USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Merita H. Dunbrack
Merita H. Dunbrack, 87, of Berea, died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001, at Evergreen Care Center in Medina. Mrs. Dunbrack was born in Mount Hope, W.Va. She retired from the Baldwin-Wallace College cafeteria in 1985 after many years of service. She was the mother of William B. Dunbrack of Richmond, Va., and Lawrence P. (Judy) Dunbrack and Susan L. (Bob) Gircsis, both of Medina; sister of Cleone Cashdan of Covington, Va.; grandmother of nine; and great-grandmother of three. She was preceded in death by her husband, William P., and brother, Ray Humphries. Service: 10 a.m. Saturday at Baker Funeral Home, 206 Front St., Berea. Interment: Woodvale Cemetery, Middleburg Heights. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Medina County, 797 N. Court St., Medina, 44256.
Russell J. Hawkins
Russell J. Hawkins, 91, of Litchfield Township, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2001, at Samaritan Care Center of Medina.
He was born in Milicca, Minn., and was a Medina County resident for 52 years. Mr. Hawkins was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. He was employed at General Motors' Elyria plant.
Mr. Hawkins is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mildred (nee Fertig); daughter and son-in-law, Georgia and Robert Rowe of Elyria; grandchildren, Jason, Jeremy and Jasmine Swaney; great-granddaughter, Crystal Swaney; and sisters, Katheryn Brittian of Maple Heights and Betty Kosief of Burton, Ohio.
Service: 7 p.m. today at Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Medina Chapel, 765 N. Court St. Father Ron Bryda will officiate.
Private family burial: Litchfield Cemetery.
Visiting hours: 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Thomas E. Kennedy
Thomas E. Kennedy, 59, of Medina, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001, at Visiting Nurses Hospice of Akron.
He was born Oct. 10, 1941, in Beaver Falls, Pa., to Richard and Florence (nee Ecoff) Kennedy and was a Medina County resident for 12 years. Mr. Kennedy was the owner of Epco Sales-Kenco in Cleveland. He was one of the owners who previously owned Weymouth Country Club before becoming a part of Fox Meadows. Mr. Kennedy enjoyed golf and was a member of Columbia Hills Country Club and Eagle Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla. He was a former member of CAC and served in the Army.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joyce (nee Olsen) of Medina; sons, Charles (Sunny) Kennedy of Brunswick, William Kennedy of Parma and John Kennedy of Strongsville; and daughter, Katie Kennedy of Medina.
Memorial service: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church, 13354 Pearl Road, Strongsville. The Rev. Daniel Bogre will officiate.
Interment: A private family service will be held at Spring Grove Cemetery in Medina.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VNS Hospice, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Akron, 44333.
Carlson Funeral Home, Medina, is in charge of arrangements.
Douglas A. Knapp
Douglas Alan Knapp, 51, of Homer Township, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001, at Fairview Hospital after an eight-month illness.
He was born March 16, 1949, in New London, Ohio, and previously lived in Sullivan Township. He resided the past 29 years in Homer. He was formerly employed at Wellington Hospital and was presently the materials manager at Allen Memorial Hospital in Oberlin. Mr. Knapp was a member of St. Johns Community Bible Church in Albion, a 1967 graduate of Black River High School and 1973 graduate of Ashland College. He was a member of Black River Athletic Boosters and was a loyal and avid supporter of Black River athletes. He served with the Naval Reserves at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the Vietnam War.
Mr. Knapp is survived by his wife, Carol (nee Adamson), whom he married on Sept. 11, 1971; daughters, Raelin and Robin, both at home; son, Ryan at home; parents, Lynn and Lucille Knapp of Huntington Township; and sisters, Mrs. William (Stephanie) Martin of Rocky River, Mrs. George (Nancy) Keep of Bellville, Ohio, and James (Kathi) Coder of Brighton, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his half brother, Eugene Jasinski.
Service: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Parker & Son Funeral Home, 210 Medina St., Lodi. Pastors Skip Snell and Cheryl Roshon will officiate.
Burial: Maple Hill Cemetery, Homer.
Visiting hours: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions maybe made to Town & Country Rescue Squad, 11 E. Congress St., West Salem, 44287, or Black River Cross Country Team, c/o Black River Athletic Department, 257A County Road 40, Sullivan, 44880.
James J. Kotaska
James J. Kotaska, 55, of Brunswick, passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001, at his residence.
He was born Oct. 13, 1945, in Cleveland to Joseph Kotaska and Beatrice Jason and was a Brunswick resident for 10 years. He was a warehouse manager at Sterling Paper of Medina.
Mr. Kotaska is survived by his wife, Susan (nee Phillips) of Brunswick; sons, Kristopher and Kevin, both of Akron; sisters, JoAnne Wuest of Parma, Christine Andro of Avon Lake and Carole Partch of California. In addition, he was an uncle and great-uncle.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. today at St. Ambrose Parish, 929 Pearl Road, Brunswick.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Carlson, A Golden Rule Funeral Home, is in charge of arrangements.
