USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Steven Walters, 38
Steven Alan Walters, 38, of Cuyahoga Falls, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, after a courageous 10-year battle with brain cancer.
"Steve was so intelligent and full of promise, and bore up under his illness with such grace. His passing is a loss to journalism and to this newspaper," said Record-Courier Publisher David Dix.
"Steve's time at the Record-Courier was relatively brief, but he touched our lives in many ways," said Record-Courier Editor Roger J. Di Paolo. "He took pride in being a journalist and worked hard at providing his staff with editorial leadership.
"His struggle with cancer was a profile in courage; he sought no special treatment and simply tried to do his job even when he wasn't feeling well. He shared a lesson in endurance and determination with all of us," Di Paolo said
Steve wrote of his illness in a June 24, 1999 column for the Record-Courier. First treated for a tumor in 1990, the disease returned in March, 1999.
"There's nothing good about having cancer. Your body must endure a lot of pain just to get to a point where you hope you'll be OK. After all the treatments are over, you have to live day-to-day. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my condition - of my lurking disease - and when it might strike again.
"I have made a commitment to beating this thing, to having a positive attitude and living a full life. It's the best therapy I have found so far, and certainly beats eating steamed broccoli every day for the rest of my life," he wrote.
Former Record-Courier City Editor Julie Pavelich recalled Steve's "dry, sarcastic wit, but he was a very warm person."
"I think the thing I'll remember most was his ability to make people feel comfortable and to laugh." She said Steve could put colleagues at ease with a story, "you would just laugh, and your whole day was better."
She also recalled Steve's courage through his illness. "That he came to work, and continued to work. He didn't complain. He was being so brave."
Born April 23, 1962, he was the son of Ernest and Diana Walters of Kent.
He was a 1980 graduate of Tallmadge High School and received a bachelor of science degree in journalism from Kent State University in 1986. He received numerous honors for his work at the Marietta Times, Rubber and Plastic News in Akron, and most recently, the Record-Courier, where he served as city editor, heading up news operations i the Kent office.
His hobbies included filmmaking, sci-fi movies, photography, airships, cooking, the Cleveland Browns and Indians, and traveling. He visited Milan, Venice, London, Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as numerous places in the U.S. and Canada.
Survivors include his wife, Flo Cunningham, whom he married Aug. 1, 1987; parents, Ernest and Diana Walters of Kent; brother, Michael (Laura Bartlett) of Los Angeles; grandmother, Ellen Craig of Akron; and 100-year-old great-aunt Ruth Sherman of Cuyahoga Falls.
Calling hours will be held from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hennessy-Bagnoli Funeral Home, 339 Southwest Ave., Tallmadge with funeral service immediately following at 7 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Kent State University, c/o KSU Foundation, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, 44242-0001, or to the National Brain Tumor Foundation, 414 13th St., Suite 700, Oakland CA, 94612-2603.
Mildred Bilcozo, 89
Mildred Bilcozo, 89, of Newton Falls and formerly of Cleveland, died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, at her home after a lengthy illness.
Born Aug. 11, 1910, in Cleveland, she was the daughter of Andrew and Mary Johnson.
Mrs. Bilcozo was a homemaker.
She was a member of The Old Stone Church on Public Square in Cleveland. She enjoyed spending time with her family.
She is survived by daughter, Doris Deblo of Lawrenceville, Ga.; four grandchildren, including Brenda Hull of Newton Falls with whom she lived for the past three months; two great-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Her husband, John; son, John; and grandson, Todd, all died previously.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Borowski Memorial Home in Newton Falls with Rev. Stephen Spurlock officiating. Cremation was handled by the funeral home.
Madeline Salcone, 83
Madeline C. Salcone, 83, of Warren and formerly of Newton Falls, died of heart failure Saturday, July 29, 2000, at St. Joseph Health Center following a lengthy illness.
Born April 4, 1917, in Warren, she was the daughter of Felix and Mary (Manna) Clementi.
She was an assembly worker at Packard Electric for 31 years, retiring in 1976.
She attended St. Mary and St. Joseph churches in Newton Falls for many years. She enjoyed flowers, watching television, baking and working in the yard.
Survivers include son, Joseph Salcone of Warren Township; daughter, Mary (Mickey) Simons of Newton Falls; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and brother, Gregory Clementi of Boardman. Her husband, whom she married Feb. 22, 1935, James M. Salcone, died in 1989. Daughter, Buena Lee Touart; brother, Thomas Clementi; sister, Jenny Clementi; and two grandchildren also died previously.
Calling hours are from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Borowski Memorial Home in Newton Falls. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Church in Newton Falls with the Rev. John P. Madden officiating. Burial will be in All Souls Cemetry in Bazetta Township.
Richard Rimmer, 62
Richard W. Rimmer, 62, of Kent, died Thursday, July 27, 2000, at the Cleveland Clinic. He had cancer.
Born Jan. 12, 1938, in Guelph, Ontario, he was the son of William and Grace Rimmer. He began figure skating at age 7 and was the Candian men's junior champion, placed 4th in the Canadian senior Men's championship, and was on the North American and World Team alternate.
