USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Clara L. Christman
Clara L. Christman, 60, of Elyria died Monday at the New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph after a long illness.
Born in Beulah, Miss., she lived in the Lorain area most of her life.
She was a nurse's assistant at Dover Nursing Home.
She was a member of New Morning Star Primitive Baptist Church in Lorain, where she served on the Mothers of the Church Board, Usher Board, Pastor's Aide Committee and the Missionary Society. She also was the choir director.
She also was a member of the Rack Cliff Harmonettes and the Lord Junior Chorus, both of Lorain.
She enjoyed being with children, painting, latchhooking and singing.
Survivors include a daughter, Rita Rader and Rozena Ammons, both of Elyria, Shafaye Bonds of Mansfield, and Phillinee Holmes of Wilmington, N.C.; Goddaughters Shirley Glover of Lorain and Toni Lacey-Royal of Chicago; Godsons Hemp Horton and Keith Harris, both of Elyria; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; her parents, the Rev. Jeremiah and Erie Willis of Lorain; a brother, Curtis Brisby of Lorain; two Godsisters, Cassandra Payton and Lisa Patrick; and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at New Morning Star Primitive Baptist Church, 3020 Surf Ave., Lorain. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Bethel Primitive Baptist Church, at Ninth Street and Reid Ave., Lorain.
The Rev. Cornelius Spraggins, pastor, and the Rev. John Twyman will officiate.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Lorain.
The Brown Funeral Home, at 27th Street and Broadway, Lorain, is handling arrangements.
Shirley M. Neitenbach
Shirley M. Neitenbach, 64, of Medina died Sunday at Southwest General Hospital after a long illness.
Born in Watertown, N.Y., she lived in Medina County for the past 13 years.
She retired from Hill's Department Store in North Olmsted after 10 years.
Mrs. Neitenbach enjoyed watching her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband of 28 years, John; daughters Vicki Beck, Randi Winkler, Shelley Hudley, Lisa Cantley and Becki Hoff; sons Phil Neitenbach, Perry Neitenbach, Rick Winkler, Jake Neitenbach, Michael Neitenbach and Danny Neitenbach; and brothers Jim Wade and Dick Wade, both of New York.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Bauer Funeral Home, 2089 Columbia Road, Valley City, where services will be at 8:30 p.m. tonight.
The Rev. Thomas Dunphy, pastor of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Valley City, will officiate.
At Mrs. Neitenbach's request, her body will be cremated.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Northeast Ohio Chapter, 1689 E. 115th St., Cleveland 44106.
Lewis B. Canter
Lewis B. Canter, 77, of Sheffield Lake died Wednesday at his home while under the care of New Life Hospice.
Born in Creola, Ohio, he was raised in Mansfield and made his home in Vermilion from 1970 to 1975 before moving to Sheffield Lake 25 years ago.
He served in the Navy for five years during World War II. He was present at the liberation of the Philippines and received the Asiatic-Pacific Battle Ribbons with six Bronze Stars.
He was employed as an assemblyman at Ford Motor Co. in Lorain for 25 years before retiring in 1985. He also did maintenance work for the VFW Post 8686 in Sheffield Lake from 1992 to June 2000.
Mr. Canter was a member of Apostles Doctrine Church in Lorain.
He was a life member of VFW Post 8686 in Sheffield Lake, where he served three terms as commander. He enjoyed carpentry, gardening and mechanical work on automobiles.
Survivors include his wife, Doris L. (nee Mounts); daughters Edith Kelly and Janet Lambert, both of Mansfield and Beverly Miller of Lorain; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, John Alvin, in 1976; parents, John and Ora (nee Bishop); brother, Warren; and sisters Hazel Siwek and Edith Harness.
Friends may call 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst.
Funeral services with full military honors by the Amherst Veteran Military Honor Guard will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Apostles Doctrine Church, 2400 Leavitt Road, Lorain.
The Rev. Roy McGlugritch, pastor, will officiate.
Burial will be in Crownhill Cemetery, Amherst.
Edith L. Tressel
Edith L. Tressel, 73, of Lorain, died Thursday at Community Health Partners in Lorain following a lengthy illness.
Born in Lorain, she was a lifelong resident.
She had been employed as a school secretary for St. Anthony School for many years. Prior to that, she had worked as a legal secretary and as a secretary at U.S. Steel during World War II.
Mrs. Tressel was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church, where she was member of the Marian Guild and an active volunteer.
She was also a member of the Parent Teacher Union.
She enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Robert R.; sons David Paul of Marion, Iowa, Jeffrey Lawrence of Painesville and Anthony Robert of Elgin, Ill.; daughter Barbara Louise Tressel-Bangas of Lorain; and three grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Reed.
Friends may call 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Reichlin-Cooley Funeral Home, 2920 Broadway, Lorain, where a Christian wake will be 4 p.m. Friday.
Prayers will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home followed by a noon Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain 44052.
The Rev. Christian Moore, O.F.M. Conv., will be the celebrant.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Virginia Marie Kaufman
Virginia Marie Kaufman, 79, of Eustis, Fla., and formerly of Wellington, died Friday in Leesburg, Fla., following a lengthy illness.
