USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Doris McWhinney
Doris McWhinney, 96, of Eaton, died Thursday, Feb. 24, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind.
Born Dec. 14, 1903, in Wayne County, Ind., she was the daughter of the late Milton and Claudia (Clements) Catey. She was a graduate of Williamsburg High School in Wayne County, Ind. Mrs. McWhinney was a member of the Eaton United Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur McWhinney, on March 24, 1993; sisters, Alice Replogle, Kathryn Meyer, Mildred Holloway and Frances Knight; and a grandson.
Survivors include three daughters, Betty Diedrich Arnold of Fairfield Glade, Tenn., Phyllis Diedrich Mohr of Essexville, Mich., and Sara Baker of Eaton; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Josephine Kramer of Lynn, Ind.; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Saturday, Feb. 26, at Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, with the Rev. James W. Whitley officiating. Burial was in Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Emergency Squad.
Esther M. Fisher
Esther Mildred Fisher, 83, of Camden, Ind., died Thursday afternoon, Feb. 17, at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center in Lafayette, Ind.
Born Dec. 23, 1916, in Eaton, she was the daughter of Oscar B. and Emma (Leedy) Cabaniss. She was a 1934 graduate of Eaton High School.
On June 15, 1935, she married Carl J. Fisher, and they resided most of their married life on the farm at Brookville, Ohio. After retiring in 1976, the couple moved to Troy. She was preceded in death by her husband on Nov. 7, 1984. She moved to Camden, Ind., in October 1989, where she was a member of the Deer Creek Old German Baptist Church.
She was also preceded in death by a great-grandson; her stepfather, Walter Cabaniss; and a stepbrother, Kenneth Cabaniss.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Carole Fisher of Tipp City; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kay and Gerald Flora of Camden, Marva and Rick Phelps of Brookville; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a stepbrother, Everett Cabaniss of West Alexandria.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Trostel, Chapman & Christmas Funeral Home, New Carlisle, with Elder Larry Nicodemus and the Home Brethren officiating. Burial was in Maple Grove Old German Baptist Cemetery.
Henry P. Robbins
Henry Paul Robbins, 68, of Camden, died Monday, Feb. 21, at his home.
Born Sept. 6, 1931, in Butler County, he was the son of George Dallas and Honor Francis (House) Robbins. He had worked as a farmer in Clay County, Ky., prior to moving to Ohio, and was a member of the American Legion in Camden.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Mildred June Crothers and Iona Robbins.
Survivors include his children, Marilyn Paula Landrum of Elsmere, Ky., Henry Moss Robbins of Florence, Ky., Dallas Delane Robbins of Erlanger, Ky., Sherman Glen Robbins of Hamilton, Johnny A. Robbins and Richard Coy Robbins, both of Camden.
Also surviving are 10 grandchildren; sisters, Gladys Elizabeth Samuels and Edith Grace Sandlin, both of Hamilton, and Vedia Jewel Horn of Middletown; and brothers, Albert Glen Robbins and George Brock Robbins, both of London, Ky., and Arthur Brooks Robbins of Hamilton.
Graveside funeral services were Saturday, Feb. 26, at Preble Memory Gardens West Alexandria. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, at Taylor's Grove Baptist Church, 12110 Route 227, Somerville, with Pastor Burl Hogg officiating. Barnes Funeral Home-Preble Memory Gardens Chapel, West Alexandria, is in charge of arrangements.
Andrew Popst
Andrew Popst, 86, of Hamilton, died Friday, Feb. 25, in Hamilton.
Born Dec. 28, 1913, in Darrtown, Ohio, he was the son of the late Henry and Adaline (Keppler) Popst. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served during World War II. He was employed as a millwright at Beckett Paper Company until his retirement in 1979. Mr. Popst was a member of Oxford Masonic Lodge.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Popst.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Dorothy (Lackey) Popst, whom he married Aug. 15, 1936, in Lawrenceburg, Ind.; a son, Andrew A. (Marty) Popst of Fairfield; and one grandchild.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 29, at R.C. Nein & Sons-Thompson Funeral Home, Camden, followed by burial in Darrtown Cemetery.
