John Ferry
John Ross Ferry, 67, of Springfield, Ore., died Dec. 29, 1998, in Portland, Ore. of cancer. Born Jan. 7, 1931 in Kent, he was the son of John D. and Margaret Ferry. He was reared in Kent and later lived in Phoenix, Ariz. Mr. Ferry was a real estate broker until he retired. Survivors include his son, John A. of Oregon; four grandchildren; brother Richard (Maude) of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Maria Hoese of Springfield, Ore. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

William Hammond
PARIS - William Edward Hammond, 70, of 9439 Griffith Road, died of cancer Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999 at his home. Born April 10, 1928 in Newton Falls, he was the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Ritz) Hammond. He was a resident of Newton Falls and Paris Township his entire life. Mr. Hammond was a millwright for Copperweld for 34 years. He also was a member of the Moto Guzzi National Motorcycle Association and the Warren Barber Shoppers. He enjoyed motorcycles, golf and travel. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; son, William C. of Lake Milton; daughters,Bobbie Jean (Don) Prozy of Austintown and Debbie (Tom) Butcher of Paris; stepsons, Nathan Probert of Diamond, Barrie Copple of Phoenix, Ariz. and Carmen Copple of North Canton; stepdaughters, Laura (Don) Maffei of McClean, Va., and Kim (Marc) Watterson of Canton; 16 grandchildren; and brothers, Robert of Fort Meade, Fla., and Edward of Newton Falls. An infant brother died previously. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Palmyra United Methodist Church. Arrangements were made by James Funeral Home in Newton Falls. Memorials may be made to the Ravenna Hospice-Robinson Memorial Hospital, 6847 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna, 44266.

Arline Venner
Arline E. Venner, 58, of Ravenna, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Akron City Hospital. Born May 5, 1940 in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was the daughter of E. Roy and Edith A. (Sundberg) Carlson. She had lived in Ravenna since 1974. Mrs. Venner was a registered nurse at Fallsview Psychiatric Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls and also worked at Pearlview Nursing Home in Fairlawn. She attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ravenna. Survivors include her husband, Jack, to whom she was married 21 years; sons, Scott Wilkens of Pontiac, Mich., Eric Wilkens of Ravenna; daughters, Nancy Sourvanos and Carolynn Williams both of Columbus, Ohio; five grandchildren; mother, Edith Fisher of Ravenna; and brother, Elmer Carlson of Florida. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 tonight at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Maple Grove Cemetery Chapel. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna. Memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation.

Mary Carmel DiPaola, 85
Mary Carmel DiPaola, 85, of Ravenna, died Monday Jan. 4, 1999, at home. Born March 13, 1913 in Peninsula, Ohio, she was the daughter of Salvatore and Fortunata (Spinichia) DiPaola. She was a Ravenna resident most of her life. Miss DiPaola retired from the Portage County Clerk of Courts Office, Auto Title Department, where she worked for many years. She also worked for Pan American Airlines and Robinson Memorial Hospital. She was active in Toastmistresses, the Portage County chapter of the American Red Cross and the Portage County Democratic Party. Survivors include her brother, Paul (Agnes), Sam (Ruth) and Carl (Helen) all of Ravenna, and Joe (Shirley) of Burton; sisters, Katherine, and Joan (Barnes) both of Ravenna, and Lucy (Ward) of East Palatka, Fla., nephews, Jim II, David Ward and William Barnes all of Ravenna, Paul of Kansas, Ed Ward of Florida, Bill Vaccaro of Streetsboro and Michael of Brimfield; and nieces, Kathleen, Laura, Sandra Alger, Susan Locke, Mary B. Barber, Veronica Collins and Carolyn Stout, all of Ravenna, Mina Staten of Kansas, Peggy of Akron, Maria Weakland of Atwater and Carla Trocchio of Rootstown; 32 great-nephews and nieces; 16 great-great-nephews and nieces; and two great-great-great-nephews and nieces. Her brothers, Anthony and James, and sisters, Maria, Frances and Judy (Yolanda Hansen), died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Ravenna. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross, Portage County Chapter, P.O. Box 751, Ravenna 44266; or The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., Department W. 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017-3898.

