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Date of these obituaries: 10-25-1999
John 'Jack' Dressman, U of L professor
John B. "Jack" Dressman had a dedication to education that even serious physical problems couldn't deter.
A heart problem left Mr. Dressman relying on a wheelchair to get around, but he continued as a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Louisville. "He continued with his teaching duties, and in three years didn't have a sick day. To me this was amazing. He didn't let down," said his wife, Marilyn.
Mr. Dressman, 66, of Erlanger, died Saturday in St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood.
He taught in the university's Speed Scientific School for 28 years and also was a chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Mr. Dressman taught for five years after suffering a heart problem, and retired in 1995. He was named a professor emeritus.
"After his retirement we could have located anywhere, but chose to return home," said Mrs. Dressman, the former Marilyn Hammer and also a Northern Kentucky native.
Mr. Dressman grew up in the Latonia and Taylor Mill area and was a 1951 graduate of Holy Cross High School. He attended the Ohio Mechanics' Institute, but it was after a two-year hitch in the Army as a draftsman that he really developed a thirst for education, his wife said.
Mr. Dressman earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Kentucky, and after an assistant professorship at St. Leo College in Florida, received his doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas in 1967. In the 1960s, Mr. Dressman was a fellow of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, and worked on the space shuttle program, Mrs. Dressman said.
Her husband published numerous papers and received many awards, Mrs. Dressman said. Among them were a distinguished service award from the American Society of Engineers, and an outstanding teacher award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Mr. Dressman served on the Catholic Board of Education in Louisville, his wife said, and in earlier years had been an avid golfer.
He was a member of St. Barbara Church in Erlanger and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Survivors also include a daughter, Ellen Dressman of Mauckport, Ind.; a son, Lawrence Dressman of Bloomington, Ind.; a stepdaughter, Judy Lubbers of Fort Wright; stepsons, Pete Henke of Fort Wright and Ken Henke of Crestview Hills; his mother, Irma Dressman of Bloomington; and six step-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Barbara Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Stith Funeral Home, Florence, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to St. Barbara Church Educational Fund, 4042 Turkeyfoot Road, Erlanger, Ky. 41018.
Mollie Janosick Clarke, 88, of Cincinnati, formerly of Alexandria, died at 3:40 p.m. Friday at Arbors of Milford, Ohio. She was a homemaker. Her husband, James Clarke, died in 1986.
Survivors include sons, Mike Clarke of Covington, Jim Clarke of Cincinnati and Thomas Clarke of Cleveland; a daughter, Paula Marcello of Cincinnati; brothers, Andrew Janosick of Newport and Paul Popovich of Cold Spring; and 11 grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial was this morning at St. Mary Church, Alexandria. Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery, Alexandria. Alexandria Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Stelva Evelyn Cornelius, 90, of Union, died Saturday at Woodspoint Health Care Center, Florence. She was a cafeteria worker at Old Hamilton School in Boone County. Her husband, Jack Cornelius, died in 1973.
Survivors include a daughter, Joan Herald of La Mirada, Calif.; sons, Edwin Cornelius of Crittenden and Edward Cornelius of Union; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Big Bone Cemetery, Union.
Marie Lucy Spaziano Esposito, 81, of Highland Heights, died at 6:20 p.m. Saturday at Lakeside Place Nursing Home in Highland Heights. She was a homemaker and a member of Campbell County Seniors. She was also a member of senior citizen bowling leagues and Senior Citizens of Hope in Providence, R.I.
Survivors include her husband, Armando Esposito; a daughter, Dona Esposito of Highland Heights; sisters, Anna Vetter of Bellevue, Wash., and Frances Piccirillo of Providence; and brothers, Leo Spaziano of Johnston, R.I., and Joseph Spaziano of Largo, Fla.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Church, Cold Spring. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, followed by prayers. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery, Fort Thomas. Memorials are suggested to Sisters of Divine Providence, Route 8, Melbourne, Ky. 41059.
Faye Hampton, 66, of Union, died Sunday at her home.
Arrangements are pending at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger.
Bonnie Jean Powers Leffler, 74, of Erlanger, died Friday at her home. She was an executive secretary with Charles Taylor & Sons Co., Cincinnati, and a member of Immanuel United Methodist Church, Lakeside Park. Her husband, Chuck Leffler, died in 1995.
Survivors include sisters, Jerre Leffler and Peggy Fowler, both of Independence; nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Immanuel United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Memorials are suggested to Kentucky United Methodist Home for Children, Box 749, Versailles, Ky. 40383.
Mark A. Leslie, 48, of Burlington, died Thursday at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati. He was the tax administrator for North College Hill, Ohio, and a member of Theta Chi honors fraternity at the University of Cincinnati.
Survivors include his wife, Scheila V. Leslie; stepsons, Ben Bolton and Tom Bolton, both of Florence; a brother, Thomas Leslie of Cincinnati; and a sister, Lynne Leslie of Cincinnati.
No services are planned. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Burlington. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, 7730 U.S. 42, Suite C6, Florence, Ky. 41042.