Edward Abner Jr.
Edward Abner Jr., 70, of Lewisburg, died Saturday, Feb. 26, at his home.
Born May 19, 1929, in Perry County, Ky., he was the son of Edward and Cora (Begley) Abner. He was a union carpenter most of his life, and was a member of the Philadelphia Church of God.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanette Abner, in 1988; a son, David Michael Abner, in 1976; and many brothers and sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 11 years, Helen Abner; two sons, Frank (Pam) Abner of West Alexandria and Joe (Deanne) Abner of Arcanum; two stepsons, Terry (Rhonda) Malott and Jerry Malott, two stepdaughters, Janet (Jerry) Werner and Marilyn (John) Hosbrook, all of Lewisburg; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Willis Abner of Kentucky; and a sister, Elizabeth Oliver of Connersville, Ind.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Lindloff-Zimmerman Funeral Home, West Alexandria, with the Rev. Bill Harrison officiating. Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery near West Alexandria.
Donna M. Bowman
Donna M. (Isaacs) Bowman, 82, of West Alexandria, died Saturday, Feb. 26, at Sycamore Medical Center in Miamisburg.
A native of Hamilton, she was born April 11, 1917, the daughter of the late Andrew and Dowthula (Webb) Isaacs. She was a member of the First Church of God in Germantown. She and her husband farmed in the Germantown and Gratis area for over 48 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Omer Bowman, in 1995; a son, Troy Bowman, in 1987; and two brothers, Donald and Ronald Isaacs.
Survivors include three grandchildren, Debbie (David) Buschur of West Alexandria, Trovia (Tom) Pogue of Riverside, and Jennifer (Dave) Bennett of Miamisburg; five great-grandchildren; an adopted daughter, Sarah Green-Baumann of Seven Mile and her family; special relatives, Davy and Lisa Bowman of Huber Heights and Patsy Bowman of Riverside.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, at the First Church of God, 760 Farmersville Pike, Germantown, with Pastors Tim Woodward and Ricky King officiating. Burial will be in Germantown Cemetery. Dalton Funeral Home, Germantown, is in charge of arrangements.
Gerald K. Medearis
Gerald K. Medearis, 88, of East Somers Street, Eaton, died Sunday, Feb. 27, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
Born May 30, 1911, in Centerville, Ind., he was the son of the late Everett Carl and Celesta L. (Pike) Medearis. He was a 1929 Centerville High School graduate. He moved to Eaton from Centerville in 1955 and lived in Greenville from 1968-1991. He was employed by Wayne Dairy for over 30 years and retired from the State of Ohio.
Mr. Medearis was a member of Moose Lodge #329 of Greenville: Fraternal Order of Eagles of Eaton; and past member of Eaton Boosters Club and Eaton Kiwanis Club. He was one of the initial organizers of the Eaton Little League and Eaton Horseshoe Pitch League.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna (Burkhart) Medearis, in 1991; two brothers, Denver and Everett Medearis; and a sister, Betty Lafuse.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, David and Faye Medearis of Huber Heights, Kem B. and Emily Medearis of Eaton, Terry Moelk of Anderson, Ind.; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Don DeBerti of Billings, Mont.; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, 220 E. Main St., with the Rev. Wayne D. Morrison officiating. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at Crown Hill Cemetery, Centerville, Ind.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Emergency Squad.
Muriel J. Thomas
Muriel J. Thomas, 71, of Eaton, died Saturday, Feb. 26, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton.
Born May 29, 1928, in Bloomington, Ind., she was the daughter of the late Oakley and Lola (Hendricks) Tripp. She was employed as a secretary at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn until her retirement after 20 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Delton Thomas, whom she married on June 1, 1946; a sister, Ellen Dalrymple; and a grandchild, Wayne Eugene Kinder.