Eileen Couts, 82
Eileen Benedict (Johnson) Couts, 82, of Alliance, a former Atwater resident, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1999 at Healthaven Nursing Home in Akron. Born Aug. 6, 1916 in Germano, Ohio, she was the daughter of McCoy and Rose (Gault) Benedict. She lived in Alliance from 1936 to 1945, when she moved to Atwater, where she lived until 1975, when she returned to Alliance. She was a graduate of Louisville High School and the Canton School of Beauty. Mrs. Couts was a musician. During the 1950s, she played piano with her family in the Couts Family Orchestra. She taught piano for many years and was a member of the Alliance chapter of Sweet Adelines. She was an organist for 16 years at First Baptist Church in Atwater, followed by another 16 years as organist at the Atwater United Methodist Church and Randolph United Methodist Church. Survivors include her sons, Larry of Atlanta, Ga., Norman of Tacoma, Wash., Edward of Atwater and the Rev. Bud Couts of Akron; daughters, Marge of Tacoma, Wash., and Sharon Shreve of Claysville, Pa.; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister, Ruth Zorger of Louisville. Her husband, G.T. (Tom), sons, Darrell and Ronnie, and brother, John Johnson, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Walton-Schrader Funeral Home in Alliance, where a memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday. The Rev. John Mather will officiate. Burial will be in Atwater Cemetery.

Wanda Alfred, 77
Wanda H. Alfred, 77, of Beloit, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999, at Alliance Community Hospital. Born July 25, 1921 in Sebring, she lived in Struthers for 15 years, Goshen for 15 years and in Beloit for the past 10 years. Mrs. Alfred was a member of Atwater United Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband, Dale C.; sons, Richard of Bailey, Colo., Ken of Palo Cedro, Calif., and Jerry of Warren; daughters, Carol Estok of Lowellville and Sue Prosser of Cleveland; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sisters, Shirley Stuller of Beloit and Jeanne Mummert of Rialto, Calif. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Atwater Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. John Mather officiating. Memorials may be made to the intensive care unit of the Alliance Community Hospital.

Rachel Lewis, 80
EDINBURG - Rachel Edsell Lewis, 80, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999. Born Dec. 31, 1919 in Akron, she was the daughter of Walter Lee and Eula Mae (Stone) Green. She lived in Akron and Stow, and in Kent from 1959 to 1974, when she moved to Edinburg. Survivors include her daughter, Susan Timms of Edinburg, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her husband, Harold R., died in 1983. A brother, Jerold Green, and sister, Oda Evans, died previously. There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Burial will be in Stow Cemetery.

Deanna Olin, 51
Deanna L. Olin, 51, of Kent, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1998, at her home. Born March 15, 1947 in Elkridge, W.Va., she was the daughter of Roy and Gladys (Cottrell) Stanley. She had lived in Kent most of her life. Mrs. Olin had worked for Kent Quality Care as an licensed practical nurse, until retiring because of her health. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kent, Circulators Square Dance Club of Ravenna, TOPS of Kent and the Portage County Herb Society. Survivors include her husband, Jay, to whom she was married 32 years; son, Jeffrey of Kent; mother, Gladys Stanley of Kent; brother, Dennis (Yvonne) Stanley of Ravenna; and sister, Debbie (William) Moulton of Rootstown. Her son, Gary, died in 1970. Her father, Roy, died in 1994. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 1 p.m. until services at 2 p.m. Saturday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel, with the Rev. Elizabeth Hazelton officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Kent Fire Department.

Stuart McConnell, 42
Stuart M. McConnell, 42, of Ravenna, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1998, at his home. Born Aug. 7, 1956 in Pennsylvania, he was the son of Michael and Velva (Lender) McConnell. He had been a Ravenna resident since 1960. Mr. McConnell had worked as a groom at Thistledown Racetrack. He was a member of the American Legion. Survivors include h
is sisters, Gloria Brown, Marsha Gannon and Diane, all of Ravenna, and Colleen Cipriano of Akron; stepfather, Earl Shelly of Ravenna; and Gary and Jill Ross of Rootstown. Visitation will be held from noon until the memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Tthe Rev. Richard Shelly will officiate.

Amelia DiGirolamo, 85
Amelia H. DiGirolamo, 85, who was active in several Ravenna organizations, died Tuesday Jan. 26, 1999, at the Briarwood in Stow. Born May 17, 1913 in Ravenna, she was the daughter of Isadoro and Assunta (Denatto) Massari. She was a longtime Ravenna resident. Mrs. DiGirolamo was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna, serving as funeral luncheon chairman. She also was a member and past grand regent of Catholic Daughters of America and a member of the Hit and Miss Card Club, Italian American Club, Young at Heart Club, Liberty Club and Infant of Prague Guild. Survivors include her sons, Vincent (Nancy) of Cuyahoga Falls and Ralph (Marsha) of Newton Falls; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Tony (Flo) Massari of Ravenna; and sisters, Virginia Ruggieri of Ravenna and Mary Mattillo of California. Her husband, Livio, and brother, August Massari, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna, with the Rev. David Misbrener officiating. Memorials may be made to the Summit County Hospice Care Center, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Akron, 44333.

