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Miscellaneous Portage County, Ohio Obituaries

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Jamie Sue Jones
Jamie Sue Jones, 36, of Sebring, formerly of Ravenna, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, following a one-car accident on Ellsworth Road in North Benton in Mahoning County.The Mahoning County coroner will rule on the cause of death. Born Sept. 18, 1962 in Ravenna, she was the daughter of Harold (Bill) and Karen (Crooks) Heeter. She had been a Sebring resident since April. Mrs. Jones was a machine operator at Mahoning Valley Plastics in Sebring as a machine operator. Survivors include daughters, Vanessa Joe Heeter and Heather Kay Jones, both of Sebring; parents, Harole and Karen Heeter of Ravenna; brothers, Harold W. Heeter Jr. of Alliance and Michael W. Heeter of Deerfield; and sister, Donna Lynn Stewart of Edinburg. Calling hours will be held from 6 p.m. until service at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, with the Rev. Roy Kelsey officiating. Cremation will take place.

Thomas Jackson
Thomas Jackson, 74, of Kent, died Sunday Oct. 18, 1998, at Kent Quality Care. Born Feb. 24, 1924 in Grenada, Miss., he was the son of Thomas and Willie (Moorehead) Jackson. He was a Ravenna resident until moving to Kent in May. Mr. Jackson had been an employee of the B&O Railroad in Ravenna. Survivors include his sisters, Lottie Wright and Tommie Salters, both of Ravenna. Two brothers and six sisters died previously. There will be no services or calling hours. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are being handled by Shorts Funeral Home in Ravenna.

Ronald Rinehart
ROOTSTOWN - Ronald Keith "Ronnie" Rinehart, 32, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, in an automobile accident on South Prospect Street at S.R. 5 in Rootstown. Born Sept. 1, 1966 in Ravenna, he was the son of Raymond and Ruby (Wright) Rinehart. He had lived in Rootstown all of his life. Mr. Rinehart was a welder for Hollingsworth Container of Ravenna. He participated in demolition derbies for Derby Dog Promotions, Inc. He was also an avid hunter. Survivors include his wife, Lisa Ann (Zeigler); sons, Zachary of Ravenna and Jeffrey of Rootstown; mother, Ruby Rinehart and stepfather, Patrick Beyman of Rootstown; sister, Beverly Kiser of Rootstown; stepsisters, Kim Netherton of Akron, Diane Beyman of Raleigh, N.C., Debbie and Theres Beyman, both of Wadsworth; and adopted sister, Billi Wright of Rootstown. His father, Raymond, died in 1989. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna.

George McGrew
George R. "Dick" McGrew, 80, of Kent, who was active in church and community affairs in Kent and Ravenna, died Monday Oct. 19, 1998, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Born Nov. 2, 1917 in Streetsboro, he was the son of Newton and Alberta (Bortz) McGrew. He was a 1936 graduate of Streetsboro High School and a 1942 graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Mr. McGrew retired from Paul G. Mills, Inc., a farm equipment company in Ravenna, after 35 years. He previously worked for the American Breeders Service. He was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Kent, where he served on the administrative board, several commissions and committees, and worked on the church newsletter, pictorial directory, and men's Tuesday work group. He was a master mason of Rockton Masonic Lodge No. 316 in Kent, was a member of the Kent Chapter No. 192 Royal Arch Masons and a member and past worthy patron of Olive Chapter No. 53, Order of the Eastern Star. He also was a volunteer at Robinson Memorial Hospital, where he managed the book and magazine concession and worked on Lifeline installation. He was a 25-year member of the Kiwanis clubs of Kent and Ravenna. He was a past president of the Ravenna club and served as lieutenant governor and secretary-treasurer for the 20th division. He enjoyed traveling and photography, which he combined to make travelogue presentations on his extensive travels in Europe to civic and church groups. He was a member of the Men's Garden Club of Kent. Survivor's include his wife, Geneva (Roberson) Wood-McGrew, whom he married six years ago; son, Tom (Helen) of Kent; stepson, Chester (Katy) Wood of Kent; stepdaughters, Barbara Wood of Kent, Beverly Moore and Bettie (Darcie) Salmon of Wasilla, Alaska; two grandchildren; 11 stepgrandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; brother, Dillworth "Dan" of Columbus. His first wife, Barbara (Rice), brother, Chester, and sister, Dorothy Bosworth, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel, and from 1 p.m. until services at 2 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Kent. A Masonic service will be held at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Kent or Cornerstone Community School, P.O. Box 1841, Kent, 44240 or to charity.

