Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Donald Preston
Died: Sunday, June 15, 2003
Age: 68
NEW MARSHFIELD - Donald Preston, 68, of New Marshfield, died unexpectedly on Sunday, June 15, 2003, in the emergency room at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens.
Born June 6, 1935, in Flemingsburg, Ky., he was the son of the late Lynn and Bertney Blanche Jordan Preston. He was a professional truck driver, having retired from Professional Moving and Storage.
He is survived by his wife, Emily Osborne Preston; a daughter, Deborah Ann (Mike) Grizzell of Lancaster; sons, Donald Jr. (Della) of Cincinnati, David (Nellie) of Newark and Daniel (Stephanie) of Middletown; 13 grandchildren, Daniel, Vanessa, Aaron, Jonathon and Stephen Preston, Michael S. Grizzell and Angela Hartman, Matthew, Luke and Elana Preston, Christopher, Joshua and Jordan Preston; two great-grandchildren, Angel Grizzell and Gabriel Hartman; 12 brothers and sisters, Dorothy Gibson, Thomas J., Arthur, Gertrude, Robert and Cleve Preston, Freda Kenney, Leonard, Jonathan, Douglas and L.T. Preston, Brenda Ball.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Grace Dillon.
Services will be held Thursday, 1 p.m., at Bigony-Jordan Funeral Home in Albany, with the Rev. Bernard Ferrell officiating. Burial will be in New Marshfield Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday, from 6 to 8 p.m.
David John Rothery
Died: Monday, June 30, 2003
Age: 80
GLOUSTER - David John Rothery, 80, of Springfield, died at 2:45 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2003, at the IOOF Home in Springfield.
Born Sept. 25, 1922, in Hollister, he was the son of the late Isaac and Fern Edwards Rothery. He was a 1940 graduate of Glouster High School.
David was a World War II veteran and proudly served with the Army’s 97th Signal Battalion, Company C. David attended Ohio State University and was employed as a riveter on the Voight Corsair F4u fighter, until he was called to serve his country in November 1942. His induction center was Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Ind., and from there he went to boot camp at Camp Bowie in Brownwood, Texas. Upon graduation, he reported to Camp Polk, La., and participated in the final exercise (1943) of the famous Louisiana Maneuvers.
In November 1944, David was sent to the European Theater. His first stop was Liverpool, England. He then crossed the English Channel and went to France, Belgium and Holland during the Battle of the Bulge. He crossed the Rhine River into Germany and eventually ended his journey in Hamburg, Germany. In December 1945, he headed for home via an 18-day voyage across the stormy North Atlantic. The 97th Signal Battalion continues to meet for annual reunions.
Upon returning from World War II, he gained employment as a lineman with Ohio Bell Telephone Co., where he was employed for 36 years. He retired on Aug. 31, 1982, as a district engineering manager.
He married the former Anna Marie Echstenkamper on Dec. 13, 1946, in Hilliard.
David continued to serve his country as an officer in the fledgling United States Air Force, with first the 605th Signal Construction Company and later as commander of the 269th Mobile Communications Squadron of the Air National Guard in Springfield, retiring as a major.
He was a former member of Donnelsville United Methodist Church and Good Shepherd UMC of Park Layne. He was a member of IOOF Lodge 33 (past noble grand and Ohio sovereign grand master) for nearly 40 years, Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans (past grand monarch and international supreme monarchos), Union Hall Association (trustee) and Telephone Pioneers, and was a life member of VFW Post 9684 of Medway.
David played a major role in forming a baseball team in Donnelsville, along with a league for Clark County, in the 1960s. He coached and managed numerous teams throughout the years. The spirit of youth baseball from his early work lives on in numerous communities throughout the county.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 48 years, Anna Marie, who passed away on May 23, 1995; and his brother, Ralph.
He is survived by three sons, David M. (Linda) Rothery of New Carlisle, Douglas W. (Sue) Rothery of Springfield and Thomas L. Rothery of Urbana; a daughter, Cheryl A. (Dale) Rexroth of Woodstock; brothers-in-law Earl Echstenkamper of Eaton and Tom (Carol) Echstenkamper of Glouster; grandchildren Harold Rothery and Shawn (Nicole) Rothery of Springfield, Brian Rothery of New Carlisle, Dana (Alicia) Rothery of Donnelsville, Devyn and Ashlee Rothery of Urbana; stepgrandchildren Amy (Scott) Mathison of Indianapolis, Ind., Melissa Rexroth of Whitehall and William Rexroth of Virginia Beach, Va.; eight great-grandchildren and a stepgreat-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Thursday, 2 p.m., at Jackson Lytle and Ingling Williams Funeral Home, North Limestone Street, Springfield, with Pastor Dale Rexroth officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, New Carlisle, with final United States Air Force military honors conducted by Wright Patterson AFB.
