USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Robert L. Lane
Robert L. Lane, 79, of Spencer, Ind., died Saturday at Bloomington Hospital in Bloomington, Ind.
Born Aug. 9, 1918 in Ravenna, he was the son of Harry J. and Mayme (Whitham) Lane. He had lived in Spencer for three years, moving there from Thompson, Ohio.
Mr. Lane worked in the stamping plant at the Chrysler Corporation in Twinsburg for 21 yearsuntil he retired in 1981.
A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Madison, Ohio.
Survivors include his wife, Alberta (Lanning), whom he married Nov. 3, 1990; sons, Gary of Kent and Mark of Canton; six stepchildren; four grandchildren; and 12 step-grandchildren. His first wife, Iva (Patterson), died previously.
There will be no calling hours. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Whitehaven Cemetery in Mayfield Village, with the Rev. Robert Mathias officiating.Behm Funeral Home in Madison is handling the arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Thompson United Methodist Church, 6758 Madison Road, Thompson, Ohio 44086.
Elma E. Wolff
Elma E. Wolff, 89, of Ravenna, died Monday at Altercare Nursing Home in Ravenna following a period of declining health.
Born May 2, 1908 in Randolph, she was the daughter of Leo and Mary (Keller) Kline. She had been an area resident all of her life.
Mrs. Wolff had been employed by Cleveland Worsted Mills in Ravenna.
She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna, Rootstown 60-Plus Club, and the Administration Building Senior Citizens. She was a former member of St. Joseph Euchre Club.
Survivors include her son, Kenneth of Ravenna; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Her husband, Oren, and brothers, Herbert and Harold Kline, died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna, with the Rev. Robert Sabatino officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna.
Marian T. Andrews
GARRETTSVILLE - Marian T. Andrews, 78, died Sunday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna after a short illness.
Born Jan. 16, 1919 in Warren, she was the daughter of Harry and Ardith (Nichols) Thomas. She had lived in Garrettsville all of her life.
Mrs. Andrews worked at Portage National Bank in Garrettsville and also operated several businesses in the village.
She was a licensed private pilot and enjoyed traveling with her husband, golfing and living in Arizona during the winter.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Garrettsville, Ora Rebekah Lodge, the Twentieth Century Club and the Ninety-Niners.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford C., whom she married Jan. 16, 1946, sons, Tom of Cleveland, Alan of Garrettsville and Jim of Hiram; daughters, Margaret Andrews of Garrettsville and Mary Nelson of Kent; four grandchildren; and sister, Alice (Francis) Hogan of Margate, Fla.
Calling hours will be held from 3 p.m. until services at 4 p.m. Thursday at Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home in Garrettsville. The Rev. Mitchell Ladich will officiate.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Mary J. Jones
Mary J. Jones, 68, of Youngstown, the mother of Emma Campbell of Diamond, died Saturday at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Youngstown.
Born June 11, 1929 in Harrisville, Pa., she was the daughter of James and Ruth (Swogger) Jones. She had moved as a child with her family to Youngstown.
She was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking and sewing.
In addition to Mrs. Campbell, survivors include her sons, Edward Kale of Ohioville, Pa.; Woodrow Kale of Washingtonville, Ohio; Arnold Jr. of Columbiana, Ohio; daughter, Rebecca of Austintown; 17 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Her husbands, Herbert Kale and Arnold Jones Sr.,and son, Samuel Kale, died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Lane Funeral Home in Austintown, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. Jay Kendell officiating. Burial will be in the Forestlawn Cemetery in Youngstown.
Winston Potter
Winston Potter, 67, of Ravenna, died Saturday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born Feb. 6, 1930, in Barberton, Ohio, he was the son of Virgil and Birdie (Walker) Potter.
Mr. Potter was a self-employed electrician. He worked for 43 years with Ohio Edison Co., serving most recently as a troubleshooter until he retired in 1994.