Survivors include a daughter, Brenda Kinder of Eaton; a sister, Mary Whitehead of Dayton; and a grandson, Tommy Kinder.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, at R.C. Nein & Sons-Thompson Funeral Home, 249 N. Main St., Camden. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Gratis.
Arden Beagle Sr.
Arden "Lee" Beagle Sr., 80, of Fredricksburg, Va., died Sunday, Feb. 27, at Mary Washington Hospital after a long illness.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Louise (Truslow) Beagle; a son and five daughters, all of Virginia; and another daughter, Shirley Lindloff and husband David of West Alexandria.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 1, in Falmouth, Va.
Emma Helton
Emma Helton, 76, formerly of Dayton, died Saturday, Feb. 26, in Port Charlotte, Fla. She had lived in Port Charlotte since Feb. 1, 1987, and in Arcadia, Fla., for the past four years.
Born Oct. 22, 1923, in Drift, Ky., she was the daughter of the late Dale H. and Gracie (Lyons) Bevins. She was a retired assembly line inspector for the General Motors Vandalia plant, and a member of Tri-City Baptist Church in Harbor Heights (Port Charlotte), Fla.
She was preceded in death by a stepson, Eddie D. Helton; one brother; and one sister.
Survivors include her husband of 31 years, Ed E. Helton; daughters and sons-in-law, Constance J. and Franklin Enicks of St. Marys, La Donna S. and Joe Boerger of Dayton; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Marline and Ronnie League of Lewisburg; a stepson, Willie J. Helton of Eaton; a sister, Jewell Charles of Georgia; a brother, Paul Bevins of Columbus; one stepbrother; three stepsisters; 16 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at Barnes Funeral Home-Lewisburg Chapel, 411 N. Commerce St., followed by burial in Arlington Cemetery, Brookville. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.
Ethel M. Burnett
Ethel Mann Burnett, 73, of Brookville, died Monday, Feb. 28, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton.
Born March 19, 1926, in Williamstown, W. Va., she was the daughter of the late James B. and Eleanor (Locker) Steed. She retired from Parker Hannifin Corporation in 1988, and was a member of Memorial Baptist Church in Eaton.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; and former husband, Jack Mann.
Survivors include her husband, Omer Lee Burnett; children, Barbara J. Falkner of Eaton; Terry L. Mann and husband Timothy L. Cross of West Manchester; a stepdaughter, Marlee Hicks and husband, Robert Hicks of Brookville; four grandchildren; five brothers; and four sisters.
Funeral services were Friday, March 3, at Barnes Funeral Home-Preble Memory Gardens Chapel, West Alexandria, with Pastor Keith Spencer officiating. Burial was in Twin Valley Cemetery, West Alexandria.
Hilton D. Smith
Hilton D. Smith, 81, of 1275 Northview Drive, Greenville, formerly of New Madison, died unexpectedly early Tuesday morning, Feb. 29, at the Oakley House. He had been in failing health for the past few months.
Born April 22, 1918, in Jefferson Township, Preble County, he was the son of the late Andrew Jackson and Gladys Irene (Duffield) Smith. He had lived in Darke County for over 50 years. Mr. Smith was retired from Parker Hannifin Corporation in Eaton where he was a screw machine operator.
He was a former member of Otterbein United Methodist Church, and transferred to the New Madison United Methodist Church when the former church closed. He was a former member of the New Madison Grange.
Survivors include two sons, Bob Smith of Eaton, Dale and wife Audrey Smith of Troy; one daughter, Nancy and husband Wayne Baker of Greenville; four grandchildren, Andrena Brown, Jason Smith, Stefanie Smith and Melinda Wenrick; and three great-granddaughters, Ashley and Carlee Brown, and Josephine Shindeldecker.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, on March 24, 1996; and an infant son, Larry Smith.
Funeral services were Friday, March 3, at Storch-Braund Funeral Home, New Madison, with Pastor Tony Griffith officiating. Burial was in Springlawn Cemetery, New Paris.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Greenville Area Rescue Services.