Blanche D. Novak
Blanche D. Novak, 81, of Brunswick, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2001.
She was born March 17, 1920, and was a Medina County resident for 46 years. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Novak was a loving aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Novak, in 1995.
Mass: 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 929 Pearl Road, Brunswick.
Burial: Eastlawn Memory Garden, Brunswick.
Visiting hours: 4 to 7 p.m. today at Carlson, A Golden Rule Funeral Home, 1642 Pearl Road (one-half mile south of state Route 303), Brunswick.
Samuel F. Porter Jr.
Samuel F. Porter Jr., 75, of Brunswick, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2001, in Medina.
He was born June 28, 1925, in Cleveland and was a Medina County resident for 41 years. He was a truck driver for 25 years for Highway Express in Cleveland. Mr. Porter was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He enjoyed traveling.
He is survived by his sons, Samuel F. (Cheryl) Porter and Martin T. Porter, both of Brunswick; daughter, Maureen Porter of Brunswick; grandchildren, Shilo, Chelssey, Brittany, Martin, Samuel and Geraldine "Peanut" Flynn; brothers, Roy Porter of Lorain and Robert "Butch" Porter of Middleburg Heights.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Maureen Porter; parents, Samuel Porter and Myrtle (nee Scheumann) Porter; sister, Phylis Heazlit; and brothers, Curtis and Gordon Porter.
Service: 9 p.m. Tuesday at Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Brunswick Chapel, 3300 Center Road (state Route 303 at Interstate 71).
Burial: Eastlawn Memory Garden, Brunswick.
Visiting hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Richard S. Walker
Richard S. Walker, 76, passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001.
Mr. Walker was retired as executive editor of Rubber & Plastic News. He served in the Navy during World War II.
He is survived by his children, Joyce (Gene) Shea, Janet Leary, Larry (Patricia) Walker, R. Stanley (Bonnie) Walker, Ronald (Maria) Walker, James (Bridget) Walker, Elizabeth Walker and Michael Walker; 21 grandchildren and stepgrandchildren; one great-granddaughter; sister, Mary Louise (Marshall) Kidder; and former wife, Christine Schettino.
Mr. Walker was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy E. Williams Walker; parents, Mabel E. Pearce Walker and Frederick S. Walker; and brother, Frederick J. Walker.
Service: 11 a.m. today at Adams-Mason Memorial Chapel, 791 E. Market St., Akron. Pastor G. Rod Taylor will officiate.
Interment: Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman.
Visiting hours: One hour prior to service today at the funeral home.
Geraldine A. Guddy
Geraldine A. Guddy (nee Hrdlicka), 73, of Medina, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, at her home.
She was born in Cleveland and was a lifelong Medina County resident. Mrs. Guddy was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and AARP Chapter 1095. She worked for Apartment Maintenance in Brooklyn.
Mrs. Guddy is survived by her husband, Paul J. Guddy of Medina; sons, Robert (Janet) Collins of Katy, Texas, and Mark Collins of Mansfield; granddaughters, Joyce Collins Andrus, Amy Collins and Pamela Freeman; sister, Ruth Jambor of Maple Heights; brother, Frank Hrdlicka of Cleveland; and nieces and nephews.
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 400 N. Broadway, Medina. The Rev. Thomas Schwartz will officiate.
Burial: All Saints Cemetery, Northfield.
Visiting hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Medina Chapel, 765 N. Court St.
Eleanor C. Patterson
Eleanor C. Patterson (nee Youhess), 106, passed away.
She was the beloved aunt of Lester (Roberta) Gaddis and Herbert (Erma) Robinson, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Arthur.
Interment: Glenwood Cemetery, Conneaut, Ohio.
Visiting hours: 10 to 11 a.m. today at Carlson, A Golden Rule Funeral Home, 1642 Pearl Road (one-half mile south of state Route 303), Brunswick.
Thomas A. Ridgley
Thomas A. Ridgley, 70, of Wadsworth, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001, in Wadsworth.
He was born in New York and was a Medina County resident for 26 years. He was an avid golfer and Eagle Scout. He attended the Merchant Marine Academy and Trinity United Church of Christ in Wadsworth. Mr. Ridgley was a 31-year owner of Ridgley Inc./Tom's Sunoco.
He is survived by his wife, Judith Papp Ridgley of Wadsworth; sons, Mark Ridgley of Wadsworth and Eric Ridgley of Cuyahoga Falls; son and daughter-in-law, Brett and Elaine Ridgley of Medina; daughter and son-in-law, Suellen and Peter Tulk of Toronto; and grandchildren, Anthony and Athena Ridgley, both of Medina.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Alan.
Service: 1 p.m. Thursday at Waite & Son Funeral Homes, Medina Chapel, 765 N. Court St. The Rev. Jonathan Knight will officiate.
Visiting hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410.