He was a member of the Ravenna Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley (McCann); son, David of North Carolina; daughters, Brenda and Becky, both of Akron, Mrs. Tim (Debbie) Quitter of Akron and Kathy of Ravenna; stepsons, Reue Verbus of Idaho, Kenny Verbus of Louisiana and Allen Parmenter of Kent; nine grandchildren; brother, Tom of Indiana; and sisters, Wilda Knipple of Florida and Jean of California.
Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 tonight at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Jeffrey Frantz officiating. A Masonic service will be held at 5:45 p.m. today at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Grandview Memorial Park Mausoleum in Ravenna.
Howard Griffiths
ROOTSTOWN - Howard Joseph Wall Griffiths, 52, died Saturday at his home.
Born Feb. 6, 1945 in Troy, N.Y., he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Griffiths. He had lived in Aurora and Mantua before moving to Rootstown three years ago.
Mr. Griffiths was the general manager of the Sheraton City Center, Downtown Cleveland. He also owned and bred champion show dogs.
Survivors include his wife, Nyleen LaShier (Cummings); parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Griffiths of Plainfield, N.J.; brothers, Robert and Peter Griffiths; and sisters, Mary and Patricia Griffiths, Catherine Griffiths Baihler, Joan DePadua and Christine Goldstein.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Mary B. Blosser
Mary B. Blosser, 61, of Kent, died Saturday at her home.
Born Jan.16, 1936 in Pittsburgh, Pa., she was the daughter of Morton Laurence and Jean (Grant) Boyd.
Mrs. Blosser was a member of the Elm Garden Club of Kent, the University Women's Club, American Field Service and the Presbyterian Church of Kent.
Survivors include her husband Thomas, whom she married April 2, 1954; son, T. Laurence (Nancy Truitt) of Columbus; daughter, Beth Ellen (Stefano) Carta of Rome, Italy; five grandchildren; brothers, Morton M. Boyd of Ames, Iowa and Thomas M. Boyd of Northfield, N.J.; and sister, Jean Boyd Michaels of Pittsburgh.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bissler and Sons Funeral Home in Kent, with the Rev. Harold Walker officiating. The family will receive friends at their home from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday. Private burial services will be held at Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.
Memorials may be made to the Robinson Memorial Hospital Foundation - Hospice, P.O. Box 1204, Ravenna, 44266-1204.
Betty Jane Scott
Betty Jane Scott, of Sagamore Hills, died Friday
Survivors include her husband, Charles Jr.; daughters, Susan (Michael) Tinlin and Sharyn (Brent) Lewis; three grandchildren; and brothers Joseph and Robert Sabo of Vienna, Ohio.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Ferfolia Funeral Home in Sagamore Hills, where a servicewill be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, followed by funeral services at 10 a.m. at St. Barnabas Church. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Vienna.
John P. Dennis
John P. Dennis, 80, of Kent, died Thursday at home.
Born Oct. 16, 1916 in Kent, he was the son of Fred and Angeline (Jules) Dennis.
He had been a personnel manager at Byers Machine in Ravenna prior to working for 17 years in production control for Chrysler-Twinsburg, retiring in 1975.
Mr. Dennis was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and was awarded two bronze stars for his efforts in the Tunisian and Sicilian Engagements. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kent, the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1411 and the Fourth Degree of the Knights, Monsignor O'Keefe Assembly, where he had served twice as a Grand Knight and once as a District Deputy. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Board of Veterans Service Commission of Portage County.
Survivors include his wife, Rita H. (Serfilippi), whom he married April 19, 1947; sons, John (Cindy) Jr. of Columbus and Mark of Kent; daughter, Catherine Ann (Neil) Christy of Stow; nine grandchildren; brother, Jim of Akron; and sisters, Edith Visca of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Adeline Visconmi of Garden City, Mich. His son, Frank F., and grandson, John Paul Dennis III, died previously. His brothers, Joseph, Frank and Fred, and sisters, Elizabeth Ramirez and Marguerite Ickes, also died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent, where the Knights of Columbus will conduct services at 6:45 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick with the Rev. Joseph Ruggieri officiating. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.
