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Date of these obituaries: 05-19-1998
Beer distributor Milton "Mickey' Link, generous with time, money, affection
Milton "Mickey" Link understood the value of work - and of giving. Starting his own beer distribution company 36 years ago, Mr. Link was a one-man operation, delivering Oertel's beer to his customers six days a week, said his wife, Carol Dickman Link of Union.
He served as the president of Kentucky Beer Distributors and as a member of the National Beer Wholesalers Association.
Mr. Link, 79, formerly of Ft. Thomas, died Sunday at Florence Park Care Center.
He also had a generous spirit.
"I always called him my Santa Claus," said daughter Shannon Burton of Villa Hills, who was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Link after her parents died. "If it wasn't for him, I don't know where I would be."
Others have Mr. Link to thank for saving their lives, too. On May 28, 1977, Mr. Link and his wife were dining at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, when it caught on fire.
"I remember when we went through the fire that night, he kept holding me and encouraging me until we got out," Mrs. Link said. "He went back in and was helping other people get out."
Mr. Link also served in the Navy during World War II. He played semi-professional football for the Navy's former team, the Iowa Seahawks.
His stepson, William Dickman of Florence, was inspired by Mr. Link's example and also served in the Navy.
"He was the person who stepped in when my sisters and I needed a father.
"He was just always there," Dickman said.
Mr. Link was quick to donate his time and money. As a member of the Newport Elks Lodge No. 273, he always helped with events, Mrs. Link said.
"Any time they had a promotional thing going on, they knew they could always count on him," she said.
Also the sponsor of many athletic teams, Mr. Link was the kind of guy who always made sure the bowling teams had plenty of sandwiches and beer when they traveled to tournaments, Mrs. Link said.
He also earned the esteem of his employees at Link Distributing Co. before selling the company to Miller Brands in 1989.
He was a father figure to many of his employees, his family said.
"I classify him as a "true gentleman' in every sense of the word," Mrs. Link said.
Mr. Link's first wife, Betty Mayer Link, died in 1973.
Other survivors include another daughter, Tonya Covington of Troy, Mich.; a brother, Willard Link of Greensboro, N.C.; and seven grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Ft. Thomas. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Cold Spring.
Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.
Justin Michael Belser, 2, of Covington, died at 7 p.m. Sunday at his home.
Survivors include his parents, David J. and Tonya Owens Belser of Covington; brothers, David John Belser Jr. and Nathaniel Belser, both at home; sisters, Tiffanie Belser and Stacie Belser, both at home; grandparents, Robert and Faith Belser of Morning View, and Lena Owens of Covington; great-grandparents, Jesse and Doris Klein of Morning View, Irv and Sylvia Belser of Taylor Mill and Holland and Helen Davis of Covington; and great-great-grandparents, Marvin and Lloyd Wilhoite of Carrollton.
Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mother of God Cemetery, Ft. Wright. Dobbling Funeral Home, Bellevue, is handling arrangements.
Linda Lusk Bibee, 49, of Alexandria, died at 6:55 p.m. Sunday at St. Luke Hospital East, Ft. Thomas. She was a retired teacher with Silver Grove Schools, and a member of Silver Grove Christian Church.
Survivors include her husband, Marc Bibee; a son, David Bibee of Alexandria; a daughter, Susan Bibee of Alexandria; her parents, John and Jean Shepard Lusk of Cincinnati; brothers, Jim Lusk of Chawsville, Va., and Dale Lusk of Cincinnati; and sisters, Joni Walker of Cincinnati and Carol King of Woodburn, Ind.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Dobbling Funeral Home, Ft. Thomas. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Alexandria Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Silver Grove Christian Church, 122 W. Second St., Silver Grove, Ky. 41085.
Ruth Schwegman Cromer, 76, of Park Hills, died Saturday at Vencor Hospice, Cincinnati. She was a homemaker, a former switchboard operator with Harrison Tire and Rubber Co., and conducted food demonstrations in area supermarkets.
Survivors include sons, Jeffrey Cromer and Richard Cromer, both of Seattle, and Michael Cromer of Cincinnati; a sister, Sister Patricia Boerger of Ryland Lakes; a brother, Charles Schwegman of Cincinnati; and two grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Spring Grove cemetery Chapel, Cincinnati. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at T. P. White & Sons Funeral Home, Cincinnati. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery.
Maurine Jean Holland, 67, of Newport, died Sunday at her home. She was a nurse's aide with Lakeside Place Nursing Home, Highland Heights.