After turning professional, he coached at several clubs in Canada, including the Toronto Cricket Skating Club and Curling Club. During this time he coached Linda Carbonetto when she won the Canadian Senior Ladies Championship and Don Knight when he placed second in school figures in the world championships.
Mr. Rimmer moved to Ohio in 1967 and coached for the Troy Skating Club, Wagon Wheel Skating Club, Kent Skating Club and the Cleveland Skating Club. He was a United States Olympic Coach with Suna Murray during the 1972 Sapporo Olympics. In addition, he coached Editha Dotson, Bill Fauver, Lee Ann Miller and Peter Oppegard, all of whom became international, world, and Olympic team skaters.
During 46 years of coaching, he had more than 50 skaters pass gold tests in figures, freeskating and pairs, and numerous sectional champions and national medalists in free skating and pairs.
Most recently, he coached at the Cleveland Skating Club. For 12 years, he was responsible for bringing Olympic champions such as Scott Hamilton, Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Greeva and Grinkov and Brian Boitano to the club's annual ice shows.
Mr. Rimmer enjoyed boating, fishing and gardening. He loved traveling to New England and San Francisco.
Survivors include is wife, Lynn of Kent, to whom he was married for 30 years; and son, Hayes of Kent.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights. Arrangements were made by the Brown-Forward Funeral Service in Shaker Heights. Burial will be private.
Memorials may be made to the Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic.
Shelly Klepper, 82
Shelly V. Klepper, 82, of Freedom Twp., died Thursday, July 27, 2000, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna following a lengthy illness.
Born on Nov. 29, 1917, in Harlan, Kentucky, he was the son of William and Minnie (Rapier) Klepper.
Mr. Klepper worked as a truck driver for Sheller Trucking and Penn Transfer Trucking companies. He retired in 1980.
He was a member of the Freedom United Methodist Church. He also was a member of the Ravenna Senior Center, the Teamsters Local No. 24 and a Cub Scout adviser.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Wanda (John) Klepper of Freedom Township, to whom he was married for 52 years; son, Wayne (Sherry) Klepper of Shalersville; daughters, Sheila (Bill) Oyler of Charlestown and Pat (Clifford) Goff of Freedom; brother, Baskel Klepper of Suffield; sisters, Rose Bittinger of New Symerna Beach, Fla., Gladys Nicoldard of Canal Fulton, Janet Steele of Akron and Delores Sheldon of Barstow, Fla.; 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grand children.
His son, Gary L. Klepper and brothers, Shelvy and Jack, all died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday. Rev. Carol Evans will officiate. Cremation will follow.
Bernice Kelso, 85
Bernice I. (Rueschman) Kelso, 85, of Akron, died July 27, 2000.
She was born on May 25, 1915, in Green Township, and was a lifelong resident of the Akron area.
Mrs. Kelso worked at Goodyear Aircraft as a riveter in the 1940s.
She was a member of the Tallmadge Lutheran Church and its bible study class.
She also was a member of the Mohawk Retirement group, and a volunteer attendant for 35 years with the local voting booth. She was an avid blood donor.
Survivors include her sons, Paul Jr. and Woody (Cozy), both of Florida; daughters, Shirley Edwards of Manchester and Jean Lloyd of Kent.
Her husband Paul preceded her in death in 1988; son, Jack; daughters, Annie and Elizabeth; and son-in-law, Gary also preceded her in death.
Calling hours will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday and one hour prior to noon Monday services at the Hopkins Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road, Akron. Dr. David R. Zachrich will officiate. Burial will be at Hillside Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Tallmadge Lutheran Church, 759 East Avenue.
Eva Long, 86
Eva Amelia Long, 86, formerly of Silver Oaks Drive, Kent, died Friday, July 28, 2000, at the Kent Health Care Center.
Born April 7, 1914, in Akron, she was the daughter of Ora and Imogene (Pfeifer) Geistweite.
Mrs. Long worked at Kent State University as a switchboard operator for 23 years, retiring in 1975. She was a member of First Christian Church in Stow.
Survivors include her son, Andrew E. (Sandra) Jr. of Cuyahoga Falls; and granddaughter, Andrea of Akron. Her husband, Andrew, died in 1986. Her brother Lester Geistweite also died previously.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Christian Church of Stow with the Rev. Mark Richardson officiating.
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church of Stow, 3493 Darrow Road, Stow, 44224.
Arrangements are being handled by Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent.
Louise Frances McMullen
RANDOLPH - Louise Frances (Llewellyn) McMullen, 84, died Tuesday, July 25, 2000 at her home.
Born March 20, 1916 in Springfield, she was the daughter of Alden and Claira (McGuiness) Llewellyn. She lived with her husband, Andy, on their farm in Randolph for 60 years.
Mrs. McMullen was a retired teacher. She graduated from Kent State University in 1966 and tought for 20 years. She began her career at St. Joseph School in Suffield and taught at Edinbrg Elementary School and ended her career at Waterloo Elementary School.
She enjoyed traveling, swimming, camping gardening, collecting dolls and studying Italian.