Born in Wellington, she moved from the area 60 years ago.
Mrs. Kaufman was a homemaker.
Survivors include her son, John F. Kaufman of Tampa, Fla.; daughter Karin Frederick of Monroe, Ore.; and five grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Maxime G. Kaufman and her parents Henry Meade and Mildred May (nee Fletcher) Clodwick.
There will be no visitation.
Graveside service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday in Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington.
Cowling-Truman Funeral, 218 Herrick Ave. East, Wellington, is handling the local arrangements.
Royal K. Bruce
Royal K. Bruce, 83, of Elyria, died Tuesday at the Rae-Ann Nursing Center in Cleveland following a long illness.
Born in Elyria, he was a lifelong resident.
He was employed as a truck driver at Lehman Cartage in North Ridgeville for more than 20 years, retiring in 1983.
Mr. Bruce was a member of VFW Post 1079, Elyria, and was also a member of the Elyria Moose Club.
He enjoyed taking walks, traveling and playing cards.
Survivors include his son, Richard of Elyria; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Fern, in 1992; a son, William, in 1998; sisters Grace and Mary; and brothers Robert, Hugh, Glenn and Peter.
Friends may call 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Busch-Curtis-Scheuffler Family Chapel, 114 Second St., Elyria.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
The Rev. Janet Long, pastor of Washington Avenue Christian Church, Elyria will officiate.
Burial will be at Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township.
Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 12200 Fairhill Road, Cleveland 44120.
Virgil L. Kidder
Virgil L. Kidder, 75, of Oberlin died Tuesday at the Life Care Center of Elyria following a short illness.
Born near Peebles, Ohio, he was a resident of Oberlin for the past 50 years, moving there from the Dayton area.
Mr. Kidder served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.
He and his wife opened Virg & Killie's Restaurant & Catering in the Oberlin area in the early 1950s, which they owned and operated for more than 40 years. Mr. Kidder also was employed at the former Guilford Instruments in Oberlin as a machine shop supervisor for 17 years.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Elyria.
He enjoyed reading and traveling and had visited 48 of the 50 states.
Survivors include his sons, David L. of Oberlin, Jeffrey L. of Elyria; stepdaughter, Ladrine Jordan of Elyria; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brothers Harold and Harland of Dayton and Chester of Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Killie (nee Kowalchyk), in 1995 and brothers, Carlos, Raymond, Jesse and Kenneth.
Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Bauer-Laubenthal Funeral Home at Chestnut Ridge Road and state Route 57 in Elyria, where funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday.
The Rev. Brian Smith, pastor of the First United Methodist Church will officiate.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Robert H. Dreger
Robert H. Dreger, 83, of North Ridgeville died Monday at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland following a short illness.
Born in Cleveland, he lived in North Ridgeville since 1941.
He attended Fenn College, formerly Cleveland State University, where he studied chemical engineering.
Mr. Dreger served on the North Ridgeville Fire Department from 1950 until retiring in 1982. He was fire chief from 1972 to 1982.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 during World War II. He received the American Theater Ribbon, EAME Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Star, the Good Conduct Medal and the Victory Medal.
He enjoyed farming and especially taking care of his apple orchard.
He was an avid reader and liked to travel.
Mr. Dreger belonged to the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs Northeast Ohio Chapter and the Great Lakes Historical Society. He was interested in tall ships.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Patricia A. (nee Piper formerly Isaak); daughters Candace Yonkings of Lorain, Constance L. Sapronetti of Akron and Carol A. Monda of Streetsboro; sons Joseph A. Isaak of Elko, Minn., and Scott T. Isaak of North Ridgeville; six grandchildren; a sister, Marjorie Dreger of Middleburg Heights; and a brother, William Dreger of Phoenix.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Leslie Dreger.
Friends may call 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the David Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Road in North Ridgeville, where services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday.
The Rev. Kevin Crow, pastor of Harvest Ridge Assembly of God in North Ridgeville, will officiate.
Memorials may be made to University Hospitals of Cleveland, Attn: Developmental Office/Burn Unit, 11100 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106-5062.
Orpha Fay Dammeyer
Orpha Fay Dammeyer, 84, of Wellington died Wednesday at Welcome Nursing Home in Oberlin after a long illness.
Born in Harts Run, W.Va., she lived most of her life in the Wellington area.
A homemaker, she was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elyria.
Mrs. Dammeyer volunteered as a Grey Lady and was a Cub Scout den mother.
Survivors include daughters Katherine Wacker of Wellington, Janice Craford of Midlethian, Va., and Margaret Rodgers of Gastonia, N.C.; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a brother, Paul Lyon; and a sister, Aldene Burton of Warsaw, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul R.; her parents, John and Janette (nee Gatrell) Lyon; and a sister, Bernice Mersing.
Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Cowling-Truman Funeral Home, 218 E. Herrick Ave., Wellington, where services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Rev. Phillip Kunz, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Wellington, and the Rev. Alice Elmquist, pastor of Brighton United Methodist Church in Brighton Township, will officiate.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington.