William G. Wissman
William G. Wissman, 93, of Wickliffe, Ohio, died Saturday Oct. 17, 1998 at home. Born August 27, 1905 in Cleveland, he was the son of William and Mary Wissman. He had been a Wickliffe resident for 73 years. Mr. Wissman was a foreman for Cleveland Crane for over 32 years before retiring in 1968. Survivors include his wife, Florence Lucille (Wright); sons, Warren (Rosemary) of Willoughby and Bernhardt "Bernie" of Wickliffe; five grandchildren; two brothers and two sisters. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at McMahon-Coyne Funeral Home, 38001 Euclid Ave., Willoughby, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. Raymond Hamlin officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Shalersville. Memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Endowment Fund.

Irene Hess
STREETSBORO - Irene M. Hess, 74, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Born Aug. 6, 1924 in Uniontown, Pa., she was the daughter of John and Anna (Wandel) Stallbaum. A former Cleveland resident, she had lived in Streetsboro since 1990. Mrs. Hess was a homemaker. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include her son, John (Alva) of Streetsboro; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her husband, John, died in 1990. Her brother, Robert Stallbaum, and sisters, Roselma Stallbaum, Anna Mae Herring and Viola Stallbaum, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 tonight at Shorts Funeral Home, Streetsboro Chapel, where services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday with the Rev. James Cox officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Memorial Park in Olmsted Falls.

Benjamin Lewis
Benjamin D. Lewis, 67, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a former Portage area resident, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 1998 in Fort Lauderdale Born March 30, 1931 in Palmyra, he was the son of Harold and Isabel Lewis. He had been a Florida resident for about 20 years. Mr. Lewis was retired from Roth Brothers Roofing Co. in Youngstown. Survivors include his wife, Jean, to whom condolences may be sent at 4001 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale; three children; sisters, Elizabeth Demark of Sebring, Evelyn Kehres and Helen Kehres, both of Diamond, Margaret Evans of Deerfield, Leona Livezey of Mantua. One son, one sister and one brother died previously. Services were held in Florida. Burial was in Lauderdale Memorial Park Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale.

Joyce A. Mathey
Joyce A. Mathey, 56, of Beloit, a former Garrettsville resident, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998, at Mercy Medical Center in Canton after a heart attack. Born April 5,1942 in Ravenna, she was the daughter of Robert and Betty (Shattenburger) Armstrong. She was a 1960 graduate of Garfield High School. Mrs. Mathey was a homemaker. She was a member of Believers Christian Fellowship Church in Salem. Survivors include her husband, Kenneth G., whom she married Feb. 14, 1961; daughters, Laurie (James) Reifsnyder, Sharon (John) McGuire of and Melissa, all of Beloit, and Martha (Steve) Fenton of East Liverpool; seven grandchildren; father, Robert Armstrong of Garrettsville; brothers, Robert Jr. of Charlotte, N.C. and Jeffrey of Cape May, N.J.; and sister, Francie Armstrong of Tucson, Ariz. Her mother, Betty, and grandson, Jamie Reifsnyder, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Stark Memorial Funeral Home, 1014 E. State St. in Salem. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Believers Christian Fellowship Church in Salem, with the Rev. Robert Rowley officiating. Burial will be in Bunker Hill Cemetery.

Mary Polen
SUFFIELD - Mary Louise Polen, 87, died Tuesday Oct. 20, 1998, at Hospice Care Center in Akron after a short illness. Born in Cuyahoga Falls, she had lived in Suffield for 50 years. Mrs. Polen was a member of the Suffield United Church of Christ and the Broccoli Bells. She was a volunteer at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Survivors include her son, David (Carol) of Suffield; daughters, Barbara Garner of Ruston, La., Beverly (Bill) Badger of Bolivar; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Her husband, Harold, died in 1988. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home in Mogadore. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Suffield United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Earl Roberts officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Hospice Care Center, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Akron, 44333.

Cleta May
AURORA - Cleta Louise May, 75, owner-operator of Cleta May Realty since 1976, died Monday, Oct. 19, 1998 in Cleveland. Born May 27, 1923 in Bedford, she was the daughter of Martin and Cleta Druso. She had lived in Aurora for 42 years. Mrs. May had a 40-year career in real estate. She worked as an agent for Country Development Realty and Aurora Village Realty before opening her business. She also worked at Jack & Heinte during World War II. She earned a two-year business degree from Dyke College in Cleveland in 1943. She graduated from Bedford High School as valedictorian in 1941. She was a member and former two-term president of the Portage County Board of Realtors, past president of Chagrin Valley Realtors Roundtable, the Ohio Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, and was named "Realtor of the Year" in 1977. Avid football fan, she was a member of the Cleveland Browns Touchdown Club. Survivors include her sons, Dennis (Lynne), Thomas (Jane) and the Rev. Neal (Amy); and seven grandchildren. Her husband, Carl G., died Dec. 10, 1973. Her brothers, Martin Druso Jr. and John Druso, also died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Johnson-Romito Funeral Home, 521 Broadway, Bedford. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Faith Fellowship Church, 10277 Valley View Road, Macedonia. Burial will be in Aurora Cemetery.