Friends may call at the funeral home today from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Thursday one hour prior to the service. IOOF Lodge 33 of Springfield will conduct services for Mr. Rothery today at 7:45 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
Valerie Jo Manning
Died: Monday, June 30, 2003
Age: 50
COLUMBUS - Valerie Jo Manning, 50, of Columbus, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at Kobacker House, Columbus.
She is survived by her husband, John Phillip Schmidt.
A celebration of life gathering will be held July 12 at 2 p.m. at the family farm of John and Fern Beathard, 7320 Big Plain-Circleville Road, London.
Arrangements are by Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, Columbus.
James R. Cunningham
Died: Monday, June 30, 2003
TROY - James R. Cunningham, 75, of Troy, formerly of Killeen, Texas, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Dayton.
Born April 24, 1928, in Jackson County, W.Va., he was the son of the late Jennings and Sadie Johnston Cunningham. He was an Army veteran of World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.
He is survived by his wife, Mary A. Sealock; two sons, James David and Stephen Ray Cunningham; three daughters, Clarann Cunningham, Suzanne Sigurdsson and Joanne Sweet; and a stepdaughter, Linda Grise.
Services will be Thursday, 2:30 p.m., at Dayton National Cemetery, with military rites by the Veterans Memorial Honor Guard of Troy.
Friends may call at Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home, Troy, today from 6 to 8 p.m.
Helen Diane Clatterbuck
Died: Monday, June 30, 2003
Age: 52
COOLVILLE - Helen Diane Clatterbuck, 52, of Coolville Route 2, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at her residence.
Born July 21, 1950, she was the daughter of Pearl Carpenter Lane and the late Stewart Lane. She is survived by a daughter, Robyn Cremeans.
Services will be Thursday, 2 p.m., at Eastlawn Memorial Park, Reno, Ohio.
Friends may call at White-Schwarzel Funeral Home, Coolville, today from 6 to 8 p.m.
Guy G. Hill
Died: Monday, June 30, 2003
Age: 85
LOGAN - Guy G. Hill, 85, of Logan, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at his residence.
Born Sept. 3, 1917, in South Bloomingville, he was the son of the late James C. and Grace Davis Hill. He is survived by his wife, Esther M. Niemann Hill; a son, James C. Hill; and daughters Rosa Lee McCue and Jo Ann Hersey.
Services will be Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., at Heinlein-Brown Funeral Home, Logan. Burial will be in Chapel Ridge Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Divella C. Jones
Died: Sunday, June 29, 2003
Age: 90
AMESVILLE - Divella C. Jones, 90, of Amesville, died Sunday, June 29, 2003, at Hickory Creek Nursing Center, The Plains.
Born Aug. 29, 1912, in Amesville, he was the son of the late Edgar C. and Ella Dew Jones. He was a retired farmer and a member of Federal Valley Church in Amesville.
He is survived by several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Zirn M., Evert M. and Denzel Jones.
Services will be held Wednesday, 1 p.m., at Stone-Matheney Funeral Home, Chesterhill, with Tom Beard officiating. Burial will be in Federal Valley Cemetery, Amesville.
Friends may call at the funeral home today from 6 to 9 p.m.
Fern L. Chesser
Died: Sunday, June 29, 2003
Age: 95
NELSONVILLE - A funeral service for Fern L. Chesser, 95, of Newark, will be held Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., at the Newark chapel of Henderson, Van Atta and Johnston Funeral Service, with the Rev. Richard Burgie officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Chesser, who taught school for more than 40 years at McKean, Newton and Madison Elementary Schools, died Sunday, June 29, 2003, at LPN Healthcare Facility. Born Dec. 12, 1907, in Carbondale, she was the daughter of the late Ford and Elizabeth Todd Doolittle.
She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Conrad and Fran Chesser of Enterprise, Ala., Vic and Judy Chesser of Columbus, Phil and Marilyn Chesser of Newark, and Jon and Janet Chesser of Newark; a daughter and son-in-law, Ula and Don Walker of Newark; 16 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Sylvia Doolittle and Helen Chesser of Nelsonville; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harl K. Chesser, in 1985; and by two sisters and two brothers.
Friends may call at the funeral home, 59 N. Fifth St., Newark, today from 6 to 9 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Ohio.
Roger Vernon King
Died: Sunday, June 29, 2003
Age: 58
SHADE - Roger Vernon King, 58, of Shade, died Sunday, June 29, 2003, at Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis.
Born Dec. 18, 1945, he was the son of the late Harold and Virginia Wamsley King.
Services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m., at Meigs Memory Gardens.
Friends may call at Ewing Funeral Home, Pomeroy, today from 6 to 9 p.m.
