branch 105 National Association of Letter Carriers, HARFE-National Association of Retired Federal Employees and The Navy Club.
Survivors also include three sons, David (Margaret "Midge") Bryan of Roy, Utah, John Bryan of Columbus, and Edward (Fawn) Bryan of Chagrin Falls; six daughters, Mary "Buttons" (Dan) Sidener of Azel, Texas, Christine (David "Pete") Daley of Wapakoneta, Karen (Dennis) Purdy of Elida, Kathleen (John) Traina of Perry, Theresa (Bruce) Hoffman of Lima, and Laura (Loren) Moýe of San Francisco; a sister, Joanne Fields of Lima; a sister-in-law, Thelma Bryan of Delphos; a best friend, George McElroy of Lima; and 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Paul, Jean and his twin, Richard; and a grandchild, David Purdy.
Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Gerard Catholic Church. The Rev. Henry Sattler will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemani cemetery in Lima, where a military graveside service will be by VFW Post 1275.
Kenton
VIVIAN L. CARPENTER, 87, died at 3:10 p.m. Aug. 8, 2003, at Hardin Hills Health Center.
She was born Jan. 20, 1916, in Ada to Marion and Ethel Hoy Ream. On March 9, 1933, in Kenton, she married
Arthur W. Carpenter.
Mrs. Carpenter was retired from Essex Wire and had worked as a waitress. She attended the First Church of God in Findlay. She was a faithful Christian and has gone to be with the Lord.
Survivors include a son, Lewis (Ellie) Carpenter of Kenton; four daughters, Joyce Shirk, Arlene (Wayne) Rogers, and Kathryn Bridenstine, all of Kenton, and Peggy (Steven) Flesher of LaRue; a sister, Una Evelene Barnett of Lima; 21 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Marsha Zimmerman; four brothers, Kenneth, Garner, Marion and Jack; and four grandchildren.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Price Funeral Home in Kenton. The Rev. Woodrow Smithson will officiate. Burial will be in Grove cemetery.
Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hardin Hospice Care or First Church of God in Findlay.
Cridersville
ROBERT MARCUM FROST, 80, died at 8:17 p.m. Aug. 7, 2003, at St. Rita's Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 29, 1922, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Hildreth and Bertha Marcum Frost. On Nov. 4, 1950, he married
Anne Lingle, who survives.
Mr. Frost was retired from Westinghouse after 40 years as a metallurgical engineer. He graduated from Colorado School of Mines in 1948. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II from June 4, 1944, to Sept. 16, 1946. He was a member of Christ Church Episcopal, where he served as senior warden. He was a member of Lima International Torch Club, serving as its president. He also served on the Shawnee Board as its president and was a life member of the Literacy Council of Northwest Ohio, Friends of Johnny Appleseed Park District, advisory committee for the Allen County Planning Commission, and the Lima area League of Women Voters.
Survivors also include a daughter, Martha C. (Richard Cruz) Frost of Chadds Ford, Pa., and Hilary Anne (William Lee) Frost-Kumpf of Springfield, Ill.; a sister, Mary Catherine DePolo of Alexandria, Va.; and a grandchild, Laura C. Cruz of Chadds Ford, Pa.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Hildreth and Jefferson Frost.
A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Christ Church Episcopal. The Rev. Darwin Ralston will officiate.
Friends may call one hour prior to services at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Church Memorial Fund or Lima Public Library, 650 W. Market St., Lima, OH 45801.
Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home is handling the arrangements, where .