Helen B. Werts
Helen B. Werts, 95, of Eaton, died Wednesday, March 1, at her home.
A native and lifelong resident of Preble County, she was born Feb. 5, 1905, the daughter of the late Clarence E. and Ethel L. (Choee) Fudge. She had been a cook for Mrs. Wagner's Colonial Kitchen.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Werts, on April 27, 1951; a son, Elber Werts; a daughter, Betty Emerick; brothers, Lloyd and Harold Fudge; and a sister, Thelma Cutter.
Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Werts of Eaton; four grandchildren, Sandy Emerick, Steve Werts, Terry Werts and Linda Othersen; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Private funeral services were held at the convenience of the family at Sugar Grove Cemetery, West Alexandria, with Steve Werts officiating. Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice Program at Reid Hospital, 1401 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN 47374; or to the Eaton Emergency Squad, 328 N. Maple St., Eaton, OH 45320.
George P. Blankenship
George P. Blankenship, 60, of Piqua, died Thursday, March 2, at Ohio State University Hospital Medical Center in Columbus.
Born June 22, 1939, at West Sonora, he was the son of George T. and Mary (Liebcap) Blankenship. He was a 1958 graduate of Lewisburg High School. Mr. Blankenship was the founder and president of P & R Specialty in Piqua since 1982. He attended Troy Christian Church, was a member of the Piqua Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Piqua Loyal Order of the Moose, and the Country Music Association.
Survivors include his wife, Linda (Foster) Blankenship, whom he married Oct. 22, 1994, in Troy; four sons, George D. Blankenship of Chardon, Ohio, G. Wesley Blankenship of Springboro, Greg D. Blankenship of West Milton and Gerime P. Blankenship of Troy; five grandchildren; Robert, William, Kali, Andrea and Brian Blankenship; and three brothers, Lee Blankenship and Ned Blankenship, both of Lewisburg, and Neil Blankenship of Lebanon.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Donna Samuels.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, at Troy Christian Church, 1440 U.S. 55 East, Troy, followed by burial in Beechwood Cemetery, Lockington, Ohio. Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home, Piqua, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus.
Eileen Borden
Eileen Borden, 74, formerly of Eaton and currently of Homosassa, Fla., died Friday evening, March 3, at Cypress Cove Care Center in Crystal River, Fla., after an extended illness.
Born Sept. 20, 1925, in Maryville, Tenn., she was the daughter of Thomas H. and Della (Thompson) Borden. She had been a clerk at Miller's Super Markets in Eaton for 15 years, and a cashier for Nature World for 11 years, retiring in 1987.
Survivors include two sisters, Jonnie Bailey of Indianapolis, Ind., and Ann Stephen of Eaton.
Funeral services will be announced at a later date by Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel, 220 E. Main St. Burial will be in Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Emergency Squad.
Clifton P. Stewart
Clifton Paul Stewart, 87, of Huntsville, Ala., formerly of Lewisburg and Dayton, died Friday, March 3, in Huntsville following a brief illness.
Born Jan. 27, 1913, in Lee County, Va., he was the son of the late Joseph T. and Rosalee (Crider) Stewart. He retired in 1975 after 18 years with the Dayton Board of Education, and had previously worked as a coal miner in eastern Kentucky and southwest Virginia. He was of the Pentecostal faith, and was an avid baseball fan.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Goldie (Clark) Stewart, on Feb. 23, 1994; and several brothers and sisters.
Survivors include sons, Clifton Paul Stewart Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., Charles Clay Stewart of Hartselle, Ala., and Burley Herman Stewart of West Milton; daughters, June Rupe of Blountville, Tenn., Margaret Miles of Vandalia and Ruth Runner of Huntsville, Ala.; a stepdaughter, Doris Sloan of Hollansburg; a stepson, Roger McQueen of Xenia; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Tuesday, March 7, at Barnes Funeral Home-Preble Memory Gardens Chapel, West Alexandria, with Pastor Richard Donovan officiating. Burial was in Preble Memory Gardens, West Alexandria.