Jennie Beam, 102
Former Rootstown resident Jennie Elsie (Rhodenbaugh) Beam, 102, died Monday Oct. 19, 1998, in Athens, Tenn. Born June11, 1896, she was the daughter of Hiram and Martha (Morley) Rhodenbaugh. Mrs. Beam was a former employee of the B.F. Goodrich Co. in Akron. She was a member of Bailey Road Christian Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Survivors include her daughters, Naomi Poe of Athens, Tenn., Viola Chudanov of Rootstown, and Jacqueline Shreve of Ocala, Fla.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and brother, Charles Rhodenbaugh of Cincinnati; Her husband, Charles E. Beam in 1973. Her brothers, Ralph and Raymond Rhodenbaugh; and sisters, Ethel Burke and Ruth Hoover, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 6 p.m. until services at 8 p.m. Friday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown.

Zola Cugini, 83
ROOTSTOWN - Zola M. (Hager) Cugini, 83, died Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998, at her home. Born Aug. 26, 1915 in Woodruff, W. Va., she was the daughter of James and Grace (Hickman) Prendergast. A former Solon and resident, she had lived in Portage County for 25 years. Mrs. Cugini worked for Union Camp Corp.of Solon until she retired in 1981. She also was a motor route driver for the Record-Courier. Survivors include her sons, John (Dianne) Hager, James Hager and Thomas (Karen) Hager, all of Ravenna; daughters, Catherine (Wilbert) Stahl of Rootstown, and Shirley (Rev. John) Sgro of Mansfield; 15 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; brothers, James Prendergast of Minerva, Ronald Prendergast and Floyd Prendergast, both of Sebring, and Franklin Prendergast of W.Va.; and sister, Rosie (James) Pierce of Sebring. Her husbands, Jacob Hager, died in 1982. Her husband, Joseph Cugini died in 1994. Her brothers, Russell and John Prendergast, and sisters, Vedna Wayt and Pearl Harrison, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Shorts Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Dennis Ervin officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Shalersville. Memorials may be made to Robinson Memorial Hospital Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice.

Phoebe Johnson, 57
Phoebe Alice Johnson, 57, of Ringgold, Ga., a former Portage area resident,died Monday, Oct.19, 1998 at her home. Born Sept. 30, 1941 in Ravenna, she was the daughter of Fred and Clara Laughlin. She left Ohio in the early 1970's and settled in Cleveland, Tenn. Mrs. Johnson completed a licensed practical nurse course and worked at Bradley County Nursing Home until she lost her sight in 1973 due to diabetes. She began a new career as a medical transcriptionist at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., where she worked many years.She later worked at Erlanger Medical Center and finally for the Medical Records Corp. until a few months ago when she retired because of multiple health problems. Survivors include her husband, Richard; son, Robert Chilson; daughter, Sue Benson; two grandchildren; and brothers, E.J., Austin, David and Everett. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home at South Moore & Anderson Avenue in Chattanooga,Tenn., where services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be held in Forest Hills Cemetery.

Reita Smalley
Reita M. Smalley, 65, a former Windham resident, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 1988, at her home in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she had lived since 1980. Mrs. Smalley was a housewife. She was a member of the Christian Fellowship in St. Petersburg. Survivors include her husband, David, to whom she was married for 31 years; sons, John and Lee Silvis, both of Ravenna; daughters, Sharon Miller of Garrettsville and Kathy Irvin of St. Petersburg; stepdaughter, Brenda Kelp of Greensburg, Ohio; stepson, David Smalley Jr. of Jeannette, Pa.; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and brother, Eugene Atcheson of Jeannette, Pa. Arrangements were made by Gee & Sorensen Funeral Home, 3180 30th Ave., North, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33713.

Mabel Rhoades
Mabel Edna Rhoades, 75, of Loraine Drive, Altamonte Springs, Fla., a former area resident, died Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 at her home. Born Feb. 18, 1923 in Kent, she was the daughter of George and Susan Jane (Terry) Woodard. Mrs. Rhoades was a secretary for Portage County Municipal Court in Kent until she retired in 1986. She was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving as yeoman second class. She was a member of the Women's Accepted Volunteer Emergency Service. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Kent and a life member of the World War II WAVES National Retirement. Survivors include her brother, Robert Woodard of Longwood, Fla.; nieces and nephews. Her husband, Joe S., died in 1978. Private services will be held. Arrangements were made by Bissler and Sons Funeral Home in Kent.