Memorials may be made to the St. Patrick Memorial Fund, 313 N. DePeyster St., Kent, 44240 or the Portage County Visiting Nurse Service, 234 S. Water St., Kent.
Robert F. Jones
EDINBURG - Robert F. Jones Sr., 61, died Friday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born Feb. 1, 1936 in Morgantown, W.Va., he was the son of Wayne W. and Cecil M. (Willard) Jones. He had lived in Morgantown before he moved to Edinburg 34 years ago.
He retired in 1980 from the U.S. Steel Company of McDonald, Ohio, where he had been a milwright supervisor. Along with his wife, Delores "Dee" (Foster), Mr. Jones was owner and operator of the Ravenna Hot Dog Shoppe, located on South Chestnut Street, from 1982 to 1989.
Aside from his wife, survivors include son, Robert F. Jr. of Charlestown; daughters, Mrs. Eldon (Debbie) Abbe, Mrs. Jerry (Kathy) Hixon and Mrs. Kevin (Jeanne) West, all of Charlestown; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; adopted sons, Okey and Ferrell, both of Morgantown; and a sister, Barbara Musgrave of Morgantown. Sisters, Dorothy Dalton and Mary, died previously, as did an adopted son, Michael (Bob) Milik.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday with the Rev. Mark D. Lattimer officiating. Burial will be in Edinburg Cemetery.
Russell Rader
Former area resident Russell J. Rader, 82, of Westland, Mich., died Wednesday at Garden City Hospital in Garden City, Mich.
He was born Nov. 25, 1914 in Parkersburg, W. Va.
Mr. Rader worked as an assembler for Goodyear Tire & Rubber in Akron for 47 years.
Survivors include his wife, Ollie (Schoonover); sons, Richard Miller of Rootstown and David J. and Robert K., both of Kent; daughters, Shadra S. Marple of Kent and Patricia L. Wilson of Urbana; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother, Bill Rossellot of Greenville, Pa. His first wife, Mary V. (Kidder), died in 1978. His daughter, Ann Genovese, also died previously.
Visitation will be held one hour before the services at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent. The Rev. Robert Warren will officiate. Burial will be in Restland Cemetery in Brimfield.
Rita Krebs
STOW - Memorial services for Rita Krebs, 72, who died Aug. 28, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Trinity United Church of Christ, 915 N. Main St., Akron, with the Rev. David S. Kiewit officiating. Friends will be received immediately after the service.
Robert Jones
Robert F. Jones, 61, of Edinburg, died this morning at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Arrangements will be announced by the Wood-Kortright Funeral Home, Ravenna Chapel.
Jeffrey J. Bernaciak
Jeffrey J. Bernaciak, 26, of Ashbrooke Way, Hudson, whose battle with cancer inspired a community-wide effort to help offset his medical bills, died Wednesday at home.
The 1991 graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent had battled a brain tumor, his third bout with cancer in 13 years.
In June, the staff at Roosevelt hosted an auction to help offset more than $270,000 in medical bills. Among the items auctioned was a football autographed by the hosts of ABC Monday Night Football.
The football was purchased by Joe DiBiase, who gave it to Mr. Bernaciak, said his father, Dale, who knew DiBiase's family through his work as a wrestling coach at Roosevelt. Afterwards, DiBiase gave Jeff another autographed football, Bernaciak said.
"He felt it would be something that would help Jeff's spirits, and it did," he said. "It really picked him up. It made him feel special."
When he was in high school, Mr. Bernaciak had a brain tumor which went into remission with radiation treatments. In 1992, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer which also went into remission.
But in 1996, after he collapsed at work, doctors discovered he had another brain tumor which, unlike the others, was larger and more difficult to treat.