Owen Langston, 69
Owen J. Langston, 69, of Ravenna, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Born March 26, 1929 in Dixon, Ky., he was the son of Owen and Ludela Langston. Mr. Langston worked for Chrysler Corporation until he retired in 1979. He also was employed in the housekeeping department at Robinson Memorial Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Josephine (Attard), to whom he was married 49 years; sons, Larry (Mary Ann) of Ravenna, Randy (Mary) of Solon, Blake (Kathy) of Rootstown and Brian of Kent; daughters, Debbie (Dave) Rohrer of Ravenna, Janet (Robert) Whitaker of Brimfield, Sandy (Mark) Short of Ravenna, Peggy of Stow, and Terrie (Scott) Simpson of Paris; 24 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Kenneth; and sisters, Junie, Betty and Lucille. His daughter, Loretta, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Everett Schleef officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna.

Mildred Ranker, 73
ROOTSTOWN - Mildred R. Ranker, 73, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1999. Born March 17, 1925, in New Bethlehem, Pa., she was the daughter of Orven and Myrna (Schick) Kunselman. She was a former Akron resident. Mrs. Ranker was a homemaker. She also had worked Polsky's department store in Akron as a salesperson. She was a former member of West Hill Baptist Church of Akron. Survivors include her husband, Norman H.; daughter, Loretta (Lester) Clark of San Ramon, Calif.; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister, Dorothy Shreckengost of Putneyville, Pa. Calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Roy Kelsey officiating. Burial will be in Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown.

Joe Stone, 59
Joe Lewis Stone, 59, of Ravenna Township, died Tuesday Jan. 26, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Born July 28, 1939 in Robeson, N.C., he was the son of Clarence and Lizzie (Britt) Stone. He had lived in Ravenna for 28 years. Mr. Stone was third shift plant supervisor at Ravenna Aluminum. Survivors include his wife, Kathy; sons, Joe L. Jr. and Thomas A., both of North Carolina, Jason L. of Freedom Township, Jesse L. of Alliance; daughters, Melissa D. and Angela D. both of Alliance; four grandchildren; two brothers; and two sisters. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 13826 Overcrest Northeast (off Sanburg), Alliance. Burial will be in Deerfield Cemetery. Arrangements wree made by Shorts Funeral Home of Ravenna.

Gladys Dingeldein, 88
Gladys Dingeldein, 88, of Ravenna, died Tuesday Jan. 26, 1999, at Altercare Nursing Home in Ravenna. Born Nov. 2, 1910 in Claysville, Pa., she was the daughter of Hershal and Etha Day. She had been a Ravenna resident since 1980. She also had lived in the Brimfield and Kent area. Mrs. Dingeldein was a homemaker. She was a member of First Christian Church in Ravenna, Order of the Eastern Star and the Portage County Grange. Survivors include her stepsons, William of California, Hartley of Pennsylvania, and Robert of Florida; stepdaughters, Lucille O'Toole and Delores Melton, both of Pennsylvania; brother, Glenn Day of California; and sisters, Evelyn Cox of Florida and Jane Day of California. Her husband, William, previously died in 1991. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until services at 10 a.m. Saturday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, with Dr. Russell Goldner officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna.

Margaret Gaich
Margaret (Smith) Gaich, 86, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. She was born in Akron and was a life resident of the area. Mrs. Gaich had worked for the Akron Credit Bureau for 16 years. She was a former member of the Concordia Lutheran Church in Akron. Survivors include her son, Michael E. of Brimfield. Her brother, George, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Prentice Funeral Home, 1154 Kenmore Blvd., Akron. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Concordia Lutheran Church, 724 Summer St., Akron, with the Rev. Richard Bartholomew and the Rev. Thomas Mrock officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Akron.

Anthony Valenti
Anthony Valenti, 82, of Ravenna died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at the Hospice Care Center in Copley. Services will be announced by Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.

Marcella Naugle
STOW - Marcella Naugle, 81, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999 at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital following a short illness. Born Dec. 21, 1917 in Cleveland, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Gimbel. Formerly of North Royalton, she had been a Stow resident since 1995. Mrs. Naugle had been a bookkeeper at Royal Wire Products in North Royalton. She had been a member of the Stow Presbyterian Church. Survivors include her husband Grant, to whom she had been married for 48 years, and sister-in-law, Dorothy Hienton, of Mantua Her brother, Armand, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Shorts Funeral Home, Streetsboro Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday with Rev. David Weyrick officiating. Burial will be in Brooklyn Heights Cemetery in Parma.

