USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
Mary L. Armacost
Mary L. Armacost, 94, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Campbellstown, died Thursday, April 3, 1997, in Mesa.
Born Jan. 28, 1903, in Preble County, she was the daughter of J. Frank and Mattie Louellen (Gochenour) House. She was a 1920 graduate of Jackson High School and had lived in Preble County nearly all her life.
Mrs. Armacost owned and operated the Armacost Grocery for 18 years in Campbellstown and was the Campbellstown Postmistress for 23 years. She was a member of the Campbellstown United Church of Christ for over 70 years and a Delta Theta Tau Sorority member for over 60 years. She moved to Arizona in 1980.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Amos R. Armacost, in 1971; and two brothers, Walter S. House, in 1976, and Harold V. House, in 1977.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Griffis of Mesa, Ariz.; grandchildren, Linda Gibson, Brenda Spurlock and Randy Griffis; four great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Mound Hill Union Cemetery, Eaton, with the Rev. James Sizelove officiating.
Barnes Funeral Home-Eaton Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Campbellstown United Church of Christ.
Hartsel H. Davidson
Hartsel H. Davidson, 91, died Saturday, April 5, 1997, at Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind.
He was born Nov. 21, 1905, in Kanawha Head, W. Va. When he was 19 years old, he moved to Akron and worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. for 40 years. He lived in Akron until 1994, when he and his wife of 69 years, Helen, moved to 4966 Monroe-Central Road, Eaton, to live with their daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Delmer Ile.
Mr. Davidson's avocation was beagling and he was a life member of four beagle clubs: Summit, Portage, Pleasant Valley and Mahoning Trumball, and served on all their executive boards for over 55 years. He was widely known as a breeder and competitor, and produced at least four field champions.
In addition to his daughter with whom he lived, he is survived by another daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Charles Philips; seven grandchildren, David (Harriet) Philips, Christine (Gregory) Simolka, Lori (Scott) Riemer, Kim (Jeffrey) Johnson, Brian (Michelle) Phillips, John (Diane) Stock, Anne Philips, Amanda Ile and fiance Scott Suggs; six great-grandchildren, Daniel Simolka, Hannah Philips, Owen Riemer, Michael Simolka, Nathaniel Philips and Mason Riemer.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 8, at Wares Chapel United Methodist Church, West Manchester. Girton-Schmidt-Boucher Funeral Home, Eaton, was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Preble County Animal Shelter/Humane Society, 722 S. Franklin St., Eaton, Ohio 45320.
Robert P. House Sr.
Robert P. House Sr., 95, of Miami Township, Miamisburg, died Tuesday, April 8, 1997, at Sycamore Medical Center, Miamisburg.
Born Feb. 26, 1902, in Eaton, he was the son of Charles and Mae (Frame) House. He was retired from Frigidaire Corp. after 36 years of service.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret D. House, on Nov. 12, 1990.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Doris and French Combs of West Alexandria; two sons and daughter-in-law, Dick and Edna House, and Bob House, all of Miamisburg; a sister, Violet Biggs of Camden; six grandchildren, Cindy (Joe) Woerner of Beavercreek, Dan Combs of Shaw Island, Wash., Charlotte (Joe) Taraba of Lexington, Ky., Patty (Dennis) Davis of Camden, Doug (Chris) House of Miamisburg and Julie (Michael) Rado of Centerville, Ohio; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Friday, April 11, at Gebhart-Schmidt-Parramore Funeral Home, Miamisburg, followed by burial in Springboro Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Miami Township Paramedics.
Ruth E. O'Dell
Ruth E. O'Dell, 67, of Troy, and formerly of Preble County, died Tuesday, April 8, 1997, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
Born April 11, 1929, in Pontiac, Mich., she was the daughter of Job and Mae (McGrath) Thomas. She had worked at Baxter Healthcare in Eaton, and was a member of Bridgeview Baptist Church in Castine, where she was the church organist.
Survivors include her husband of 42 years, William D. O'Dell; a daughter, Marie Conner of Troy; a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Janet O'Dell of Union; two sisters, Lucille Hardy of West Bloomfield, Mich., and Anna Raymond of Pontiac, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Carol Thomas of Clarkston, Mich.; four grandchildren, Lori, Bill and Jamie Conner, all of Troy, and Zachary O'Dell of Union; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Thomas and Roy Thomas.
Funeral services were Thursday, April 10, at Barnes Funeral Home-Preble Memory Gardens Chapel, West Alexandria, with Pastor Bryan Rea officiating. Burial was in Preble Memory Gardens, West Alexandria.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bridgeview Baptist Church, 4811 Ohio 722, Castine, Ohio.
Charles G. Steck
Charles G. Steck, 81, of Lewisburg, died Tuesday, April 8, 1997, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton.
Born Aug. 16, 1915, in Wengerlawn (Montgomery County), he was the son of Charles E. and Claudia V. (Weaver) Steck. He retired in 1977 after 28 years at Inland Manufacturing in Dayton. Mr. Steck was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the VFW.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Veda H. (Cabaniss) Steck; two sons and daughter-in-law, Raymond E. and Georgia Steck of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Ricky D. Steck of Eden Prairie, Minn.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Phyllis and Orville Crowe of Arcanum, Becky and William Smith of Lewisburg; a brother and sister-in-law, Cleo and Elsie Steck of Brookville; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gaylor V. Steck, in 1909, and Adrian Steck, in 1983; and a sister, Marjorie D. Kesler, in 1975.
Funeral services were held at the convenience of the family, with the Rev. James Castello officiating. Entombment was in Royal Oak Memorial Gardens, Brookville. Barnes Funeral Home-Lewisburg Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Kathryn E. Lake
Kathryn E. Lake, 81, of Germantown, died Wednesday, April 9, 1997, at Hospice of Dayton.