Mr. Bernaciak was a 1992 graduate of International Culinary Arts School of Pittsburgh, and a manager trainee at Wal-Mart. During his childhood, he enjoyed wresting, baseball, football and soccer but after his doctor told him he could no longer participate in contact sports, he turned his attention to fishing, bowling and golf.
"He's absolutely the bravest person I've ever seen," his father said. "His attitude was always positive. He didn't have down moments. He picked us up when we were down."
He was born Feb. 27, 1971 in Akron, he was the son of Dale and Diane (Trefney) Bernaciak.
Besides his parents, who live in Hudson, survivors include his grandmother, Laverne Bernaciak of Wellington. His grandparents, Edward Bernaciak and Joseph and Rose Trefney, died previously.
Calling hours will be held 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with the Rev. David Bittinger officiating. Burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Cleveland Clinic, One Clinic Center, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44195-5236.
Marjorie Pittman
STOW - A memorial service for Marjorie E. Pittman, 85, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Twin Falls United Methodist Church in Munroe Falls, with the Rev.. William Graham officiating.
Mrs. Pittman died Aug. 9.
Redmon Funeral Home in Stow is handling arrangements.
Dewey Lowther, Jr.
Dewey Lee Lowther, Jr., 44, of Geneva, died Wednesday at University Hospital in Cleveland after a brief illness.
Born March 10, 1953 in Webster Spring, W.Va., he was the son of Dewey "Junior" Lowther and Patricia Wilson.
Mr. Lowther was a self-employed charter fishing boat captain.
Survivors include his daughter, Jody Arbogaust of Windham; stepbrothers, Bud Wilson and Scott Wilson, both of Garrettsville; sisters, Debra Stewart of Garrettsville and Sheila Black of Ravenna; stepsisters, Mary Postalwait of Parkman and Kim Campbell of Ravenna; mother, Patricia Wilson of Garrettsville; and stepfather, Ron Wilson of Garrettsville. His father died previously.
Visitation will be held from 10:30 until services at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home in Garrettsville.
Madeline Sturbaum
MANTUA - Madeline Sturbaum, 71, died Wednesday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born April 27, 1926 in Cleveland, she was the daughter of Austin and Theresa (Tuma) Davis. She had been a Mantua resident for 40 years and was formerly of Cleveland.
Mrs. Sturbaum was a seamstress at Midland Bag Co. in Cleveland and in recent years was a homemaker.
She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mantua.
Survivors include her husband, Harold H., whom she married July 20, 1946; son Edward (Elaine) of Mantua; daughter Diane (Tom) Sanderson of Deerfield; and two grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Green's Funeral Home in Mantua, where prayer services will be held at 9:15 a.m. Monday. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with the Rev. Thomas McCarthy officiating. Burial will be in the Westlawn Cemetery in Mantua Township.
Memorials may be made to the Mantua-Shalersville Fire Department Rescue Squad.
Irene Patricia Ciccone
Irene Patricia Ciccone, 75, of Jessie Avenue, Kent, died Wednesday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna.
Born July 7, 1922 in Kent, she was the daughter of Arnoldo and Rose (Bendelli) Serani.
Mrs. Ciccone was a member of St. Patrick Church in Kent, Catholic Daughters of America and the Infant of Prague Guild.
Survivors include her sons, Louis A. (June) of Kent, and Steven A. of Kent; daughter, Mrs. David (Michelle) Stein of Akron; three grandchildren; and sister, Mrs. Toni (Antonena) Serani of Kent. Her husband, Albert; son, Arnold; and brother, Arnaldo Serani, died previously.
Calling hours will be held from 6 to 9 tonight at Bissler and Sons Funeral Home in Kent. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Church in Kent, with the Rev. Joseph Ruggieri officiating. Private burial will be in Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent.
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick School Endowment Fund or St. Patrick Church Memorial Fund.