Robert Ward
Former Kent resident Robert "Bob" Ward, 65, who was the owner of Ward's Midway Auto and former owner-operator of Ward's Union 76 service station in Kent, died Friday, Oct. 23, 1998 at Traditions Nursing Center in Cuyahoga Falls following chronic heart problems. Born Feb. 5, 1933 in Rootstown, he was the son of James and Helen (Schuster) Ward. He was a member of Rockton Masonic Lodge No. 316 in Kent, the Blue Lodge and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his son, Brian of Akron; daughter, Becky (Mark) Chonko of Tallmadge; three grandchildren; and brothers, Paul and Roger of Phoenix, Ariz. A brother, James, died previously. Calling hours will be held from noon until services at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel, where a Masonic service will be held at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna.

Raymond Myers
Dr. Raymond R. Myers, 78, of Bethlehem, Pa., an internationally-known researcher who was chairman of the Kent State University chemistry department from 1965 to 1977, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998 at St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill, Pa. Dr. Myers was an educator, mentor of doctoral students, researcher and international lecturer in fields ranging from catalysis to rheology and research management. Rheology is the study of the flow of matter. Born Jan. 23, 1920 in Oxford, Pa., he graduated from Lehigh University in 1941, earned his master's degree from the University of Tennessee in 1942 and his doctorate from Lehigh in 1952. While serving on the KSU chemistry faculty, Dr. Myers was a research director of the Paint Research Institute from 1964 to 1983. He received the KSU President's Medal in 1981. Prior to coming to KSU, he was a faculty member at Lehigh University from 1953 to 1965. He also was a research chemist at Monsanto Co. from 1942 to 1946 and Jefferson Chemical Co. from 1946 to 1950. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and past chairman of its Organic Coatings and Plastics Chemical division. He earned the society's award in chemistry of coating and plastics in 1971. He was an editor of the Society of Rheology from 1963 to 1985 and received its first Distinguished Service Medal in 1985. He also published in professional journals and was a contributor to the Encyclopedia Britannica. He was a consultant to government agencies and private companies. Survivors include his wife, Hilma (Stirk), to whom he was married for 55 years; son. John C. II of Sarasota, Fla.; daughters, Louise Locke of Potomac, Md., and Kristen Koelmel of Lafayette, Calif.; five grandchildren; one brother and two sisters. A memorial service will be held today at Christ Church-United Church of Christ in Bethlehem, Pa. Arrangements were made by Pearson Funeral Home in Bethlehem. Memorials may be made to the Raymond R. Myers Scholarship Fund in Chemistry at Kent State University or to Christ Church-U.C.C., 75 E. Market St., Bethlehem, Pa. 18018.

Robert Smith
Robert G. Smith, 67, of Kent, died Monday, Oct. 26, 1998 at Akron General Hospital after a long illness. He was born in Saginaw, Mich. Mr. Smith worked in the press room of the Akron Beacon Journal for 27 years until he retired in 1976. Survivors include his sons, Marcus and Bob Jr. both of Kent; and sister, Betty (Erwin) Stevens of Saginaw, Mich. His wife, Gilda, and brother, James died previously. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at C.M. Rossi Funeral Home, 552 N. Main St., Akron, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.

Martha Lund
Martha F. Lund, 82, of Newton Falls, died Tuesday Oct. 27, 1998, at Community Skilled Nursing Care in Warren. Born July 19, 1916 in Marianna, Pa., she was the daughter of John and Mary (Gelderland) Krusik. Mrs. Lund was a member of St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church in Marianna. Survivors include her husband, Warner, whom she married in 1936; sons, Robert of Twinsburg, John of Carmichael, Pa; daughter, Martha Pelkofee of Pittsburgh, Pa.; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and sisters, Clara Downey of Pittsburgh, Valeria Haftman of Elizabeth, Pa., Alberta Kennedy of Saginaw, Mich., and Renee Mancini of Washington, Pa. Her brothers, Frank, John, Joseph, August, and sisters, Ann Kruger, Dorothy Wise, Mary Welch, Josephine and Pauline Krusik, died previously. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Mary's and Ann Cemetery in Marianna. Arrangements were handled by Borowski Funeral Home in Newton Falls.

Evelyn Koran
A memorial service for former Charlestown resident Evelyn (Hartman) Koran, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Charlestown United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Norma Bates officiating. Mrs. Koran died Sept. 30, 1998 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Portage County.


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