Born July 5, 1915, she was the daughter of the late John and Eva Blankenship. She retired from Frigidaire in 1970 after 26 years of service, and was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Doris and John Hunter of Germantown; a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald Eugene and Shirley Lake of West Alexandria; a son-in-law, Richard Egan of Germantown.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson, Caleb Hunter; five sisters, Mary Bryant, Frances McCloskey, Gladys Stanfield, Mabel Hart, all of Celina, and Mildred Jackson of Dayton; and a brother, John Blankenship of Celina.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lake, in 1980; a daughter, Phyllis Egan, in November 1996; four sisters, Charlotte Edwards, Shirley Huffman, Phoebe Rasor and Edna Phelps; and two brothers, Paul and Robert Blankenship.
Funeral services were Saturday, April 12, at Dalton Funeral Home, Germantown, with Pastor Del Harper officiating. Burial was in Germantown Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Germantown Rescue Squad or to Hospice of Dayton.
David Gephart
David Gephart, 89, of Lewisburg, died Wednesday, April 9, 1997, at Hospice of Dayton.
Born Jan. 20, 1908, in Harrison Township, Preble County, he was the son of Orange and Opal (Brown) Gebhart. He was a 1926 graduate of Verona High School, and retired in 1970 from Dayton Tire and Rubber Co.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Claude Emerson and Carol Gebhart of Lewisburg; a daughter-in-law, Marie (Focht) Gebhart of Lewisburg; a sister, Helen Unger of Greenville; grandchildren, Ann Horn, Steven Gebhart, Rita Madigan, Todd Gebhart, Vicki Fryman and Scott Gebhart; great-grandchildren, Lukas Madigan, Katelynn and Cynthia Fryman, Ryan, Kyle and Jessica Gebhart; nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice E. (Shiverdecker) Gephart, in 1986; a son, David E. "Gene" Gebhart, in 1993; brothers, Ralph Gebhart, in 1931, Holly Gebhart, in 1937, and Oscar Gebhart, in 1971.
Funeral services were held at the convenience of the family, with the Rev. James N. Lehman officiating. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery, Lewisburg. Barnes Funeral Home-Lewisburg Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton.
Margaret E. Brown
Margaret E. Wolf Brown, 70, of New Paris, died Tuesday, April 8, 1997, at Heartland of Greenville.
Born Feb. 14, 1927, in Warrenton, Va., she was the daughter of Seth and Pearl (Curtis) Schwab. She had been a New Paris resident since 1948. Mrs. Schwab retired in 1989 after 29 years with the C.R. Coblentz School District as secretary in the superintendent's office. She was a member of Delta Theta Tau Sorority in New Paris.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Samuel H. Wolf, in 1959.
Survivors include her husband of 30 years, Ronald P. Brown; a son, Ronald J. Wolf of Wheelersburg, Ohio; a brother, E.C. Schwab of Warrenton, Va.; sisters, Thelma Sturtridge of Warrenton, Va., Hazel Attkisson of Alexandria, Va.; mother, Pearl Schwab of Warrenton, Va.; and grandchildren, Rachele Thomas, Ryan and Tara Wolf.
Funeral services were Friday, April 11, at Barnes Funeral Home-New Paris Chapel, followed by burial in Springlawn Cemetery, New Paris.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Northwest Emergency Squad, New Paris.
Floy B. Rice
Floy B. Rice, 89, of Eaton, formerly a resident of Hamilton, died Wednesday morning, April 9, 1997, at Heartland of Eaton.
Born July 7, 1907, in Tuscola, Ill., she was the daughter of Myrtie and Lula (Napier) Cook. She was educated in the Hamilton schools. In the mid-1950s, she owned and operated the Sweden Creme on Pleasant Avenue in Hamilton. She was a charter member and a member for many years of the First Church of God in Hamilton, and later attended the Millville Avenue Church of God. She had resided in Eaton with her daughter since 1991.
She married Gilbert G. Rice on Aug. 23, 1920, in Newport, Ky., and he preceded her in death on March 20, 1971.
Survivors include two daughters, Luella Beard of Eaton and Dorothy Matz and husband Clinton of Chugwater, Wyo.; four grandchildren, Richard (Janet) George of Houston, Texas, Sandra Williams of Anderson, Ind., Robert (Sandie) Holland of West Palm Beach, Fla., Todd (Barbara) Rice of Laramie, Wyo.
Also surviving are six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Paul Cook of Camden and Earl Rice of Bradenton, Fla.; and a sister, Wilma Winner of St. Petersburg, Fla.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Robert Rice; a grandson, Reuben Holland; her parents; a brother, William Cook; and a sister, Jessie Welsh.
Funeral services were Friday, April 11, at Webb/Noonan Funeral Home, Hamilton, with the Rev. Jerry Reynolds of the First Church of God of Eaton officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Burial Park, Hamilton.
Herschel E. Hook Sr.
Herschel E. "Hook" Brown Sr., 83, of Eaton, died Wednesday, April 9, at Grandview Hospital in Dayton.
Born May 28, 1913, in Dayton, he was the son of Samuel and Ardella (Comer) Brown. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and was of the Protestant faith.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie E. Hester; sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry and Alva Brown of Florence Ky., Larry Brown, Lonny and Reba Brown of West Alexandria, Herschel Jr. and Ann Brown of Union, Stanley and Frances Brown of New Lebanon; daughters and sons-in-law, Margie and Danny Cole of St. Cloud, Fla., Brenda and Edgar Jennings of New Lebanon; 21 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Florence Matz of Bradenton, Fla.
Funeral services were Saturday, April 12, at Rogers Funeral Home, New Lebanon. Burial was in Trissel Cemetery.