Survivors include her husband, Anderson J. McMullen, to whom she had been married for 63 years; son, Fred (Pat) of Alliance; daughters, Claire (Neil) Postal of Clinton, Cathy (Dave) Russell of Ravenna, Mandy (Butch) Gillis of Tallmadge, Lou (Ralph) Hause of Maryland and Karen (Craig) McKinney of Akron; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; sister, Marcella Bacon of Kent; and sister-in-law Dora Llewelyn, of Kent. Her sisters, Celia and Hilda and brothers, Noah and Chuck Llewellyn all died previously.
A memorial will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Randolph Community Center.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Robinson Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 1204, Ravenna 44266.
Arrangements were handled by Eckart-Baldwin Funeral Home.
Norma E. Brinker
Norma E. (Rankin) Brinker, 69, died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born May 2, 1931 in Cleveland, she was the daughter of Morris and Anne Thomas.
Mrs. Brinker was a retired driving education teacher in Cleveland.
Survivors include her sons, Raymond (Becky) Rankin of Rootstown and Randall (Donna) Rankin of Michigan; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother Fred (Marilyn) Thomas of Mentor; sister-in-law Joan Thomas of Kirkland. Her first husband Robert Rankin died in 1993 and her second husband Maynard Brinker died in 1983 and son Robbie Rankin died in 1954. Her parents and brother Irvin Thomas died previously.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Wood-Kortwright Funeral Home in Ravenna with the Rev. Donald Davies officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association.
Samuel Joseph Feeley
Samuel Joseph Feeley, the infant son of Brian and June Feeley of Kent, was stillborn Monday, July 24, 2000 at Akron City Hospital.
In addition to his parents, survivors include his brothers, Patrick, Erik and Trevor, all at home; and grandparents Kay and John Caldwell and Albert Feeley. Five siblings and a grandmother, Barbara Feeley, died previously.
Arrangements are being made by Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Funeral Home in Akron.
James Turk, 70
MANTUA - James R. Turk, 70, died Tuesday, July 18, 2000 at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna after a period of failing health.
Born Nov. 25, 1929 in Falls Creek, Pa., he was the son of John and Tressa (Murray) Turk. A former Solon resident, he had lived in Mantua for seven years.
Mr. Turk was self-employed for many years, designing motors and machine parts. He obtained patent rights on his designs. Prior to being self-employed, he worked for several engineering and machine companies in the greater Cleveland area.
He was a 1947 graduate of Falls Creek High School in Pennsylvania and attended John Carroll University in Cleveland, where he studied electrical engineering.
Since 1995, he enjoyed doing oil paintings of nature and landscapes in particular. In 1996, he completed an oil painting that was used as a Christmas card for the Dialysis Center in North Randall. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his family.
He was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his son, Philip J. (Larissa) Turk of Bozeman, Mont.; daughter, Lauren (Scott "Randy") Weaver of Mantua; two grandchildren; brother, Wilbert of Montgomery, Ala.; and sisters, Maxine Weed of Falls Creek, Pa., and Shirley Langer of Altoona, Pa. His wife, Rosemarie, died in 1993. Two brothers and one sister also died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 11 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. Thursday at Green's Funeral Home in Mantua. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Mantua.
Frank LaMarca, 48
Frank T. LaMarca, 48, of Phoenix, Ariz., the fatherof two Kent residents, died Friday, July 14, 2000.
Born Feb. 21, 1952 in Cleveland, he was a son of Jack L. and Betty J. LaMarca. He attended Bedford High School and Cleveland State University.
Mr. LaMarca was self-employed as an industrial engineer in the transportation field.
He served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
He was a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church in Phoenix.
Survivors include his son, Anthony, and daughter, Geni, both of Kent; parents, Jack L. and Betty J. LaMarca of Lakeside, Ariz.; brothers, Michael J. of Lincoln, Kan., Louis T. of Cleveland, Gerard R. of Mantua, and John F. of Scottsdale; and sister, Maria E. of Phoenix.
A memorial service was held today at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Phoenix. A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary in Phoenix handled arrangements.
Maurice Klein, 68
Maurice Goodrich Klein, 68, of West Liberty, Ohio, died Monday, July 17, 2000 at his home.
Born Aug. 29, 1931 in Ravenna, he was the son of Berthold and Elizabeth (Goodrich) Klein.
Mr. Klein was a retired librarian.
He was employed at Ohio State University, where he had been a reference librarian for the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, from 1982 until he retired in 1999. He was director of the Ohio Valley Area Libraries from 1974 to 1977 and director of public libraries for Stratford, Conn. from 1970 to 1974.
He graduated from Northwestern University in Illinois. He earned a master's degree in library science from Case Western Reserve University in 1967.
Survivors include his daughter, Audrey (David) Klein-Leach of Princeton, Mass.; brother Berthold Jr. of Ravenna; and sister, Donna Bonchek of Kent.
Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until services at 2 p.m. Friday at Maple Grove Cemetery Chapel in Ravenna, with the Rev. Carol Evans officiating. Arrangements are being handled by Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.