Survivors include daughters, Debbie Ingram of Newport and Pam Gugel of Ft. Thomas; a sister, Marian Pauly of Elsmere; a brother, Paul Guy of Ft. Thomas; and three grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Newport. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate. Memorials are suggested to Corpus Christi Church, in care of Holy Spirit Parish, 825 Washington Ave., Newport, Ky. 41071.
Wayne "Pete" Keim, 59, of Latonia, died Sunday at University Hospital, Cincinnati. He was a retired brick mason and a member of Madison Avenue Christian Church and Petersburg Masonic Lodge. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include his mother, Frances Berkshire Keim of Latonia; a brother, Edward Keim of Vero Beach, Fla.; and sisters, Jean Perry and Marlene Hellmann of Latonia, and Lana DeLuca of Ft. Mitchell.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia. Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Neediest Kids of All, P. O. Box 631700, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263.
Clayton Ledford, 78, of Morning View, died Monday at Christ Hospital, Cincinnati.
Arrangements are pending at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence.
Thelma Helen Lusk, 81, of Walton, died Sunday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. Her husband, Owen Vernon Lusk, died in 1990.
Survivors include a daughter, Charlotte Evans of Walton; a son, Robert Earl Lusk of Hebron; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Beaver Lick Christian Cemetery, Walton. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, 721 W. Main St., Louisville, Ky. 40202. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Mattie Johnson Marshall, 40, of Cincinnati, formerly of Northern Kentucky, died Saturday at University Hospital, Cincinnati, after a brief illness. She was a bus driver with Ryder Co., Cincinnati, and a member of Boaz Baptist Church, Covington.
Survivors include her husband, Leon Marshall; sons, James Johnson, Reginald Phoenix and Isiah Marshall, all of Cincinnati; stepsons, Leon Marshall and Sean Marshall, both of Cincinnati; daughters, Trevena Griffin and Monica Marshall; a brother, Keith Smith of Cincinnati; sisters, Gwendolyn Williams, Florena Houston, Terrie Sherman and Edna Powell, all of Cincinnati; grandparents, Mose and Florena Johnson of Florence; and seven grandchildren.
Services will be at 7 p.m. today at Boaz Baptist Church. Visitation will begin there at 6 p.m. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Cincinnati. Jones & Simpson Funeral Home, Covington, is handling arrangements.
Ralph Elmer Parrott, 87, of Ft. Thomas, died at 9:40 a.m. Sunday at his home.
He was a retired salesman for Champion Paper Co. and an Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Lura Schlenker Parrott; daughters, Judith Schwartz of Ludlow and Linda Starner of Florence; and six grandchildren.
Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Ft. Thomas. The family will receive friends after Mass in the church undercroft. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Ft. Thomas, Ky. 41075. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Ft. Thomas, is handling arrangements.
Renee Ellis Uchtmann, 43, of Highland Heights, died at 3 a.m. Monday at St. Luke Hospital East, Ft. Thomas. She was a self-employed cleaner.
Survivors include a daughter, Chrishenda Ellis of Highland Heights; and a brother, Fred J. Hamilton of Ft. Wright.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Ft. Thomas. Visitation will begin there at noon Wednesday. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Mary J. VanSkiver, 91, of Florence, died Monday at Grant Manor Nursing Home, Williamstown.
Arrangements are pending at Stith Funeral Home, Florence.
James Willett, 86, of Park Hills, died at 11:48 a.m. Sunday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. He was a retired salesman with the Sears store in Covington.
Survivors include a sister, Gladys Willett of Park Hills.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Covington. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to Mental Health Association of Northern Kentucky, 502 Farrell Drive, Ft. Wright, Ky. 41011.
Frederica A. "Fritzi" Wilson, 85, of Park Hills, died at 7:56 a.m. Monday at St. Luke Hospital West, Florence. She was a retired loan officer with Capital Finance Co., and a member of Leisure Timers and Kentucky Rovers Senior Citizens. She also was a volunteer with Redwood School. Her husband, Wallace Wilson, died in 1977.
Survivors include a daughter, Helen Powers of Aberdeen, Ohio; a sister, Mary Margaret Schnell of Cincinnati; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Agnes Church, Ft. Wright. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Ft. Mitchell. Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick Expansion Fund, P. O. Box 248, Maysville, Ky. 41056; or St. Cecilia Church, 5313 Madison Pike, Independence, Ky. 41051.
Mary Catherine Conley Witte, 81, of Ft. Thomas, died at 5 a.m. Sunday at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Bellevue and Order of the Eastern Star. Her husband, Robert Witte, died in 1985.
Survivors include a daughter, Pat Vories of Newport; a son, James Witte of Bellevue; a sister, Velma Stakeley of Ashland; four grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Ft. Thomas. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