Mary A. Flory
Mary A. Flory, 78, died Monday, Feb. 1, 1999, at Longmeadow Care Center in Ravenna. Born May 30, 1920, in Wellsville, Ohio, she was the daughter of Edmund and Kate (Thorn) Graham. She lived in Deerfield for 20 years, 17 years in Beloit and most recently eight years in the Rootstown Villa. Mrs. Flory was a member of Rootstown United Methodist Church, a former member of the Grange and a charter member of Deerfield Sirenettes. She volunteered for several years at Crandall Medical Center in Sebring, and was an R.S.V.P. volunteer in Sebring. Survivors include her sons, David J. of Edinburg and Curtis W. (Althea) of Rootstown; daughters, Glenda J. Smith of Rock Hill, S.C., Carol A. (Dave) Rogers of Seneca, S.C. and Marilyn K. (Larry) Williamson of Edinburg; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Lillian Graham of Rootstown, and Lena Flory of Lisbon. Her husband, Stanley; daughter, Gladys J. Williamson; brothers, James and Kenneth Graham; and sister, Katherine Jean Warren, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, with Gregory Rogers officiating. Burial will be in Deerfield Cemetery.

William Schmidt, 70
BRIMFIELD - William C. Schmidt, 70, died Wednesday Feb. 3, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Born Sept. 10, 1928 in Flint, Mich., he was the son of Conrad W. and Ida (Smith) Schmidt. A former Aurora resident, he had lived in Brimfield for nine years. Mr. Schmidt was a dispatcher for Standard Oil Co. in Cleveland until he retired in 1985. He also worked in road maintenance for the City of Aurora and was a driver for Campus Bus Service. He was a member of W.K. Ricksecker Masonic Lodge No. 606 of Aurora, Scottish Rite Valley of Canton Consistory, and a Boy Scout Leader of Troop No. 265 of Aurora. A U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2926 of Cleveland. He attended the First Congregational Church of Rootstown. He also was president of the Happy Day School Board and a board member of Portage Industries. Survivors include his wife, Esther (Dalton), to whom was married 45 years; son, William of Berwick, Pa.; daughters, Lee Lance and Shannon, both of Brimfield; three grandchildren; and sisters, Dorothy Walsh of Willoughby, Connie Dickson of Bedford, and Patricia Schultz of Lyndhurst. A son, Frederick, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 5 p.m. until services at 8 p.m. Friday at Shorts Funeral Home in Streetsboro, with the Rev. Susan Tipton officiating. Masonic services will be held at the funeral home at 7:45 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg. Memorials may be made to the Portage County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Ona Eyre, 93
Ona M. (Best) Eyre, 93, of Kent, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna. Born April 28, 1905 in Kittanning, Pa., she was the daughter of Norman C. and Elsie (Himes) Haupt. She had lived in Rootstown before moving to Kent in 1971. Mrs. Eyre was a member of Rootstown Congregational Church and Kent Senior Citizens. Survivors include her son, Richard J. Best of Akron; daughters, Vivian Riggs of Lakeland, Fla., and Norma Nelson of Kent; stepson, Joseph Eyre of Cuyahoga Falls; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Her husband, Joseph, died in 1964. A stepson, Calvin Eyre, died previously. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Kent Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, with the Rev. Susan Tipton officiating. Burial will be in Homeland Cemetery in Rootstown. Memorials may be made to the Kent Visiting Nurses.

Anthony Valenti, 82
Anthony Valenti, 82, of Ravenna, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, at the Hospice Care Center in Copley. Born June 22, 1916 in Tortorici, Sicily, he was the son of Nunzio and Carmela (Teleni) Valenti. He was a Ravenna resident since 1929. Mr. Valenti was employed at Romito-Donnely in Ravenna as a furniture trimmer. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Rose (Coco), to whom he was married 53 years; sons, Michael of California and Robert (Priscilla) of Ravenna; daughters, Susan (Michael) Murray of Akron and Joanne (Steven) Pisarchik of Ravenna; eight grandchildren; and brother, Jerry of Kent. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Friday at Shorts Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. The Rev. Robert Sabatino will officiate. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Park in Ravenna. Memorials may be made to the Hospice Care Center and Visiting Nurse Services in Copley.