Adaline Hamilton Mahaney, 52, of Independence, died Friday at St. Luke Hospital West in Florence. She was a cook and residential caregiver for Supportive Living, Covington.
Survivors include her husband, Howell "Bud" Mahaney III of Independence; daughters, Tammie Sherry of Cold Spring, and Amy Gray and Shellie Mahaney, both of Independence; her mother, Dorothy Hamilton of Independence; sisters, Mary Janeway of Independence, Carrol Herrmann of Florence, Donna Turner of Ryland Heights, Linda Burchfield of Crittenden and Gloria Frye of Covington; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. to day at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence, Visitation will began there at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Mahaney family, in care of Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, 11382 Madison Pike, Independence, Ky. 41051.
Marie Truitt Roark, 79, of Napoleon, died Friday at her home. She was a minister with Cherry Grove Pentecostal Church of God, Williamstown.
Survivors include her husband, John D. Roark; a daughter, Dolores Hilt of Florence; a brother, Everett L. Truitt Jr. of Cincinnati; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. to day at Hamilton-Stanley Funeral Home, Verona. Visitation will begin there at noon. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery, Verona.
Lorene Baker Shepherd, 74, of Corinth, died Friday in Grant County. She was a homemaker. Her husband, Troy Shepherd, died in 1991.
Survivors include sons, Gaylord T. Shepherd of Versailles, Charlie Shepherd of Pensacola, Fla., Lawrence Shepherd of Louisville, Steven Shepherd, Michael Shepherd and Clifford Shepherd, all of Corinth; daughters, Dorothy Dorton of Jacksonville, Fla., Margaret Wright of Georgetown, Gladys Vendler of Corinth, Barbara Beach of Verona and Alice Grueter of Covington; sisters, Loretta Davis of Piqua, Ohio, Margaret Hubbard of Dayton, Ohio, Dorothy Goff of Stanford and Mildred Benner of Seattle; a brother, Leonard Baker of Blanchester, Ohio; 26 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home, Williamstown. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Burial will be in Keefer Cemetery, Corinth.
Mary Elizabeth Smitson, 86, of Maysville, died Friday at Villa Georgetown Nursing Home in Georgetown, Ohio. She was a retired machine operator with Carnation Can Co., Maysville, and a member of First Christian Church in Maysville. Her first husband, Headley Yazell, her second husband, Freeman Smitson and a daughter, Jan Heflin, preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Linda Naugle of Kennesaw, Ga.; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Maysville Cemetery. Brell and Son Funeral Home, Maysville, is handling arrangements.
Dorothy Marie Nelson Spalink, 54, of Newport, died Thursday at St. Luke Hospital East, Fort Thomas. She was an aide at the Covington Ladies Home and a member of Open Door Community Church of God, Erlanger.
Survivors include her husband, Stu Spalink; daughters, Melody L. Kohli and Victoria R. Spalink, both of Newport, and Heather Y. Banks of Stanford; a stepdaughter, Stephanie Spalink of Tempe, Ariz.; stepsons, Charles Spalink and Michael Spalink, both of Mesa, Ariz.; a sister, Carol Rohlman of Frisco, Texas; brothers, Jim Nelson of Erie, Mich., Dale Nelson of Temperance, Mich., and Danny Nelson of Toledo, Ohio; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Open Door Community Church of God. Visitation will begin there at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Cremation will be at Hillside Chapel, Cincinnati. Memorials are suggested to Open Door Community Church of God, 3528 Turkeyfoot Road, Erlanger, Ky. 41018. Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Mary Jane Sutton, 86, of Warsaw, died Saturday at Gallatin County Health Care Center in Warsaw. She was a homemaker and a member of South Fork Christian Church, Gallatin County.
Survivors include a niece, Janet Peace of Gallatin County; and a nephew, Dale Williams of Verona.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Carlton-Lowder Funeral Home, Warsaw. Visitation will begin there at noon Tuesday. Burial will be in Hance Cemetery, Gallatin County.
Rosemary Helen Vogt, 71, of Fort Thomas, died at 5:37 p.m. Friday at Lakeside Place Nursing Home, Highland Heights. She was a retired supervisor of customer service with Cincinnati Bell Telephone, and a member of the Pioneers Club and the Caroliers Club at the telephone company.
Survivors include a sisters, Monica Zimmerman of Latonia; nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Church, Fort Thomas. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, followed by prayers. Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Fort Wright. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Church, Box 488, Cullman, Ala. 35055. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Fort Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Colleen Wachter, 66, of Cynthiana, died Saturday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of Oakwood Baptist Church, Harrison County.
Survivors include her husband, Joseph Wachter; sons, Larry Wachter, Mike Wachter and Jody Wachter, all of Harrison County; a daughter, Barbara Florence of Harrison County; a brother, Leroy Routt Jr. of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Joann Linebaugh of Arlington, Texas; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ware Funeral Home, Cynthiana. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 508 E. Pike St., Cynthiana, Ky. 41031.
